topics for i believe essay

50 I Believe Essay Topics

To better train students on how to present their personal opinions on subjective matters, teachers will assign what is known as an “I Believe” or “This I Believe” essay writing assignment.

Designed to provide the reader with insight into the writer’s character, these essays are typically written in first-person point of view. The writer shares their beliefs on a particular topic – ranging from religion and politics to more personal subjects such as love and happiness – and offers supporting arguments for why they hold these beliefs.

The Challenges of Writing “I Believe” Essays

This type of essay prompt is a welcome break from more detail-oriented or researched-based writing assignments for many students. However, “I believe” essay writing assignments aren’t always easy.

It can be challenging for students to articulate their beliefs in a clear and concise way that isn’t argumentative or offensive to the reader. Students may also struggle to explain their reasoning behind these beliefs in a thorough and not overly simplistic way.

Despite these challenges, “I believe” essays can be an excellent opportunity for students to share their thoughts and feelings on important topics and learn more about themselves in the process.

Tips for Writing “I Believe” Essays

If you’re given an “I believe” essay assignment, here are a few tips to help you get started:

Start by defining what it is that you believe. This may seem like a simple task, but it can be challenging to identify your core beliefs. If you’re struggling, start by jotting down a list of topics that are important to you – from politics and religion to family and friendship.
Reflect on why each topic is important to you. Think about the reasoning behind your choices and how these reasons evolved over time. After all, your core beliefs are likely to have changed or grown since you reached adolescence.
Determine which of your beliefs are the most important. Focusing on developing thought processes that support your beliefs. For extra help, consider sharing these thoughts with a trusted friend or family member for advice.

By reflecting upon your core beliefs and developing clear arguments to support them, you can craft a powerful “I believe” essay that will truly reflect your thoughts and feelings.

How to Write an “I Believe” Essay

To craft a well-written “I Believe” essay, students must forgo the typical essay structure of introduction, body, and conclusion.

Instead, the essay should be organized around a series of specific beliefs that the writer wishes to share. Each thought should be introduced with a clear thesis statement, followed by supporting arguments and examples.

The conclusion of the essay should wrap up the main points that have been made and leave the reader with a final thought to ponder.

Here is an example of how an “I Believe” essay might be structured:

Thesis: I believe that everyone has the right to love and be loved.

Argument: Everyone deserves to find love and experience happiness in their lives. This should not be limited by race, religion, socioeconomic status, or any other factor.

Example: I saw a video of a man proposing to his girlfriend at Fenway Park. She said yes and the crowd went wild! Now that is love. If they can find it, then so can we all!

Conclusion: Society should not stand in the way of love. Love is the most powerful force in the world, and we should all embrace it.

As you can see, the “I Believe” essay structure allows for a great deal of flexibility. Students can choose to focus on a variety of topics and can organize their essays in different ways. An “I Believe” essay can be an excellent opportunity for students to present their thoughts on important issues under a few simple guidelines. With a bit of planning and organization, this type of essay writing assignment can be a breeze!

What You Shouldn’t Do When Writing an “I Believe” Essay

To ensure that you are writing an “I Believe” essay and not another form of an argumentative or persuasive essay, avoid doing the following:

Don’t provide evidence or use statistics to support your position – this is not an essay that calls for research.
Don’t attack or criticize the beliefs of others – your goal is to share your own opinions, not to tear down those of others.
Don’t go off on tangents – stay focused on the main points you want to make.
Don’t speak objectively or in the third person – for example, don’t say “people believe that” or “studies show.”
Don’t use filler words and phrases such as “I think,” “I feel,” and “it seems like.”

Use any of these 50 “I Believe” essay topics to help you brainstorm ideas for your essay!

I Believe Essay Topics About Life

I believe that life is too short to spend time with people who bring you down.
I believe that laughter is the best medicine
I believe that we should make time for quiet reflection every day.
I believe that the only thing that matters in life is love.
I believe that we are all capable of change.
I believe that it is never too late to learn and grow.
I believe in the power of positive thinking.
I believe that we should always be kind, even when it is difficult.
I believe that there is no such thing as a coincidence.
I believe in the saying “what goes around, comes around.”
I believe that we are all responsible for our own happiness.
I believe that the best things in life are free.
I believe that it is essential to be grateful for what we have.
I believe that it is never too late to achieve our dreams.
I believe that we should surround ourselves with people who make us better.
I believe that you can either love or hate something; there is no in-between.

I Believe Essay Topics About Education & School

I believe that education is the key to a bright future
I believe that children are our future and should be treasured as such.
I believe that there is no such thing as a dumb question.
I believe that schools should do more to celebrate diversity.
I believe that homework is essential, but it should not be excessive.
I believe in the importance of having a strong support system while attending school.
I believe that standardized tests are not an accurate measure of a student’s knowledge.
I believe that it is vital to find a balance between work and play while in school.
I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn how to swim.
I believe in the importance of recess and physical activity in students’ lives.
I believe that there is no such thing as a bad grade.
I believe that teachers deserve more respect and better pay.
I believe that it is never too early to learn a foreign language.
I believe that education should be free for everyone.

I Believe Essay Topics About Friends & Family

I believe that family is the most important thing in life.
I believe that friends are the family we choose for ourselves.
I believe that it is essential to maintain close relationships with friends and family.
I believe that there is no substitute for quality time spent with loved ones.
I believe that family is not defined by blood but by love and commitment.
I believe that we should spend more time with the people we care about and less time worrying about material things.
I believe that it is better to have a few close friends than many superficial ones.
I believe that it is healthy for friends to grow apart.
I believe that competition between friends is healthy.

