English 111 Fall 2014 Corey Dressel

!"#$ # %&'#&(&

ASSIGNMENT SHEET
W e are in the satisfying process of a learning w ithout end. This is us at
our m ost earthbound, burdened by the w eight of a core identity w e
som etim es regret but can't renounce any m ore than w e can renounce
breathing. (Bill Morelock What's in a Name? MPR. Jan. 16, 2012.)

BECAUSE'OF'LIFES'sporadic'hurdles'and'the'
unexpected'nature'of'our'experiences,'we'are'
constantly'evolving'into'ourselves'and'into'an'
understanding'of'how'we'fit'into'the'chaos'and'mess'
of'this'world.'This'past'January,'I'asked'you'to'set'
your'preconceived'ideas'and'beliefs'aside'and'open'
yourself'up'to'a'new'and'different'world'of'
possibilities.''
BUT'BEHOLD'THE'SUN:'You'were'exposed'to'
documentaries,'including'I"Am'and'Facing"Sudan.'You'
had'to'read'memoirs'that'depicted'a'wide'variety'of'
experiences,'from'creativity,'beauty,'and'love,'to'
suffocating'and'unbearable'suffering'that'came'from'
the'very'common'to'the'most'horrid'and'unthinkable.'
Your'life'melted'into'local'experiences'and'distant'
cultures.'You'found'yourself'living'in'hoMbunk'
Wisconsin'and'were'dragged'through'the'dry'coarse'
sand'of'the'unforgiving'Ajakageer'dessert.'You'froze'
at'night'with'Craig;'ached'to'the'core'of'your'being'
for'love'and'protection'with'Benson,'Alepho,'and'
Benjamin.

I AM
You started this semester having just departed one part of your lifes
journey and just beginning the next. Our lived experience is not meant
to provide luxuries for our consumption and our disposal; but rather,
it is supposed to offer a trail. We choose to get up and follow this trail
not knowing where it will take us. As we trek down the trail we
discover our weaknesses and our strengths. We discover inspiration
and we also may trip and fall. Most of us will hurt and most of us
will struggle to stay on the trail. We suffer; yet, we continue our way
down the trail. This particular trailEnglish 111has come to an end.
We may not be able to look back and remember relaxation or
indulgences, but we can look back and acknowledge that with each
challenge our lives present, we are closer to knowing ourselves and
our purpose.
 I'have'pushed'you'to'write'and'then'to'write'better.'
You'have'read,'created,'researched,'and'learned.'I'
presented'lessons'on'logic'and'argument.'You'have'
considered'how'you'are'persuaded'and'how'you'
attempt'to'persuade'others.'And,'I'have'challenged'
you'to'reconsider'your'theories'and'your'ideals
your'beliefs.''
Now,'the'semester'is'wrapping'up'and'you'will'leave'
this'chapter'in'your'life'behind;'but,'you'will'not'walk'
away'the'same'as'you'walked'in:'the'experiences'and'
personal'challenges'presented'in'this'course'will'forever'
have'had'an'impact'on'you.''
SO,$NOW$I$ASK:$Who'are'you?''What'is'it'that'you'
believe?$
This'assignment'asks'you'to'finish'the'prompt:'This%I%
believe'with'a'personal'and'very'inward'response'
based'on'your'experience'with'the'contents'presented'
in'this'course.'This'assignment'is'amended'from'the'
international'organization,'aptly'named:'This I
Believe

Every day acts and small acts build up over time. Tiny acts
build when others emulate them, which builds until the
world is convulsed by change. Change comes from millions
of tiny acts that seem relatively insignificant.
."Desmond'Tutu'in'I"Am"

THIS$I$BELIEVE$ESSAY2WRITING$GUIDELINES '
As'your'final'paper/project,'you'will'write,'record,'and'upload'an'audio'version'of'your'own'
statement'of'personal'belief'based'off'of'this'English'111'class.'After'submitting'the'text'version'of'
your'statement,'you'will'then'upload'the'audio'version'to'a'discussion'board'on'D2L.'
This'may'be'extremely'challenging'as'it'requires'you'to'search'deep'inside'yourself.'And'in'this'
personal'intimacy,'you'will'find'the'content'that'will'mark'your'pages'in'a'way'that'no'one'else'
could'do'on'your'behalf.

HERE$ARE$A$FEW$SUGGESTIONS
Tell$a$story:'Be'specific.'Take'your'belief'out'of'the'ether' Be$brief:'Your'statement'should'be'between'500'and'
and'ground'it'in'the'events'of'your'life'this'semester'with' 775'words.'I'will'not'enforce'the'max'number'of'words;'
the'content'in'this'class.'Consider'moments'when'belief' but,'I'will'enforce'the'minimum.'Try'to'keep'it'within'this'
was'formed'or'tested'or'changed.'Think'of'your'own' range'if'possible.''
experience'and'tell'of'the'things'you'know'that'no'one'
Be$positive:'Please'avoid'preaching'or'editorializing.'Tell'
else'does.'Make'sure'your'story'ties'to'the'essence'of'
of'what'you'do'believe,'not'what'you'dont'believe.'
your'daily'life'philosophy'and'the'shaping'of'your'beliefs'
Avoid'speaking'in'the'editorial'we.'Make'your'essay'
this'semester.'
about'you;'speak'in'the'first'person.''
Name$your$belief:'If'you'cant'name'it'in'a'sentence'or'
Be$personal:'Write'in'words'and'phrases'that'are'natural'
two,'your'essay'might'not'be'about'belief.'Also,'attempt'
to'speech.'I''recommend'you'read'your'essay'aloud'to'
to'focus'on'one'core'belief,'because'this'paper'is'very'
yourself'several'times,'and'each'time'edit'it'until'you'
short.'I'understand'that'sometimes'one'thing'is'
find'the'words,'tone,'and'story'that'truly'echo'your'
connected'to'another;'so,'it'is'okay'to'exceed'one'if'you'
belief'and'who'you'are.'Keep'in'mind'that'this'means'
are'linking'beliefs.$'
that'your'message'will'be'clear'and'easy'to'comprehend!

When the Dalai Lama was asked: What should be done?

He responded: Critical thinking followed by action. Each of us must do
something that makes our heart sing. ~I AM