This I Believe Speeches
What Do You Think? Pre-Writing
Important Moments: Pre-Writing
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Values Chart: Pre-Writing
My Story-Memory Chart: Pre-Writing
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Guidelines for Writing
It is now time to begin the writing process. Your finished product will be between 350 and 500 words (1 1/2 - 2 pages)
It's All About You!
Write about you and your thoughts. Tell us your story in the first person and try to avoid sentences like "We feel this way."
Keep It Personal
Don't try to use words or phrases you wouldn't normally say. Remember, if you wouldn't be comfortable saying the words out loud, it is probably too formal.
Timing Is Everything
Make sure you read your finished essay out loud. It shouldn't be more than three minutes long when read at a normal speaking rate.
Say What You DO BELIEVE
Say what you believe not what you DON"T- Write about what you think, but not at the expense of others. Keep the focus on you, and what you believe, not what you
disagree with.
Have Fun!
How many times are you allowed to be 100% free with your choice of topic, and what you want to say about it? This is your chance to write about your personal
philosophy of life, so don't be shy-let it out!
It's All About You!
Write about you and your thoughts. Tell us your story in the first person and try to avoid sentences like "We feel this way."
Keep It Personal
Don't try to use words or phrases you wouldn't normally say. Remember, if you wouldn't be comfortable saying the words out loud, it is probably too formal.
Timing Is Everything
Make sure you read your finished essay out loud. It shouldn't be more than three minutes long when read at a normal speaking rate.
Say What You DO BELIEVE
Say what you believe not what you DON"T- Write about what you think, but not at the expense of others. Keep the focus on you, and what you believe, not what you
disagree with.
Have Fun!
How many times are you allowed to be 100% free with your choice of topic, and what you want to say about it? This is your chance to write about your personal
philosophy of life, so don't be shy-let it out!
Introductory Paragraphs
This essay is a little different from others we have written, in that its purpose is more narrative. Because if this different the structure will less formal. The purpose of your introduction is to engage your reader and set up the main idea. As we have seen in the "This I Believe Essays" we have read, the writer's "belief" isn't always stated in the introduction. However, don't wait too long to get into the actual story. If you set up your essay with a quote or unusual fact, make sure you quickly get to the main idea.
Rhetorical quesitons are quesitons that don't really have answers. They are posed in an essay, often in the beginning, to get the reader thinking of a certain topic. To maintain control of your reader's response, try to use open-ended questions rather than questions that can be answered "yes or no". What if your reader answers "no" to your question? Consider how these two rhetorical questions engage a reader differently:
Example: "Have you ever had to trust someone with a secret?"
This questions requires a yes or no answer. Your reader/listener could answer "no" - then what would encourage him or her to continue reading or listening? Compare this question to the next example.
Example: "How easy is it to trust someone with a secret?" or "Why do we hesitate to share our secrets with others?"
This question requires a different kind of answer, one that can engage a reader/listener even if he or she does not share the experience.
Rhetorical quesitons can be quite effective, but be careful not to overuse them. One or two rhetorical questions can go a long way in terms of effectiveness, but more than that will be overkill.
Don't worry so much about length here. Sometimes a good two- to three-sentence introduction can say all you need to say.
Use action: An active voice with strong verbs will grab your reader's attention. Instead of starting out explaining what your essay will be about, tell the reader.
Example: Instead of, "This is my story about the day I learned my parents loved me unconditionally," say "My heart soared as I came to the conclusion about the most important value of all: love."
Rhetorical quesitons are quesitons that don't really have answers. They are posed in an essay, often in the beginning, to get the reader thinking of a certain topic. To maintain control of your reader's response, try to use open-ended questions rather than questions that can be answered "yes or no". What if your reader answers "no" to your question? Consider how these two rhetorical questions engage a reader differently:
Example: "Have you ever had to trust someone with a secret?"
This questions requires a yes or no answer. Your reader/listener could answer "no" - then what would encourage him or her to continue reading or listening? Compare this question to the next example.
Example: "How easy is it to trust someone with a secret?" or "Why do we hesitate to share our secrets with others?"
This question requires a different kind of answer, one that can engage a reader/listener even if he or she does not share the experience.
Rhetorical quesitons can be quite effective, but be careful not to overuse them. One or two rhetorical questions can go a long way in terms of effectiveness, but more than that will be overkill.
Don't worry so much about length here. Sometimes a good two- to three-sentence introduction can say all you need to say.
Use action: An active voice with strong verbs will grab your reader's attention. Instead of starting out explaining what your essay will be about, tell the reader.
Example: Instead of, "This is my story about the day I learned my parents loved me unconditionally," say "My heart soared as I came to the conclusion about the most important value of all: love."
Now the Details
Even though the introduction and conclusion of your essay hold it together (kind of like bookends), it is the story and the juicy details that give your essay personality. There are a few things to keep in mind when working on your detail sentences.
Tips for creating detailed sentences that work:
Stay on track:
Don't let your enthusiasm become a runaway train! Keep your details moving in a progressive order, and re-read all work to check for details that are out of place.
