1. Target: Writing a personal essay
This I Believe…
Target: Writing a personal essay

2. Understanding personal essays:
Personal Essay: Belief or insight about life
Personal Narrative: Important Event
Personal Memoir: Important relationship between the writer and a person, place, or object
Personal essays = combines elements of both the narrative and the memoir since an insight about life or a personal belief is based on BOTH experiences and relationships that have taught the writer what individual values are most important.

3. Question the author:
As you read, answer these questions on separate paper:
What is the author trying to say here? (focused purpose?)
Identify which supporting details in each piece most successfully contributes to the author’s purpose?

4. Personal Essay vs. Transactive Writing
Significant central idea that has deep personal meaning
Reflective
Based on personal experience or anecdotes
First person/informal
Essay form
Subjective

5. Transactive Writing Informational or persuasive
Research based/credible sources
3rd person, formal, academic voice
Objective
Documentation required
Formal in tone, language and voice

6. What do you believe? What do you think? Complete the worksheet
Form groups for Agree or Disagree (like 4 corners, but this time 2 corners)
Discuss in your small group (tell your story on Show Me the Money or at least the story that makes it real), SHARE with the large group
Each group selects the best story – the best story has a connection to the belief statement
In your notebook, write for 10 minutes about your beliefs and the stories that illustrate your beliefs!

7. Composing an Effective Lead
Listen to Elie Wiesel’s “This I Believe” essay
Listen for an effective lead
Read a “This I Believe” essay and analyze the lead
Ways to begin your “This I Believe” essay…do NOT start your essay with “This I Believe…”
Question
Quotation
Strong Statement
Metaphor
Description

8. Tips to Add Audience Appeal To Personal Essays
Read and highlight the handout on audience appeal
Discuss with your elbow partner.

9. DRAPES Technique: How do I support my personal philosophy?
D = Dialogue
R = Rhetorical Question
A = Anecdote
P = Personal Experience
E = Example
S = Statistic

10. This I Believe Essay Writing Guidelines
Tell a story about you.
Be brief.
Name your belief.
Be positive.
Be personal.