This+I+Believe+Assignments

===__Overview:__ We have spent the first couple weeks of the class writing, thinking, and talking about the "meaning" of democracy. It is now time for you to put all of our work together and rethink your ideas about democracy. Based on our class readings, discussions, multimedia, and interviews with the community what do you think democracy means?===

__Task:__ Write a response beginning with "I believe..." Your response should be approximately 450 words and should use public radio's "This I Believe" format as a guideline.
We invite you to contribute to this project by writing and submitting your own statement of personal belief about democracy. We understand how challenging this is-it requires such intimacy that no one else can do it for you. To guide you through this process, we offer these suggestions:
 * This I Believe Essay - Writing Instructions**
 * **Tell a story:** Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, 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 very close to 450 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 us 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. We 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.
 * For this project, we are also guided by the original This I Believe series and the producers' invitation to those who wrote essays in the 1950s. Their advice holds up well and we are abiding by it. Please consider it carefully in writing your piece.
 * In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, "Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent." We would argue that the need is as great now as it was 50 years ago. We are eager for your contribution.


 * //Select your name from the list below and then select "edit this page." You can type your response on that page and then save it.//**

Erin_B Kellie_B Devin_C Carlene_C Briana_D Honore_J Jillian_M Jordan_O Brian_P Shakiyla_P Garret_R Carlos_R Matt_R Philip_R Hannah_S Julia_S Kelly_S Breanna_U Clinton_W Colin_W Meg_Z || Matt_Ba Matt_Br Travis_B Jessica_Br Alan_C Kara_C Matt_C Mariah_C Matt_D Will_G Soyria_G Ben_G Robert_H Paige_J Margaret_K Morgan_L Madison_M  Chris_Mu Alexandria_N Joe_P Kara_P Victoria_R Robert_S Meg_T William_T Henry_V Hannah_W Mark_Z || Eric_A Jessica_B Ben_C Alex_C Sarah_D Katherine_F Katherine_G Sam_H Nick_L Kyle_L Gordon_L Leticia_L  Rohan_M Jackson_M Tara_M Sean_M Nicole_M Mike_M  Chris_Mo Ben_N Kevin_P Lauren_P Julie_R Rachel_S Ben_S ||
 * ===Period 1=== || ===Period 3=== || ===Period 4=== ||
 * Jillian_A