A writing unit for middle school students using This I Believe pieces as mentor text.

1. This I Believe
An NPR project
Mrs. Ilko’s Leadership Class
2013-14

2. Creating a This I Believe Essay
 Our next project launches our work in internet research
and narrative writing.
 We will be writing This I Believe Essays and submitting the
best from our classes to National Public Radio.
 This project will take approximately three weeks and
involves writing an essay, and then creating a podcast.

3. Who Are You? Finding Out What is
Important
 What is an identity? What does it mean to have a strong
identity?
 Look up the definition of identity. Based on this
definition, write your own. How would you describe your
own identity?
 Could we say that forming an identity is difficult? How
could this be true?

4. Life’s Important Moments
 People and events shape your identity.
 “This I Believe” project is not an autobiography- it is a
personal narrative, a story that focuses on a small piece of
your life. It is about values we hold dear, the moments
that teach us who we are. It is not a factual retelling or a
timeline.

5. What is a value?
 A value is a characteristic that is important to leading a
fulfilling life.
 What are some examples of values? Let’s list some of
them together.
 On the next page there is a list of values. You will be
divided into teams. You have the rest of the period to
define as many of those values in your column as you can
by the end of the period. You may use your iPod for this
project to define each word.

6. • Wisdom
• Freedom
• Creativity
• Dedication
• Loyalty
• Success
• Cooperation
• Enthusiasm
• Self-Control
Team 3
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Compassion
• Love
• Empathy
• Respect
• Faith
• Knowledge
• Leadership
Team 2
Team 1
Some Values to Consider
• Confidence
• Skill
• Sincerity
• Reliability
• Patience
• Flexibility
• Responsibility
• Hope
• Charity
• Prudence

7. Day 2 Choosing a Value
 Objective: Today I will define two value words using
definitions and examples from my notes and create a Word
Cloud graphic to illustrate their meaning and importance
to my identity.

8. • Wisdom
• Freedom
• Creativity
• Dedication
• Loyalty
• Success
• Cooperation
• Enthusiasm
• Self-Control
Team 3
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Compassion
• Love
• Empathy
• Respect
• Faith
• Knowledge
• Leadership
Team 2
Team 1
Some Values to Consider
• Confidence
• Skill
• Sincerity
• Reliability
• Patience
• Flexibility
• Responsibility
• Hope
• Charity
• Prudence

9. Identifying Core Values
 Today we are going to choose one particular value. Look at
the list again and find the value that represents you at this
point in your life. There are many to choose from, but if
you had just two words to describe yourself what would
they be and why?
 Write a response in your journal.

10. Discussing Values
 Take out your homework from last night. Be prepared to
define each of the words.
 Write your own definition of each of the words as we
discuss them.

11. Directions
 Choose two values that represent what you truly believe
in. There are many, so choose only the two most
important.
 Go to a dictionary website like www.dictionary.com

12. Creating a Word Cloud

13. Defining your values
 For each value that you select, in your journal write a
definition of your value in your own words and at least
three synonyms for the word. (you can use the thesaurus
on the dictionary site to help you.)
 Once you have both of them written in your journal, go to
www.wordle.net or www.abcya.com to create a word
collage.
 Once you have created your collage, check with the
teacher and then you will be able to print.

14. Day 3 What do you Believe?
 Here is a link to a podcast by Tony Hawk Read the article
and listen to his essay. What do you notice?

15. Looking at the essay
requirements
 Click on the Write button above the Tony Hawk Essay.
Scroll down to Requirements.
 Read what is required of each essay and be ready to
discuss. Together we will write bullet points in our
notebook.
 Create a list of possible topics for your own This I Believe
Essay. Write them in your notebook.

16. This I Believe Sample Essays
Use your scanner and go to this section of the This I Believe website.

17. Essays as Mentor Text
 Together we will find a few sample essays. Your job is to
listen and read at least 3 essays on a topic that interests
you to use as your own personal mentor text.
 Write the title of the essay/podcast and the author and
date published.
 Write a gist sentence about the essay.
 Copy at least two sentences that you find interesting.

