DIARY ENTRY

Diary writing is one of the most personal and informal categories of

writing. A diary writing can be based on an experience, a scene, a
description or narration of certain event or any other thing or activity
that the writer considers worth writing in his personal diary. In the
examination, the question on diary writing is aimed to test your
imaginative, creative and expressive skills.

GUIDELINES FOR DIARY WRITING

A diary entry has no fixed format or style of writing. However, a good

diary entry does contain the following features:

A good diary writing contains the date, the day and even the time of
writing. For example:

20th July, 20XX 9.00 PM

Friday,

A diary doesn’t need any formal heading.

The style and tone is generally informal and personal. However, it

depends on the subject. Sometimes the tone can be philosophical and
reflective too. You can freely express your viewpoints and feelings.

As the diary is writer’s personal document, the diary entry doesn’t need
any signature. It is totally optional.

You can evolve your own suitable style depending on the topic of your
writing. As per the CBSE syllabus, you are required to write a
diary/article in about 100-120 words.

SAMPLE 1
You spent a week with your friend in his village ‘Kovlam’, near the
famous beach of the same name. Taking help from the information
given below and inventing your own details, make a diary entry of
what you saw and experienced in ‘God’s Own Country’.

Friday, 10th March, 20XX 8.00 pm

Dear Diary, ( OPTIONAL)

They say that Kerala is God’s Own Country and it is rightly so. If any
place can match Kashmir’s beauty and greenery, it is Kerala. I didn’t
want to miss an opportunity to visit Kerala. So I accepted the invitation
of my friend Suresh Nambiar to spend a week at his village Kovlam. The
place is about 20 miles away from Thiruvanathapuram. Kovlam is
known for its world famous beach. It is basically a fishermen’s village.
The whole place is wrapped in greenery. Coconuts and palm trees stand
over the sprawling green paddy fields. We used to spend a lot of time
fishing in a nearby pond. We often enjoyed a boat ride in the canal.
What is Kerala without the surf and the sea? So we would spend hours
either strolling or taking a sea-bath or lying on the golden beach. Kerala
is rich in tea, coffee, rubber plantations and spices. I was lucky to enjoy
the fascinating Kathakali dance. But the thing that I can never forget in
my life was the Ayurvedic oil massage in one of the local health resorts.
It was really a memorable stay. I will always cherish the wonderful
moments spent there.

XYZ

SAMPLE 2
You are Naresh. You happened to go to Agra on a crowded bus on a
hot summer day. Record your experience in 100-150 words in your
diary.

Wednesday, 10 October 20XX 9.00 pm

Dear Diary,

Today I had a horrible experience. I never had such an awful experience

in my life. I had gone to Agra for urgent work. There were very few
buses running today as most of them had been put on Election duty. I
waited for two hours at the bus stop to get into the bus. It was quite
crowded. People were pushing each other. Luggage was falling over
people. The bus was completely packed with passengers.

There were brawls, even fist fighting which was somehow brought
under control by the timely intervention of some elderly passengers. I
somehow managed to get some space for myself. It was really difficult
to even breathe for me. Everyone was sweating and the pungent smell
was unbearable. After the journey of two hours, I came out of the bus
and took a sigh of relief. I will never forget this journey in my life.

Naresh

SAMPLE 3
You are Neha. Today is your birthday and your father has gifted you a
laptop. You are very happy as you had wanted to have from a long
time. Before going to bed you intend to share your joy with your
diary. Write a diary entry in 100-150 words expressing your feeling.

Tuesday, 19 October 20XX 10.30 p.m.

Dear Diary

My joy knew no bounds today. It is my birthday and my father has

given me a laptop as a gift. It is simply unbelievable. It is like a dream
come true as I wanted to possess one from a long time. Now I will be
able to browse the necessary information that I will need. I can’t thank
my father enough for the gift that he has given. He has never deprived
us of anything in life.

Now, I can communicate with people through email and even chat with
my friends. I can play games during my leisure time. Although, it is a
small thing it holds the entire world. I hope I am able to use this gift
effectively. The Internet today can make us global. So, it has great
relevance in today’s world.

Neha

SAMPLE 4
Today you celebrate independence Day at your school. But you are
not satisfied with the attitude of people towards freedom. They
consider that they are free to spoil the country and solid its image.
Write a diary entry expressing your feelings.

Friday 15th August, 20xx 10.00 p.m.

Dear Diary

Today I’m just pandering over the condition of India. We are about to
complete 73 years of independence. But where have we reached?
Every year we commemorate the sacrifices made by our freedom
fighters on this pious national festival, wave flags, sing patriotic songs
and show off our patriotism by posting patriotic images on social media
and the very next day we discard those flags in the drains. When I see
the heaps of garbage everywhere, small kids working as child labourers,
people dying because of lack of food or medical treatment,
discriminating against women, I feel ashamed of myself. Is it what we
wanted?

Actually, we are taking our freedom for granted. We have lots of

expectations from our country but we forget about our duties. We
need to develop a sense of belongingness. Patriotism should be
displayed in our acts rather than in profile photos. Today I’ve decided
that I will give my contribution to the development of my motherland.
Even small actions count. I will teach the poor kids in my
neighbourhood. I will take charge of cleanliness in class. I know, I’ll be
teased for it too. But I won’t get annoyed. Someday, others will also
follow me. If every person takes it as a challenge, no one can stop India
from being the superpower.
Aditya

SAMPLE 5

You recently participated in the All India CBSE National Quiz

Competition and reached the finals. The final round was telecast over
the national channel where you and your team won the quiz. Describe
your feelings in 100-150 words through a diary entry.

Wednesday, 11 May 20XX 10:30 p.m.

We were excited as our team was among the four finalists at the All
India CBSE National Quiz Competition, 20XX. This was an eagerly
awaited moment because the final round was being telecast live on the
national channel. Truly it was a juncture when we would have to test
our worth, even as we strengthened our scores. The start was
uneventful and pallid, but in the ‘superfast’ round, our luck, and
presence of mind, helped us to come up with the right answers in
record time. With faces beaming in jubilation we walked up to receive
the trophy as the blinding lights of cameras flashed around. The event
became the most-visited programme of the year, as there were
numerous telecasts of our moment of triumph. It was the most
memorable moment in my life and I felt I was in the seventh sky.

XYZ

HOMEWORK
1) You won the Best Student Award this year. Make a diary entry in
100-150 words expressing your feelings. You can take help from the
given hints.

Hints: Best Student Award for excellence in studies as well as

achievement in co-curricular activities. Joy knows no bounds —
parents have promised a scooter/bicycle. Friends and teachers
appreciate—a proud moment.

2) You recently lost an expensive wristwatch belonging to your

grandfather. You are now feeling afraid to confess. Express your
feelings of anguish through a diary entry in 100-150 words.