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Admirable Hooks
A not-so-great hook. Visit https://thisibelieve.org/youth/ and look at the various hooks (e.g., first sentences or paragraphs) of the...
A not-so-great hook. Visit https://thisibelieve.org/youth/ and look at the various hooks (e.g., first sentences or paragraphs) of the...
In the guidelines it says show rather than tell your beliefs. Would a good way to “show” a belief be sharing anecdotes?
ReplyDeleteYes! Thank you for bringing this up. Many of the essays you can preview at thisibelieve.org include anecdote and personal experience.
ReplyDeleteHow specific should the topic be? Should it be one particular belief or can it be about a slightly broader idea that might encompass multiple things?
ReplyDeleteGiven the word limit, I think it's easier to focus on a particular belief, but you could do your first draft about the broader idea and see how it goes. I recommend looking at a variety of the examples.
DeleteI'm wondering about how important the beliefs we choose to write about should be. Does it really have to be our one "desert island" belief? Or does it just have to be written seriously?
ReplyDeleteI think the tone can be entirely up to you! Also, your belief can be lighthearted or serious, funny or somber.
DeleteHow informal should the essays be? Should they be more relaxed than the essays we usually write?
ReplyDeleteInformal in the sense that you should use first person and are encouraged to adopt a voice that sounds like you. I think the samples can offer a good idea of this.
Deletedoes "adopting the appropriate tone" mean that we can decide how formal our writing should be based on the topic?
ReplyDeleteYes! Aim to match the tone to the belief (e.g., if my belief is gravely serious, I wouldn't want to undermine it with a goofy tone).
DeleteThe guidelines suggest reading the essay aloud. Will we have to submit a recording of ourselves reading the essay aloud next week?
ReplyDeleteGreat question! You won't have to do so, but you will be welcome turn your essay into a podcast if you'd like.
DeleteCould the final product be a collection of short stories/scenarios or maybe a poem?
ReplyDeleteI think a poem or short story could be a nice supplement to the essay, especially if your belief has to do with fiction's or poetry's power.
DeleteTo "avoid preaching or editorializing"/be positive, does that mean we should avoid talking about societal problems, and write more positively?
ReplyDeleteEvan
I don't think so. In fact, I think it's a great opportunity to share your beliefs about societal problems. I think the "avoid preaching" advice means to share your belief without making the demand that everyone should do as you do and see as you see.
DeleteCan the story be from our childhoods or should it be more recent?
ReplyDeleteEither one is fine!
DeleteCan we use an example topic that was on our brainstorming sheet?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Anything that helps you get started is fair game.
DeleteI was wondering if we had to share an anecdote in our essay?
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to, but you could.
DeleteI feel like all of the examples of I Believe essays I looked at were really life changing moments, is it aright to use a story thats not as conventionally inspiring or dramatic?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Our convictions don't only come out of earth-shaking episodes. Use a story that most authentically relates to what you believe.
DeleteWill there be a dedicated day next week to editing/ cutting down word count?
ReplyDeleteYes! We will be drafting throughout the week and will have a dedicated assignment for revision.
DeleteIt seems like most significant events in my life are mostly specific to academics. Most non-academic events I remember did not really result in me reflecting deeply on or changing fundamental beliefs (ex. whether or not the world is just). In that case, what should I write about?
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest listing some of those events related to academics and choosing one of them to write about.
DeleteShould the essay contain one story or a few shorter stories that pertain to your belief?
ReplyDeleteIn an early draft, you might include a few stories. For the revised version, you'll probably cut it back to one.
DeleteIs it okay if the belief is more simple? Like something you're passionate about but not necessarily a major theme like the ones on the sheet
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is!
DeleteHow do you suggest narrowing down your list until you get the desert island belief?
ReplyDeleteIs it acceptable to tell a more theoretical story as opposed to a personal tale, if I believe that it will better convey my point?
ReplyDelete