Walking in Their Shoes: This I Believe…

Honor Code Level 3

Overview: The purpose of this is to write a brief, yet complete, belief statement from the point of view of a person in the culture that you have researched. This belief statement should explain core values and beliefs of a person of this culture in a way that is personal, honest and meant to be read out loud. These will be read out loud on the final due date to at least part of the class.

Background of Project: The This I Believe series on NPR (National Public Radio) is a revival of a series broadcast in the early 1950s. In introducing the original series, host Edward R. Murrow said, "Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent." NPR revived the series for the past five years because of the many connections between past and present. Many of the same fears, hopes and joys unite the people who came before us and who we are today. Even more so, the fears, hopes and joys unite people across cultural beliefs and geographic landscapes. The best essays from the 1950s found a way, at least in part, to tell a story. The writers grounded their beliefs in the specifics of their lives, sometimes writing of moments when belief was formed, tested or changed. They wrote about the source of that belief, how it was formed and those who influenced it.

Examples: There are a multitude of examples available on NPR. Here are links to listen to some:

Specifics:

Helpful Hints:

  • Tell a story: Be specific. Take the belief and ground it in the cultural characteristics of the author’s point of view. Consider moments when beliefs are formed, tested or changed. Think of the personal experience, work and family of your person and tell a story unique to them. The story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching -- it can even be funny -- but it should be real. Make sure the story ties to the essence of your person’s daily life philosophy and the shaping of his/her beliefs.
  • Be brief: The essay should be 2 - 2 ½ pages. That's approximately 4 minutes when read aloud at a natural pace.
  • Name the belief: If you can't name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about a belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on a core belief, because four minutes is a very short time.
  • Be positive: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what your person would believe, not what he/she wouldn’t believe. However, make your essay from the point of view of one person from the culture; speak in the first person.
  • Be personal: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak, yet natural for the person you are representing. Please 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 echo the person you are representing as respectfully and closely as possible.