This I Believe\u201d Essay: This assignment is based on National Public Radio\u2019s \u201cThis I Believe\u201d audio essay series, which asks Americans to write about their beliefs in essays meant to be performed for a public audience. As the series creators explain, \u201cYour story need not be heart-warming or gutwrenching\u2014it can even be funny\u2014but it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.\u201d
To begin, think about your day-to-day life. What influences your decisions, your outlook, and your interaction with your environment? What principles guide your life? After you\u2019ve established one belief to focus on, you will then need to choose a specific, personal story to tell in order to illustrate this belief and how you live by it. The important thing is to be specific in your details; this is an essay that can only be written by you.
This is a short essay of 250-500 words, so you will need to be concise and choose only the most important details necessary to describing your belief. You\u2019ll want to have a good \u201clead,\u201d a sentence or two that draws your reader in and sets up the topic. You\u2019ll need to then state your belief. This should be followed by a story that shows your belief in action and demonstrates how your belief shapes your daily life. You have several options as to how you approach your topic; you can use humor, or you can take a more serious approach. Think about what style would best reflect your own personality, and best reflect the belief you choose to discuss, but be sure to avoid lecturing to your audience. \u00a0
Other Suggestions: Here are the suggestions from the producers of the \u201cThis I Believe\u201d series about writing your essay.
1. Tell a story. Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when a belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching\u2014it can even be funny\u2014 but it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.
2. Be brief. Your statement should be between 250 and 500 words. That\u2019s about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.
3. Name your belief. If you can\u2019t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one belief, because three minutes is a very short time.
4. Be positive. Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you believe, not what you don\u2019t believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial \u201cwe.\u201d Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.
5. Be personal. Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud several times to yourself and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.
Essays must be between 300-500 words; it is important that you keep your essay within this parameter. They must also be typed and double-spaced, with one inch margins, using the 12 point Times New Roman font.
Please consult the \u201cThis I Believe\u201d webpage for more guidelines on to how to write a good essay, and to also read sample essays. http:\/\/www.thisibelieve.org
As a class, in the lecture and in the discussion sections, we will raise questions, pose problems, interpret readings, challenge each others\u2019 ideas, and engage in workshop-style activities, including peer review.
Grading Criteria: Points the grader will take into consideration.
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You have a clearly stated belief that guides your essay
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You use a specific story or experience and incorporate concrete details in order to illustrate how this belief shapes your life
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your essay is personalized and unique to you and expresses your own voice
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your essay is well organized and your thoughts developed in an effective manner
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your essay stays within the length requirement of 250-500 words
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Your essay shows signs of careful proofreading, with no grammatical or spelling errors <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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