My P.O.V: This I Believe Essay...
This fall, you completed a “This I Believe” Essay and it’s time to give it another try after almost a year of learning and becoming more skilled writers. You will use the elements of narrative non-fiction that we have studied to help you write honestly and creatively!
Why are we doing this? This I Believe essays are potentials for your college essays or supplements and are really good practice for writing the college essay, if nothing else!...Click this link for the ass ignment
Why are we doing this? This I Believe essays are potentials for your college essays or supplements and are really good practice for writing the college essay, if nothing else!...Click this link for the ass ignment
Suggested Steps:
TASK 1: Check out the assignment (link above!)
TASK 2: Read This I Believe essays (many! links below!) to remind yourself of the genre and get a feel for the possibilities
TASK 3: Review The format of This I Believe
TASK 4: Complete at least ONE brainstorm from my website or on your own
TASK 5: Write at least ONE draft
TASK 6: Participate in a peer review session
TASK 7: Practice other revision and editing advice BELOW!
TO PUBLISH: : Complete your final This I Believe by May 19th
TASK 8: Edit and polish...then label it with your name and This I Believe....then share it with me on google docs: [email protected]
TASK 9: Put a link to your work on your PORTFOLIO and write a reflection
TASK 10: Submit to This I Believe contest (optional, but I say go for it! Good experience!)
TASK 2: Read This I Believe essays (many! links below!) to remind yourself of the genre and get a feel for the possibilities
TASK 3: Review The format of This I Believe
TASK 4: Complete at least ONE brainstorm from my website or on your own
TASK 5: Write at least ONE draft
TASK 6: Participate in a peer review session
TASK 7: Practice other revision and editing advice BELOW!
TO PUBLISH: : Complete your final This I Believe by May 19th
TASK 8: Edit and polish...then label it with your name and This I Believe....then share it with me on google docs: [email protected]
TASK 9: Put a link to your work on your PORTFOLIO and write a reflection
TASK 10: Submit to This I Believe contest (optional, but I say go for it! Good experience!)
Study The Genre
Check Out www.thisibelieve.org and the links below!
- "Find a Good Frog" http://thisibelieve.org/essay/101469/
- "Always Go to the Funeral" http://www.npr.org/2005/08/08/4785079/always-go-to-the-funeral
- Featured Essays: http://thisibelieve.org/essays/featured/
- Class of 2014 TYWLS students published on This I Believe!
- Christy's Essay from 2009: http://thisibelieve.org/essay/64405/
- Jackie Robinson
- Model Essay 1
- Model Essay 2
- Model Essay 3
- Model Essay 4
Brainstorming
- Important moments: Click here for a brainstorm about important moments in your life
- Things I've Learned About Life: Click here for a brainstorm about life lessons you've learned
- My favorite way to brainstorm for this is to freewrite a list filling in the blank, "I believe......". This list could be silly or serious or both. We all have strong beliefs. Don't think about having to write an essay about one- just write a list of what you believe in. Click here for an example of a list I made a few years ago. I highlighted the ones I wanted to try writing about to narrow it down.
Drafting
- Click here to download suggestions for getting started!
- Having trouble thinking of a memory connected to what you believe? Try out this sheet to help! Click here...
Revision
- Click here for revision suggestions!
- Vary your sentence length- I do this by reading my work out loud and breaking up my sentences to be more concise.
- Revise using the "rule of 3"! Here' s and example a teacher-friend shared with me. When you are descirbitng, try to use three adjectives or examples... Describing a person
1. Becca, Sasha’s friend since first grade, was right behind her. Becca was her best friend. (OK)
2. Becca was Sasha’s best friend because she was loyal, funny, and strong. (Better)
3. Becca was Sasha’s best friend. She was loyal enough to stick by her in the toughest of times, funny enough to maker her laugh when she felt like crying, and strong enough not to get angry when Sasha was in one of her moods. (Now I SEE and FEEL it!)
Describing a place
1. The cafeteria was loud.
2. The cafeteria was loud, brightly-lit, and intimidating.
3. The cafeteria was loud because every middle school student seemed to be speaking at once, brightly-lit because the ceiling was lined with fluorescent bulbs, and intimidating because at any moment someone’s feelings could be hurt with an insult or a look.
Click here for another link that explains what I mean: http://goteenwriters.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-rule-of-three.html