This I Believe Introduction

THIS I BELIEVE: Create an Effective Personal Essay

From 1951 to l955, Edward R. Murrow hosted This I Believe, a daily radio program that reached 39 million listeners. On this broadcast, Americans—both well known and unknown—read five-minute essays about their personal philosophy of life. They shared insights about individual values that shaped their daily actions. The first volume of This I Believe essays, published in 1952, sold 300,000 copies—more than any other book in the U. S. during that year except for the Bible. In fact, these Murrow broadcasts were so popular that American high school students are being encouraged to compose essays about their most significant personal beliefs.

Fifty years later, This I Believe, Inc., and NPR are again inviting Americans of all ages and all perspectives to examine their belief systems and then write a 400- to 500-word personal essay.

I believe in the power of simple questions.

I believe government is a verb: the collective effort of well-intentioned individuals.

I believe government is a verb: the collective effort of well-intentioned individuals.


Brainstorm: Personal Writing Prompts
Choose one as a prompt for an entry on your blog. Give it a title, copy and paste the prompt, and then answer the questions.

1. Most of us have been in a situation where we made a promise that for one reason or another we were unable to keep.
When were you disappointed because someone made you a promise that they failed to keep? Or when did you break a promise that you made to someone else?

2. We all tend to judge people by their appearances, even though looks can be deceiving.
Have you ever prejudged someone incorrectly based on their appearance or has someone ever prejudged you unfairly based on how you look?

3. All of us are works in progress with a long way to go before we reach our full potential.
In what skill or area are you still working to make progress?

4. Everyone has problems or challenges to overcome.
What obstacles are you proud to have faced and conquered?

5. Our society uses the word hero in many different ways?
How do you define hero, and who is a hero in your life?

6. There is a famous adage: "To err is human, to forgive divine.”
When did you feel divine because you were able to forgive someone for their mistake? When did someone act divine by forgiving you when you were wrong?

Writing Perspective

Create a new post on your blogspot account. Write a creative writing piece that answers the following question:

What do you think about writing? (formal, creative, journaling...any kind of writing)

All responses are welcome, BUT they must be in a creative writing format, such as a poem, character sketch, short anecdote, lyrics, drama, etc. Two examples have been provided for you as comments below.

GO WILD! BE CREATIVE!

WELCOME!!!

Welcome to the classroom blog for our writing workshop experience. You must first begin by creating your own blog account.

STEP ONE: ...if you do not have a blog
Go to your gmail (gcspartans.net) account and sign-in
At the top select the 'more' link and move to 'even more'
Select the Blogger application "Create an Account" (blue box?)
Follow the steps. YES, YOU MAY USE YOUR CELL PHONE or someone else's. Also, make sure you use your school email account (gcspartans).
When you get to "Blog Title," make it your name. I would put the same thing as your Blog Address (the actual URL you will use).
Choose a background template
The next screen will say "start blogging." This is where you can enter your first post. I would like you to first create a bio post. (kind of like your Facebook info)

STEP ONE: ...if you do have a blog.
Sign in to account
View Profile and/or Select Dashboard
Select "Create a Blog" right of Manage headline
When you get to "Blog Title," make it your name. I would put the same thing as your Blog Address (the actual URL you will use). Make this specific to Creative Writing course.
Choose a background template
The next screen will say "start blogging." This is where you can enter your first post. I would like you to first create a bio post. (kind of like your Facebook info)



STEP TWO:
Now is the somewhat trickier part. :)
Open another window and go to "http://gccw2011.blogspot.com/"
That is our class home page. You are going to join this page as a follower.
Click on the "follow" button.
Select "google" since our gcspartans accounts are google
It will ask you to login again (use your blogger password, not your school password)
It will ask you if you want to follow publicly. Say yes and hit "follow this blog"
Your account is now attached to the class page, but you need to attach your page as a link.
You will see your name on top next to a blank picture box (you have to be logged in to your blogger account for this to work).
Click on "options" and select "site settings"
Click "add links" and enter the url from your blog and your blog title.

EXTRA INFORMATION
Your blog will now be linked to the class home page. As you get more skilled in blogging, you will want to add a picture to you link so the boxes on the class page do not all look the same (If this hurts your brain, just ask and I can help you). You just click on your box and go to "edit settings," then you can edit your photo.

Now, whenever you enter a writing selection, all you have to do is create a new post (TOP RIGHT) on your page. That's it. Then anyone who wants to look at your writing can access your blog from the class page.



Happy blogging!