Keep your transitions smooth:
Use transition words to keep your paragraph flowing well. Transitions are useful for many purposes, such as adding thoughts, (also, as well as), showing
consequences (as a result, therefore), showing similiarity and contrast (likewise, instead, but, however), and sequence (first of all, soon, earlier, later on).
The long and short of it:
A nice mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences keep your writing fresh. Double check your work to make sure that you're using a good amount of each.
Same old, same old:
Check to see that you aren't starting too many sentences with the same word. This doesn't mean that repetition of a phrase can't be powerful.
He said, she said:
When telling a a story to a friend, we usually use the word "said" quite a bit. That is okay, but when we are reading, it helps to vary your writing with others words that
may be more specific. Did he "speak," "mumble," or "shriek?" The differences can be quite big!
Spice it up with describing words:
Adjectives and adverbs are modifying words that tell things like how many, what kind, when, and how. Below is a starter list of adjectives and adverbs you can use.
Adjectives (words that modify nouns or pronouns): adorable, adventurous, beautiful, best, brave, crowded, dangerous, dark, distinct, delightful, elated, frightening,
graceful, glorious, healthy, horrible, important, incredible, joyous, kind, large, light, lucky, marvelous, massive, mysterious, nimble, ordinary, outgoing, perfect,
pleasant, powerful, precious, quick, quiet, rare, robust, rough, safe, silent, soaring, tense, tremendous, useful, vivacious, vast, witty, zany.
Adverb (words that usually tell how, when, and where an action takes place): almost, always, anxiously, bodly, briefly, calmly, defiantly, even, far, fast, fondly, gently,
gracefully, hastily, justly, less, more, mysteriously, never, often, only, perfectly, politely, rapidly, really, reluctantly, safely, soon, successfully, suddenly, tomorrow, too,
trustful, very, warmly, well, wildly, yearly, yesterday
Tips for creating detailed sentences that work:
Stay on track:
Don't let your enthusiasm become a runaway train! Keep your details moving in a progressive order, and re-read all work to check for details that are out of place.
Keep your transitions smooth:
Use transition words to keep your paragraph flowing well. Transitions are useful for many purposes, such as adding thoughts, (also, as well as), showing
consequences (as a result, therefore), showing similiarity and contrast (likewise, instead, but, however), and sequence (first of all, soon, earlier, later on).
The long and short of it:
A nice mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences keep your writing fresh. Double check your work to make sure that you're using a good amount of each.
Same old, same old:
Check to see that you aren't starting too many sentences with the same word. This doesn't mean that repetition of a phrase can't be powerful.
He said, she said:
When telling a a story to a friend, we usually use the word "said" quite a bit. That is okay, but when we are reading, it helps to vary your writing with others words that
may be more specific. Did he "speak," "mumble," or "shriek?" The differences can be quite big!
Spice it up with describing words:
Adjectives and adverbs are modifying words that tell things like how many, what kind, when, and how. Below is a starter list of adjectives and adverbs you can use.
Adjectives (words that modify nouns or pronouns): adorable, adventurous, beautiful, best, brave, crowded, dangerous, dark, distinct, delightful, elated, frightening,
graceful, glorious, healthy, horrible, important, incredible, joyous, kind, large, light, lucky, marvelous, massive, mysterious, nimble, ordinary, outgoing, perfect,
pleasant, powerful, precious, quick, quiet, rare, robust, rough, safe, silent, soaring, tense, tremendous, useful, vivacious, vast, witty, zany.
Adverb (words that usually tell how, when, and where an action takes place): almost, always, anxiously, bodly, briefly, calmly, defiantly, even, far, fast, fondly, gently,
gracefully, hastily, justly, less, more, mysteriously, never, often, only, perfectly, politely, rapidly, really, reluctantly, safely, soon, successfully, suddenly, tomorrow, too,
trustful, very, warmly, well, wildly, yearly, yesterday
Conclusions
Conclusions, whether in sentence or paragraph form, have the ability to leave your reader with a lasting feeling after they have finished reading your words. A good conclusion doesn't have to wrap up all the loose ends; many wonderful conclusions leave the reader thinking long after the story has concluded.
Depending on the mood of your essay, and what choices you make as an author, there are several tips and techniques you can use when writing your own conclusions. They apply for both conclusion sentences and paragraphs.
Summaries are for book jackets only:
Try not to summarize in your conclusion. Repeating thoughts and information previously stated will force your reader to hurry through to the end of your essay, and will
make it more difficult for the reader to remember what you said.
Say "bye-bye" to "This is why":
It is easy to end your paragraph with "This is why..." but a much more effective option is to restate your main idea (from the introduction) in a different way.
Your conclusion can have several different goals.
It can:
Challenge the reader to think:
Depending on your subject, you may want the reader to walk away from your essay thinking about his or her own life. For example, if you are writing about a time
when you questioned your faith, you might want to end your essay by giving your reader a challenge to test his or her own spirituality.
