This I Believe Lesson 1
Personal Writing Styles
Name ___________________________________
Key Terms – Words to Know
Personal essay
Focused on belief or insight about life that is significant to the writer
Personal narrative
Focused on a significant event
Personal memoir
Focused on a significant relationship between the writer and a person, place, or
object
Activity - Question the Author
1. Read the essay at your assigned station
2. When you are finished reading, please fill out the chart below
Story Title
Writing Format
Is it an essay, narrative, or
memoir?
Focused Purpose
What is the author trying
to say in this story?
Identify 2 potential reasons
he/she wrote the piece
Supporting Details
Which elements most
effectively contribute to
the author’s purpose?
Identify 3 different lines from
the story as evidence for your
claims
This I Believe Lesson 1
Reflection - Personal Writing Prompts for a Writer’s Notebook
Directions: Please choose two of these prompts and answer them in your writer’s notebook
1. Most of us have been in a
situation where we made a
promise that for one reason or
another
we were unable to keep.
When were you disappointed because
someone made you a promise that they
failed to keep?
Or when did you break a promise that
you made to someone else?
2. We all tend to judge people
by their appearances, even
though looks can be
deceiving.
Have you ever prejudged someone
incorrectly based on their appearance or
has someone ever prejudged you
unfairly based on how you look?
3. Everyone has problems or
challenges to overcome.
What obstacles are you proud to have
faced and conquered?
4. There is a famous adage: "To
err is human, to forgive
divine.”
When did you feel divine because you
were able to forgive someone for their
mistake?
When did someone act divine by
forgiving you when you were wrong?