From 1951 to 1955, Edward R. Murrow was a notable American broadcast journalist during
World War II.
One of his most memorable programs that he hosted was the This I Believe daily radio
program.
It reached 39 million viewers.
It aired during a time when Americans needed to express the very freedoms they were fighting
for.
The 5-minute essays written by ordinary Americans would discuss the personal philosophies of
their daily life.
Today the public radio network NPR runs the This I Believe program.
They call upon ordinary Americans—just like you and me—to pause and think about the
values that shape our characteristics and lives, just as Edward Murrow did back in the
1950's.
So, for this next assignment, we're joining NPR in writing about our beliefs.
I want you to begin thinking about what different philosophies, values, and attitudes shape
your own life.
This essay should not be confused with a nice, light and fluffy journal entry where you ramble
about things you believe in.
Although this is a personal narrative, and although you're expressing some of your inner-thoughts,
this essay does indeed have a concrete foundation.
This foundation is the thesis.
It is a key part of the essay, and because of the nature of the essay, your thesis will
include the words 'I believe'.
Now, I want you to notice that the rhetorical situation for this essay involves a personal
narrative, so you are allowed to use 1st person pronouns liberally in this essay.
Ok, as you will learn in the assignment screens, the general recommended format for this writing
assignment is 5-paragraphs, with an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
The body paragraphs should, as you learned in the last assignment, have one main focus.
It also needs solid development.
This means you need to give specific examples.
Tell them a quick story that has a beginning middle, and end.
One way to remember proper development is to ask yourself, "Am I showing, or am I telling?"
If you're telling too much and too often, you're probably rambling.
If you're showing, you have an engaged reader.
Finally, if you have any questions, I'm always just an email away.
I do want you to make sure that you've read the assignment screens carefully, and read
the example essays that I've left you.
I wish you the best of luck.
Thanks!