My POV: This I Believe
This fall, we wrote This I Believe essays, now you can use this genre to brainstorm or help you write.
What's My Lens? This I Believe Essay Format
Now is your chance to dig deep to consider what you believe in. Using NPR's This I Believe essay genre, what is one of your personal philosophies? What do you believe? Why? How does that shape your lens?
See Below for help getting started, and...
See Below for help getting started, and...
Suggested Steps:
( TASK 1: Check out the project and rubric (link above! Coming soon!)
TASK 2: Read This I Believe essays (many! links below!) to 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
TASK 5: Write at least ONE draft
TASK 6: Participate in a peer review session (how to on the website!)
TASK 7: Practice other revision and editing techinques BELOW!
TO PUBLISH: : Complete your final This I Believe and do these tasks...(For the FaLL)
TASK 8: Share it with me on google docs: ckingham@Me.com
TASK 9: Staple all brainstorms, drafts, peer revisions and any evidence of your process to a final draft
TASK 10: Put a link to your work on your PORTFOLIO and write a reflection
TASK 11: Submit your edited draft by to NPR.org: DUE DATE TBA!
TASK 2: Read This I Believe essays (many! links below!) to 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
TASK 5: Write at least ONE draft
TASK 6: Participate in a peer review session (how to on the website!)
TASK 7: Practice other revision and editing techinques BELOW!
TO PUBLISH: : Complete your final This I Believe and do these tasks...(For the FaLL)
TASK 8: Share it with me on google docs: ckingham@Me.com
TASK 9: Staple all brainstorms, drafts, peer revisions and any evidence of your process to a final draft
TASK 10: Put a link to your work on your PORTFOLIO and write a reflection
TASK 11: Submit your edited draft by to NPR.org: DUE DATE TBA!
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
- Prompts about Beliefs: Click here for a brainstorm about your beliefs through answering common questions
- Important moments: Click here for a brainstorm about important moments in your life
- Consider making a T-chart of what you believe and don't believe (see the photo example above!)
- Consider a cloud- your belief in the center and the stories/reasons why you believe that all around (see the photo example above)
- 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!
- Once you have your belief- check out this brainstorming sheet for stories that connect to your belief
- Having trouble thinking of a memory connected to what you believe? Try out this sheet to help! Click here...
Revision and Editing
- Click here for revision suggestions!
- Click here for peer conference record
- 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 an example a teacher-friend shared with me. When you are describing, 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
Clicke HERE for the rubric!
PUBLISHING- Portfolio and Submit to NPR.org
Outcome: Plan: Make deliberate plans, reflect, and persevere in order to achieve goals.
MS: You successfully planned and submitted your essay before the deadline.
ES: You reflected on my comments and revised and edited your work prior to submitting your essay before the deadline.
- Step 1: Revise, edit and polish your work one last time. Use my comments, but also READ YOUR WORK OUT LOUD before publishing.
- Step 2: Be sure your essay is 500 words or less before submitting. Remember, it's harder to write a short poem than a long letter (a wise man once said).
- Step 3: SHARE your carefully titled work with Christy on google docs- ckingham@me.com
- Step 4: Go to http://thisibelieve.org/submission/#_EssayForm=first to submit your work. They will guide you through the process.
- Step 5: You will get a confirmation email that you have published your work. WAHOO! Forward this to ckingham@me. com
- Step 6: Hand BACK your packet of drafts so Christy can save it!
- Step 7: Celebrate, you're published!