*Example: "I know I am not the only person who has ever had to fight to keep my faith alive. But I know I am stronger for having done so-hopefully I am not alone."
Put your story in a bigger context:
Most likely, there are people out there who can relate to your story. Sometimes it is effective to put your personal story in perspective of a bigger world.
*Example, "As a middle school student, I know I am not able to drive a car, vote for our president, or see an R-rated movie yet. These are my frustrations, but I know
eventually, as with everyone who came before me, and everyone who will come after me, and everyone who will come after me, I will grow up."
Ask the reader to do something:
If you are writing about a cause that is important to you, or a situation that has possible solutions, you can gently urge your reader to act on your message. This puts
the reader in a position of power.
*Example: "The next time you are about to head to the grocery store, try to remember all of the plastic bags you see flying around your neighborhood. Grab a
canvas bag instead and make a stylish statement."
Just remember , you aren't here to ridicule, or chastise your reader!
Depending on the mood of your essay, and what choices you make as an author, there are several tips and techniques you can use when writing your own conclusions. They apply for both conclusion sentences and paragraphs.
Summaries are for book jackets only:
Try not to summarize in your conclusion. Repeating thoughts and information previously stated will force your reader to hurry through to the end of your essay, and will
make it more difficult for the reader to remember what you said.
Say "bye-bye" to "This is why":
It is easy to end your paragraph with "This is why..." but a much more effective option is to restate your main idea (from the introduction) in a different way.
Your conclusion can have several different goals.
It can:
Challenge the reader to think:
Depending on your subject, you may want the reader to walk away from your essay thinking about his or her own life. For example, if you are writing about a time
when you questioned your faith, you might want to end your essay by giving your reader a challenge to test his or her own spirituality.
*Example: "I know I am not the only person who has ever had to fight to keep my faith alive. But I know I am stronger for having done so-hopefully I am not alone."
Put your story in a bigger context:
Most likely, there are people out there who can relate to your story. Sometimes it is effective to put your personal story in perspective of a bigger world.
*Example, "As a middle school student, I know I am not able to drive a car, vote for our president, or see an R-rated movie yet. These are my frustrations, but I know
eventually, as with everyone who came before me, and everyone who will come after me, and everyone who will come after me, I will grow up."
Ask the reader to do something:
If you are writing about a cause that is important to you, or a situation that has possible solutions, you can gently urge your reader to act on your message. This puts
the reader in a position of power.
*Example: "The next time you are about to head to the grocery store, try to remember all of the plastic bags you see flying around your neighborhood. Grab a
canvas bag instead and make a stylish statement."
Just remember , you aren't here to ridicule, or chastise your reader!
This I Believe Titles
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This I Believe Titles
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This I Believe Titles
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This I Believe Titles
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This I Believe Titles
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This I Believe Titles
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This I Believe Titles
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This I Believe Titles
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"I Believe in the power of Myanmar"
"I Believe that sacrifice is the greatest form of love" I Believe in the power of forgetting" "I believe that love is blind" "I believe in sobriety" "I believe it's a good life" "I believe in the power of older brothers" "I believe in the power of connections" "I believe in unconditional love" "I believe in man's best friend" "I believe in '17 bros" "I believe in the power of rehab" "I believe in the power of baking soda" "I believe int he power of never judging a book by its cover" "I believe in faith over religion" "I believe in the power of compassion" "I believe in the Gansman moving" "I believe in the power of sports" "I believe in the power of rebellion" "I believe in the power of family" "I believe in the power of Justin Bieber" "I believe in Little League" "I believe in the power of Me" "I believe in the power of Darth Vader" "I believe int he power of baseball" |
"I Believe in the power of letting go"
"I Believe in the power of dance" "I believe in the power of miracles" "I believe in the power of talking to tombstones" "I believe in recovery" "I believe in Super Natural" "I believe in saying goodbye" "I believe in the power of family" "I believe in the power of substitutes" "I believe in the power of music" "I believe in being homeless" "I believe in the power of having a best friend" "I believe in the power of time" "I believe in the power of travel" "I believe in the power of me" "I believe in the American Dream" "I believe in working for watch you get" "I believe in the true meaning of home" "I believe that religion can be dangerous" "I believe in helping others" "I believe in taking time to do the things you love" "I believe in bullies" |
This I Believe
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This I Believe
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"I believe in things not going to plan"
"I believe in not giving up"
"I believe in taking life slow"
"I believe my Dad watches over me"
"I believe in the power of self-love"
"I believe love is not enough"
"I believe in fixing what is broken"
"I believe in being there"
"I believe in the power of a military family"
I believe in miracles"
"I believe in finding strength through the stories of others"
"I believe in struggles"
"I believe in the power of Grandparents"
"I believe some blood has no meaning"
"I believe in self-care"
"I believe in Guardian Angels"
"I believe in the power of divorce"
"I believe in You"
"I believe in the the power of family"
"I believe in second chances"
"I believe in the power of Youth Resources"
"I believe in the power of Moms"
"I believe in the power of loss"
"I believe int he power of heroes"
"I believe int he power of a Mother's love"