Assignment #1: This I Believe Essay

Genre: Personal Narrative / Expressive Writing / Reflection

"Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent."
–Edward R. Murrow, host of the original This I Believe series
Goals:

- to conduct a written inquiry into the history of one of your deeply held beliefs
- to examine and clearly articulate that belief and its origins
- to reflect on the incident(s) that shaped and developed that belief, drawing
clear connections
- to create a well-organized essay using a logical, coherent structure, vivid
verbs, and well-chosen examples that connect to larger, abstract concepts
Description:
A “This I Believe” essay reflects on your development as a thinking, moral person
and citizen and explores your personal history in relationship to a core value or
belief you hold dear. In this essay, you examine an event that shaped you, giving at
least one specific example of what shaped your view of the world. A “This I Believe”
essay also considers larger questions of the role of specific experience in the
author’s life and draws parallels, often metaphorically, between the specific and the
abstract. “This I Believe” essays are written from a first person perspective, are less
formal than academic essays, and use vivid language, specific examples, detailed
incidents, and clearly related memories to communicate the author’s ideas and
experience.
There is no one “right” way to write a “This I Believe” essay. Everyone’s story is
unique. For examples of “This I Believe” essays, visit the website at
www.thisibelieve.org.
Note: This “I Believe” essays often begin with the phrase “I believe in . . . “—
although this is not always true. How you begin is your choice, but somewhere in
the essay (often also at the end) you should clearly state the core belief you are
writing about. Important: remember to state what you DO believe in, not what you
DON’T believe.
Strategies:
You might begin with a strong memory, good or bad, of a particular incident that
shaped a core belief. Crucial to writing this essay is that you identify your topic early
in the process; freewriting might be your most helpful tool here as you seek to
articulate a value, belief, or core experience that is deeply important to you. Read
or re-read examples of “This I Believe” essays to see how other writers have
told their stories.

From the This I Believe website (some good advice!):

Tell a story: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in
the events of your life. Consider moments when 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—it can even be funny—but it should be real.
Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the
shaping of your beliefs.

Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you do

believe, not what you don't believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial "we."
Make your essay about you; speak in the first person. This is an “I” paper,
not a “you” or “they” paper.

Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to
speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times,
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.

For further information, see essay writing tips on the This I Believe Website:
http://www.thisibelieve.org/essaywritingtips.html
Requirements:
- min. 500-750 words, double spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins
- Polished and largely free of (unintentional) errors in GPS (grammar,
punctuation, and spelling)
- Header on first page/last name and page # on all pages
- MLA format
- Final packet: at least 2 drafts and 2 peer reviews

Evaluation will include such questions as

- Have you chosen an important event that reveals something about you and
your core belief? Is it clear how you came to this belief?
- Is there a clear main idea?
- Have you used vivid language and carefully chosen details to tell your story?
- Does the story make sense? Is it well-focused and specific, but does it also
address larger themes? Are there connections between the concrete and
specific to the general and abstract?
- Is the manuscript edited, revised, and written in your own voice?

I hope you have fun with this assignment! I look forward to seeing what you come
up with.