600 word due in 8 hrs!

ENGLISH 112

ESSAY #1: THIS I BELIEVE

LENGTH: AT LEAST 500 WORDS

PEER EDIT DRAFT DUE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

PEER EDIT COMMENTS DUE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

FINAL DRAFT DUE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

THE ASSIGNMENT (Just as written on the This I Believe website):

Tell a story about you: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events that have shaped your core values. 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.

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.

Be positive: Write about what you do believe, not what you don’t believe. Avoid statements of religious dogma, preaching, or editorializing.

Be personal: Make your essay about you; speak in the first person. Avoid speaking in the editorial “we.” Tell a story from your own life; this is not an opinion piece about social ideals. 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.

THE PROCESS:

First step: brainstorm. Complete the prewriting exercises in your Week 2 journal. You can also try this: write a list of things you believe, from the biggest to the smallest. If you need some inspiration, go to “Explore” on the website and click on “Browse by Theme.” Here are some good stumpers: do you think humans are essentially compassionate, or self-serving? What does it mean to have a successful life? What is our responsibility to our community, our nation, our world?

Second step: find the story (or stories). Write a list of events, observed or experienced, that illustrate how you formed your belief. Once you have a few good prospects, write out as many specific details as you can remember about each event. Conjure the scene for your readers.

Third Step: show how the story/stories are connected to your belief. Take a look at the model essays on the website for ideas on the myriad ways to do this.

Fourth Step: write your draft!

Write well, and have fun!

(