Rules of Summer assignment

After the class read Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan together, click on the link for the Google Doc and follow the directions.

Share your Rules of Summer

This I Believe essay resources and requirements

We started by exploring two different poems about  belief  "What I Believe" by Jacqueline Woodson. This poem was a listing of all the things the author believes. Now it's time to narrow it down. 

Your first formal writing assignment for the 2014-2015 school year will be to write a "This I Believe" essay. Writing this essay will allow you to go beyond a personal narrative and shape your story into a personal belief or credo.

Requirements (taken from the "This I Believe" essay collection book and the website):

• Name your belief (focus on ONE belief, not many)
• Be positive - be FOR something, not against it
• Focus on the "I" in the title rather than sermonizing to a "we."
• Tell a story about you and be personal

Avoid (also taken from the "This I Believe" essay collection book):

• self-righteousness
• prescribing for others (telling people how THEY should live)
• cliches and restatement of someone else's or group's beliefs
• disguised attack

For those who feel especially inspired, it is possible to submit your essays to the "This I Believe" website for the possibility of being published.

"To make such an earnest, exposed statement is itself an act of bravery." - Jay Allison

Explore the "This I Believe" website
Writing Guidelines
This I Believe podcasts and texts of essays



Read and grade Mrs. Shaum's "This I Believe" essay:
Happiness is a Grand Piano