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...

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!

Study The Genre

Check Out www.thisibelieve.org and the links below!

Brainstorming

Drafting

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!


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