This I Believe... what do YOU believe???
Based on a 1950’s radio program of the same name, Americans from all walks of life share the personal philosophies and core values that guide their daily lives through National Public Radio's "This I Believe." (npr.org) We will join in with this decades-old program to share what we believe. What do you believe? In your heart of hearts, when you strip away the outer husk, what do you truly believe? What could you possibly write about that would express what you believe...?
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, school, church 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 brief: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words. That’s about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace. Name your belief: If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.
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.
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. In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, “Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent.”We would argue that the need is as great now as it was 50 years ago. NPR is eager for your contribution. Try reading or listening to these essays by children, teens, and adults as they express what they believe.
Sample Essays
Race … “Being Content with Myself” “Why don’t you act black? Since my middle school years, I’ve been asked this question more than any other… and from Jackie Robinson "Free Minds and Hearts at Work."
Sports… “The Freedom of Baseball” “I believe in baseball. I believe in the strength it takes to…”
Duty ... "A Duty to Family, Heritage, and Country" "I am a good child, obendient. I grew up in China, a country where education is ..."
Kindergarten beliefs ... "Thirty Things I Believe" ... written by a kindergartenerThe lessons of poverty ... "Finding the Flexibility to Survive"Addiction… “The Choice to be Stronger” A time when "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger' has unintended meaning...
Essay Requirements Honors: 350 to 500 words, one-inch margins, TNR (Times New Roman), double spaced, header formatted with three lines of information aligned to the right. The header is to include these lines: 1. First and last name 2. Date 3. Course name. 4. Assignment
Unit Writing Lessons
1. Discussion about essays vs. memoirs vs. personal narratives
2. Terms review: purpose, tone, audience, narrator, point of view, figurative language, imagery, sentence variety, flow, transitions, theme, subjective vs. objective.
3. What do you think? Do you "agree" or "disagree" with the statements from our gallery walk.
4. We will create webs for our brainstorming.
5. We will then add structure and sequence to our ideas by creating an outline or ordering our web items.
6. We will then review what a successful lead/hook is and how to write an effective lead.
7. We will discuss the importance of strong word choices and transitions.
8. We will then write our rough draft.
9. We will then edit and proofread our drafts.
120. We will then make any needed changes and submit a final draft.
This I Believe
Essay-Writing Tips
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 brief: Your statement should be between 400 and 500 words. That’s about three to four
minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.
Name your belief: If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be
about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on a core belief, because
a few minutes is a very short time.
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.
Be personal: This is radio. 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.
Tips from the original series on National Public Radio: It may help you in formulating your credo if we tell you also what we do not want. We do not want a sermon, religious or lay; we do not want editorializing or sectarianism or
'finger-pointing.' We do not even want your views on the American way of life, or
democracy or free enterprise. These are important but for another occasion. We want to
know what you live by. And we want it terms of 'I,' not the editorial 'We.' But we do ask you to confine yourself to affirmatives: This means refraining from saying what you do not believe.
The Five Parts to your efforts:
1. Prewriting activities
2. Brainstorming web
3. Ordered web or outline
4. Edited/proofread rough draft
5. Final draft
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, school, church 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 brief: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words. That’s about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace. Name your belief: If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.
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.
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. In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, “Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent.”We would argue that the need is as great now as it was 50 years ago. NPR is eager for your contribution. Try reading or listening to these essays by children, teens, and adults as they express what they believe.
Sample Essays
Race … “Being Content with Myself” “Why don’t you act black? Since my middle school years, I’ve been asked this question more than any other… and from Jackie Robinson "Free Minds and Hearts at Work."
Sports… “The Freedom of Baseball” “I believe in baseball. I believe in the strength it takes to…”
Duty ... "A Duty to Family, Heritage, and Country" "I am a good child, obendient. I grew up in China, a country where education is ..."
Kindergarten beliefs ... "Thirty Things I Believe" ... written by a kindergartenerThe lessons of poverty ... "Finding the Flexibility to Survive"Addiction… “The Choice to be Stronger” A time when "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger' has unintended meaning...
Essay Requirements Honors: 350 to 500 words, one-inch margins, TNR (Times New Roman), double spaced, header formatted with three lines of information aligned to the right. The header is to include these lines: 1. First and last name 2. Date 3. Course name. 4. Assignment
Unit Writing Lessons
1. Discussion about essays vs. memoirs vs. personal narratives
2. Terms review: purpose, tone, audience, narrator, point of view, figurative language, imagery, sentence variety, flow, transitions, theme, subjective vs. objective.
3. What do you think? Do you "agree" or "disagree" with the statements from our gallery walk.
4. We will create webs for our brainstorming.
5. We will then add structure and sequence to our ideas by creating an outline or ordering our web items.
6. We will then review what a successful lead/hook is and how to write an effective lead.
7. We will discuss the importance of strong word choices and transitions.
8. We will then write our rough draft.
9. We will then edit and proofread our drafts.
120. We will then make any needed changes and submit a final draft.
This I Believe
Essay-Writing Tips
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 brief: Your statement should be between 400 and 500 words. That’s about three to four
minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.
Name your belief: If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be
about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on a core belief, because
a few minutes is a very short time.
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.
Be personal: This is radio. 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.
Tips from the original series on National Public Radio: It may help you in formulating your credo if we tell you also what we do not want. We do not want a sermon, religious or lay; we do not want editorializing or sectarianism or
'finger-pointing.' We do not even want your views on the American way of life, or
democracy or free enterprise. These are important but for another occasion. We want to
know what you live by. And we want it terms of 'I,' not the editorial 'We.' But we do ask you to confine yourself to affirmatives: This means refraining from saying what you do not believe.
The Five Parts to your efforts:
1. Prewriting activities
2. Brainstorming web
3. Ordered web or outline
4. Edited/proofread rough draft
5. Final draft