English @ CCHS
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this i believe

how do you share your core beliefs effectively?

This week, we'll delve into the personal essay: a short, pointed essay that speaks to your beliefs and the experiences/people/places that have shaped them. 

Module summary:
  • peruse "This I Believe" essays from www.thisibelieve.org
  • break down the personal essay structure
  • explore your own personal beliefs
  • write a personal essay
  • record your essay!

This module uses material from the official This I Believe curriculum, and as such, I can't share specific activities or prompts on the website. If you miss a day, check in with me, please.
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essential questions

  • What is the difference between personal writing and transactive writing?
  • What does clear, concise writing look like?

goals

  • Students will understand that personal writing involves connecting experiences with ideas to reflect on a deep meaning to the writer - it reflects rather than persuades.
  • Students will understand that clear, concise writing requires utilizing the entire writing process (prewriting, drafting, sharing, revising) to ensure the piece has a focal point and that every word helps reach that point.

activities

INTRODUCTION
  • warm-up: listen to a This I Believe essay
  • review syllabus and expectations

EXPOSE
  • Review personal essay structure and purpose vs. transactive essay structure and purpose
  • Explore essays (at least 3) from This I Believe series (audio and printed)
    • For each essay you listen to/read, note the following:
      • Title, author, and date
      • What is the core belief expressed?
      • How does the author back up this belief? (examples, experiences, etc.)
  • Review effective hook writing

PRACTICE
  • Participate in "What do you think?" activity to explore beliefs (see Christine for details)
    • define your beliefs based on given prompts
    • mine your memory to find anecdotes that illustrate a chosen belief
  • Freewrite using prompts

CREATE
  • Draft your "This I Believe" essay (between 500 and 600 words)
    • be sure to include something concrete from your experience to illustrate your core belief
    • go deeper than experience; discuss meaning of the experience and how it connects to your core belief

REFLECT
  • Conference with Christine about draft
  • Record polished essay!

c-tachs

Writing
  • Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
  • Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach
Language
  • Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar when speaking and writing
  • Demonstrate command of standard capitalization and punctuation
  • Spell correctly

documents

This I Believe Syllabus
File Size: 40 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Refer to your Reading and Writing Handbook for effective hooks (p. 13)

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The Mission of Chaffee County High School

“We engage and empower our society through innovative education to make a more positive and peaceful world." 

Contact Us

  • Home
    • About
  • Stereotypes
  • Research
  • Reading & Writing
  • Recent Modules
    • Connect >
      • Board Game Reviews (mini)
      • CCHS Powtoon
      • Coco!
      • Creative Writing Seminar
      • Dragon Post
      • Editorializing
      • E-mail Etiquette (Dead Poet's Society)
      • E-mail Etiquette (Star Wars)
      • English Skills
      • Go Write Outside
      • HONY and Narrative Essays
      • Nature Poetry
      • Passion Project
      • Persons, Places, Things
      • Photo Essays
      • Rebel Girls >
        • Jane Goodall
      • Teach Me Something
      • Virtual Reality-ing
    • Construct >
      • 2018 in Review
      • Book Censorship
      • Live Anywhere
      • Picture Book Inquiry
      • Propaganda Bombs
      • PSA Powtoon
      • Self-Improvement
      • State of the Union
      • Rant to Reason
      • TED Topics
      • Who Cares?
    • Be Curious >
      • Art Time is Fun Time!
      • Caper with the Classics
      • CCHS Librarians
      • Emma: Friend or Foe?
      • Fahrenheit 451
      • Found Poetry
      • Google Expeditions
      • Hero's Journey
      • Irreverence
      • Macbeth
      • Poetry
      • The Lottery
      • "Worthy" Art
    • Senior English >
      • Senior Analysis
      • Senior Composition
      • Personal Essay & Resume