1. Some Responses to Essential Questions
Grade 10 English
September 2011

2. Responses
“I feel like these questions are very personal and deep. The first question makes me think really hard about life and what has made me who I am. I feel like I can name a few things off the top of my head, such as family and friends, however to get into better detail I believe I’m going to need to think harder about these questions.”

3. “I think these questions are hard to answer and I think it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what I was impacted by and how I became who I am.”

4. “My beliefs on race, gender, and class are that we are all equals and I think my individuality is worth fighting for.”

5. “I think these questions are reasonable for grade 10
“I think these questions are reasonable for grade 10. I also think they’re personal.”

6. “These are some big questions that students don’t usually get asked
“These are some big questions that students don’t usually get asked. I know right away what a lot of my beliefs are but others I am still trying to sort out.”

7. “I don’t know if I like them or not, but I hope it won’t be boring.”

8. “Perhaps the hardest question to answer is “Who am I. ”
“Perhaps the hardest question to answer is “Who am I?”. The answer to that question is one some people spend their whole lives looking for. The answer is constantly changing, evolving and it is a question I hope to be able to answer soon.”

9. “However, we are taught right or wrong by how others react to our actions.”

10. “I’m not really sure what I would stand up for, but when the time comes I will.”

11. “…so I’m at an odd stage when it comes to figuring out my beliefs and who I am, but I know that however I end up will be the right way to be me.”

12. “I also get nervous because I don’t want to put down the wrong answer

13. “I am very confused about these questions because they are questions I have never been asked before and have never really thought about until now. Because behind all of these questions there could be thousands of answers.”

14. “I think that when people really think hard about their answers they will realize a lot they didn’t know about themselves.”

15. “These questions confuse me
“These questions confuse me. I don’t know if I should answer them literally or answer them emotionally like some kind of Chicken Soup for the Soul book.”