This I Believe
A. Essay Portion:
With this unit you will be exploring your beliefs and then composing personal essays about them. You will
learn about yourselves and experience the delight of realizing your views and voices have value.
Tell a story: Be specific. Looks at the beliefs around the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was
formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, school, extra-curricular, and family, and tell of the
things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching—it can even
be funny—but it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the
shaping of your beliefs.
Be brief: Your statement should be between 450 and 500 words. That’s about three minutes when read aloud
at your natural pace.
Name your belief: If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather
than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.
Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell me what you do believe, not what you don’t believe.
Avoid speaking in the editorial “we.” Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.
Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. I recommend you read your
essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone, and
story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.
Word Document Requirements: No color, just black. Any font and size, but do not make it so big you are
wasting paper when you print it to read into the voice recording.
Save your essay as 8-# last name This I believe Essay in a new folder on your B drive.
# = section number
Start out your essay saying “This I Believe about (theme you chose) – hit enter type by first name & last name
then continue on with your writing.
Turning in your Essay: Drop your essay in the drop box.
B. Voice Recording Portion:
Print off your essay, pick up a voice recorder and record your essay. Make sure that you have read it through a
couple of times before hand so you are smooth when you record it. Make sure you know which folder you
have recorded in.
Transfer your recording to your B drive in a folder called This I Believe. Rename your recording as 8-# last
name This I believe VR. Don’t forget to leave the extension for your recording (.WMA) For Example: 8-# last
name This I believe VR. WMA or . MP3
Turning in your voice recording: Drop your recording into the drop box.
C. Video Recording Portion:
With a partner record a small video of you saying the following:
Hello my name is ______________
I choose the subject ______________________ for this I believe
Because ________________________________________________________ (a sentence or two on why you
choose that subject)
Transfer your video recording to your B drive in a folder called This I Believe. Rename your video recording as
8-# last name This I believe Video. Don’t forget to leave the extension for your recording
Turning in your video into the drop box.
D. Gather images for your presentation
Before you start your first presentation tool you will need to gather 10 – 15 images from the Internet that
represent key components from your essay. You may use pictures from home as well. Make sure you get the
best quality image from the Internet by clicking on the image and then clicking view image. You will right click
and save the images to your digital literacy folder.
E. Scanning Portion:
With a partner scan your photo on computer GMS-D112-18. It is the computer on the bottom row – right hand
side of the lab. You will need to be logged off your computer and log onto the computer with the scanner
hooked up. The directions are by the computer and on my website:
http://www.hasd.org/faculty/CariEggen/miscdir.cfm
Save your photo on your B drive in your folder called This I Believe. Rename your scanned as 8-# last name
This I believe Photo 1. Don’t forget to leave the extension for your scanned image (.JPG)
Turning in your scanned image into the drop box.
F. PowerPoint Portion:
PowerPoint will be a summary of your This I Believe Essay – Rubric is online
Slide Layout you will need the following
 Introductory Slide – with picture and background cutout
 Conclusion Slide – with PowerPoint recorded voice
 Minimum of 4 slides not included the introductory slide and conclusion slide, that will be key points
from your essay
You will also need the following in your PowerPoint
 Photo inserted on first slide with background cut out
 Flow from Slide to Slide – Transitions every slide
 Font – alive and pops out
 Graphics – fits your theme and on every slide
 Animation - for all objects , picture and text boxes
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

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Voice Recording inserted properly
Voice recording picture changed and it plays
Video inserted properly, framed and plays
PowerPoint runs on its own with enough with enough time to read each slide
Save your PowerPoint to your This I Believe folder and name it 8-# last name This I believe PPT
Turn in your PowerPoint: Drop your PowerPoint into the drop box.
G. Sway Portion:
Sway will be a summary of your This I Believe Essay – Rubric is online
Slide Layout you will need the following
 Introductory Card
 Conclusion Card
 Minimum of 6 cards not included the introductory slide and conclusion slide, that will be key points
from your essay
 Card with your video
 Card with your voice recording
You will also need the following in your sway
 Scanned Photo
 Flow from card to card
 Adjust the Design
 Navigation
 Font – alive and pops out
 Graphics – fits your theme and on every slide
 Voice Recording inserted properly
 Video inserted properly and plays
 Link to This I Believe NPR Webpage
Save your Sway and share it to [email protected]
H. Movie Maker Portion:
Movie Maker will be a summary of your This I Believe Essay – Rubric is online
You will need the following in your Movie
 Scanned Photo
 Voice recording inserted
 Video inserted
 Music playing quietly in the background
 Transitions
 Effects
 Beginning Title
 Caption on a photo
 Credits at the end


Graphics – fits your theme
PowerPoint Slides inserted – minimum have to have the introduction slide
Save your Movie to your This I Believe folder and name it 8-# last name This I believe MM.
You will need to turn in the project file and the movie file. (.wlmp & .mp4)
Turn in your Movie into the drop box.
I. Prezi Portion
Using key words from your essay create a Prezi that describes your essay.
You will need the following in your Prezi:
 Text
 PPT – insert a couple of your slides from PowerPoint
 Images – minimum of 4 images
 Link to NPR – This I Believe
 Minimum of 10 paths
 Introduction Video
 Voice Recording of essay
 Sound
Save your Prezi online.
Turn in your Prezi by sharing it with me – [email protected] via Prezi sharing - add me as an editor and
then click add.