This I Believe Writing Workshop Notes

Personal Writing Personal writing: –Communicates a central idea that has a deep personal meaning to the writer. –Is reflective –Uses personal experiences or anecdotes –Is written in first person (Uses I, me, my, etc.) –Is informal in tone, language and subject.

Writing Your Own “This I Believe” Essay For this essay, you need to choose a belief. Look back at your “30 Things I Believe Assignment” for inspiration Whatever your belief is, you MUST have a story to explain WHY you believe it. Think of each of the essays we read and listened to. The author’s had a belief, and backed up that belief with a story. The main part of your essay will be telling that story.

Creating Paragraphs Essays should have three parts: introduction, juicy details and a conclusion. Topic –Detail one –Detail two –Detail three and so on… For example, if we were writing a paragraph about pizza, it could go something like this: –I love pizza because… Toppings Gooey cheese Hot and fresh from the oven Write out your own paragraph about your favorite food. Start with an introduction, then give details about WHY.

Introduction The introduction is the most important part of your essay. It is the first thing a reader sees and can interest, or hook, the reader into wanting to continue reading your work. Introductory sentences set up the rest of your paragraph or essay. A few techniques for an introductory sentence are: –Ask a question –Make a list –Share a story –Use a quote related to your topic –Make a strong statement –Use a metaphor –Give a description

Introduction A few techniques and tips for your intro paragraph: –Don’t wait too long to get to the actual story –Rhetorical questions can be effective, but don’t overuse them –Don’t worry so much about length. Sometimes a two or three sentence intro is all you need to hook a reader. –Use action! Strong verbs will grab a reader’s attention

Juicy Details The details of your essay are what give it personality. A few things to keep in mind: –Stay on track. Don’t veer off on a tangent that has nothing to do with what you are trying to say. –Keep your transitions smooth with transition words. –Mix up the length of your sentences –Check that you don’t start too many sentences with the same word or phrase –If you use dialogue, don’t over use “said”. –Use lots of adjectives and adverbs to keep things interesting. Describe the things you talk about.

Conclusions The conclusion is where you finish your story. The goal is to leave your reader thinking about what you said long after they finish reading. A few tips for your conclusion: –Don’t just summarize what you’ve already said. –Avoid: “This is why…” and “In conclusion…” –Challenge your reader to think and apply what you have said to their own lives. –Put your story in a bigger context. If you have written about being in junior high, try and relate it to adult situations. This way, readers of all ages can relate and understand.

Tips to Add Audience Appeal Be sure your essay is about something you care strongly about. While your essay should be personal, make sure you draw in your audience so they can make personal connections Use details to draw in the reader. Be specific and avoid using abstract expressions and phrases, clichés, etc. Make the emotions real and personal. Employ your five senses Remember to give enough information that you don’t have to restate everything you’ve already said in the conclusion. Saying “What I am really trying to tell you is…” is a bit insulting. If you are clear in the rest of your essay, there is no need to hit them over the head with a summary. Sometimes a brief echo of the opening is the most satisfying ending to bring a personal essay full circle.

How to Support Your Personal Philosophy D- Dialogue R- Rhetorical Questions (within reason) A- Anecdote P- Personal Experience E- Example S- Statistic