18. Some Key Advice
 As you begin your essay consider the following:
 It’s all about you.
 Keep it personal.
 Timing is everything.
 Say what you do believe!
 Have fun!

19. Introductions
 Copy the first sentence from your mentor essay.
 Rewrite that sentence two different ways to begin your
essay.
 Create hooks that will interest the reader/listener.
Consider a quote, startling statement or a carefully crafted
question.

20. Juicy Details
 This is the section of the essay where you tell your story.
What is the key event that you want to discuss?
 What lesson or value did you learn?
 How did it make you feel about it then?
 How have you used this lesson since when you make
decisions?
 How do you feel about it now?

21. Conclusion
 Depending on the mood of your essay and the choices you
make as an author, there are several ways you can
conclude your essay.
 Summaries are for book jackets only. Try not to summarize
what you said.
 Say bye-bye and this is why: It is easy to end your
paragraph with “This is why… but much more effective
option is to restate your opinion or main idea in a different
way. Challenge your reader to think differently!

22. Partner Revision
 Read your essay to at least 3 other students in our class.
Together you should annotate on the essay with both
positive feedback and suggestions for revision.
 Remember this essay will become a podcast, and you will
be using this time to read your essay aloud. This is a time
to check for punctuation, where should you pause for
effect? Voice raised? Volume differentiation..
 Once you have revised 3 times, turn in your essay to the
teacher for final review.

23. MAPS: Creating a Podcast
 Listen again to the Tony Hawk podcast with these questions in mind:
 How is the piece introduced? What details are given in the overview?
 Does the reporter/narrator start talking immediately? Is there a
musical segue? Background sounds?
 Who is invited to talk?
 How does the narrator introduce new ideas or transition to
contrasting ones?
 Adapted From Troy Hicks pg. 88 Crafting Digital Writing

24. Garage Band: Our Choice to
Record
 We will spend today selecting appropriate background
music for your podcast.
We will be using Garageband for our project. Here are links
to a variety of tutorials on how to use Garage band. I will
post them in Edmodo for easy access.
https://vimeo.com/36590006

25. Creating Our Podcast
 We will be spending 3 days creating our podcast. You will need
to find a quiet place to produce your podcast. Don’t forget to
bring your earbuds from home .
 We will be spending some time today reading our This I believe
statements to create our introduction that will be added to the
beginning of every students work. Be ready to come to my desk
top to record.
 Make sure you use our Podcasting Basics sheet and Prosody
scoring guide as you create your podcast. Have fun!
 I will also be opening my classroom before class, after school
and during second lunch to provide quiet space to record.

26. Podcast Publishing News
 Once you have revised, edited and uploaded your podcast
to our class site you will then submit your essay and
podcast to
http://thisibelieve.org/submission/#_EssayForm=first
 We will be inviting our parents to comment on line and
come into our class to showcase our first project.
 Your final podcast will also be posted on your individual
blog site.

27. Meet Jazmine

28. Amir’s Blog

29. Mrs. Ilko’s Blog

30. Standards

W.7.3 – Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive
details, and well-structured event sequences.

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an
event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to
another.

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences
and events.

Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.

W.7.4 - Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and
audience.

W.7.6 – Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact
and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.

31. 8th Grade Standards

W.8.3 – Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive
details, and well-structured event sequences.

Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an
event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to
another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.

Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences
and events.

Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.

W.8.4 – Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to
task, purpose, and audience.

W.8.6 – Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information
and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

32. Citations/Credits

www.thisibelieve.org

The Digital Writing Workshop by Troy Hicks pg. 65-72 with a focus on Dawn Reeds Curriculum
and the MAPS for podcasting

Crafting Digital Writing by Troy Hicks Chapter 5 Crafting Audio Texts

This I Believe Middle School Curriculum. Copyright 2008

Podcasting Basics Recording Principals by Margit Boyenson

Prosody Rubric created by Janet Ilko

This I Believe Podcast Rubric adapted from Dawn Reed and Troy Hicks The Digital Writing
Workshop pages 70-71

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/common-core-in-action-writing-for-audience-rebecca-alber