I Believe Essay Topics About Money

I believe that money cannot buy happiness.
I believe that it is essential to be happy with what you have, not what you want.
I believe that people are more important than things.
I believe that it is okay to splurge on something even if it means going into debt.
I believe that it is better to give than to receive.
I believe that money can’t buy everything.
I believe that the love of money is the root of all evil.
I believe in saving for a rainy day.
I believe in investing in oneself.
I believe in the saying, “money doesn’t grow on trees.”
I believe that rich people should be forced to pay more taxes.

These 50 I Believe essay topics are sure to inspire your own original beliefs and help you create a powerful and unique essay. When writing your I Believe essay, be sure to focus on the beliefs that are most important to you and that you feel passionate about discussing. The best I Believe essays are the ones that are personal and reflective, so don’t be afraid to share your own thoughts and experiences.

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101 This I Believe Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

"This I Believe" essays are a popular genre in the academic and personal writing world. They allow individuals to reflect on their beliefs, values, and experiences in a concise and engaging manner. If you're looking for some inspiration for your own "This I Believe" essay, here are 101 topic ideas and examples to get you started:

I believe in the power of kindness.
I believe in the importance of self-love.
I believe in the value of hard work.
I believe in the beauty of diversity.
I believe in the strength of resilience.
I believe in the magic of music.
I believe in the healing power of nature.
I believe in the importance of education.
I believe in the power of forgiveness.
I believe in the importance of empathy.
I believe in the value of honesty.
I believe in the power of hope.
I believe in the importance of family.
I believe in the beauty of art.
I believe in the strength of community.
I believe in the power of perseverance.
I believe in the importance of gratitude.
I believe in the value of friendship.
I believe in the beauty of simplicity.
I believe in the importance of mindfulness.
I believe in the power of positivity.
I believe in the importance of communication.
I believe in the value of laughter.
I believe in the beauty of love.
I believe in the strength of faith.
I believe in the power of creativity.
I believe in the importance of integrity.
I believe in the value of curiosity.
I believe in the beauty of vulnerability.
I believe in the strength of courage.
I believe in the importance of authenticity.
I believe in the value of compassion.
I believe in the beauty of acceptance.
I believe in the strength of self-expression.
I believe in the power of self-reflection.
I believe in the importance of self-care.
I believe in the value of independence.
I believe in the beauty of solitude.
I believe in the strength of teamwork.
I believe in the power of imagination.
I believe in the importance of discipline.
I believe in the value of responsibility.
I believe in the beauty of freedom.
I believe in the power of change.
I believe in the importance of adaptability.
I believe in the value of balance.
I believe in the beauty of imperfection.
I believe in the strength of vulnerability.
I believe in the power of self-awareness.
I believe in the importance of self-compassion.
I believe in the value of self-acceptance.
I believe in the beauty of growth.
I believe in the strength of transformation.
I believe in the importance of resilience.
I believe in the value of perseverance.
I believe in the beauty of forgiveness.
I believe in the strength of love.
I believe in the power of gratitude.
I believe in the value of kindness.
I believe in the strength of unity.
I believe in the importance of trust.
I believe in the beauty of authenticity.
I believe in the strength of integrity.
I believe in the power of communication.
I believe in the importance of collaboration.
I believe in the value of teamwork.
I believe in the beauty of creativity.
I believe in the strength of innovation.
I believe in the power of education.
I believe in the importance of lifelong learning.
I believe in the value of critical thinking.
I believe in the beauty of curiosity.
I believe in the power of adaptability.
I believe in the importance of flexibility.
I believe in the value of patience.
I believe in the beauty of perseverance.
I believe in the strength of determination.
I believe in the power of self-discipline.
I believe in the importance of self-control.
I believe in the value of self-improvement.
I believe in the beauty of self-care.
I believe in the strength of self-love.
I believe in the power of self-acceptance.
I believe in the importance of self-awareness.
I believe in the value of self-reflection.
I believe in the beauty of self-discovery.
I believe in the power of self-confidence.
I believe in the importance of self-respect.
I believe in the value of self-esteem.
I believe in the beauty of self-compassion.
I believe in the strength of self-empowerment.
I believe in the power of self-actualization.

These are just a few examples of the many topics that you could explore in your own "This I Believe" essay. Remember, the key to a successful essay is to choose a topic that is meaningful to you and to communicate your beliefs with honesty and clarity. Good luck!

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Crafting Beliefs into Words: Top ‘I Believe’ Essay Ideas

Table of contents

1 70 I Believe Topics for Essays
2 This I Believe Essay Examples
3 Final Words

This article will explore a wide range of thought-provoking This I Believe essay topics that can inspire meaningful and reflective essays. They cover various aspects of life, values, beliefs, and personal experiences. What I believe essay is a unique form of personal essay that focuses on a single core belief of the writer.

The article lists 70 thought-provoking topics that cover a wide range of subjects, including kindness, empathy, family, diversity, resilience, honesty, music, forgiveness, education, and many more.
These topics are designed to inspire writers to find the theme that resonates most deeply with them.
To provide insight into the style and content of these essays, examples from the project are shared.

70 I Believe Topics for Essays

Delving into the realm of personal reflection and expression, “I Believe” essays stand as a cornerstone for introspection and sharing the essence of one’s ethos. It is rather a popular task for students. Thus, This I Believe winner essays are a powerful medium to express your deeply held convictions, values, and experiences.

Below, we present 70 thought-provoking I believe essay ideas that cover a wide spectrum of subjects. Explore the following list and find the topic that resonates most with you:

The Power of Kindness: Small acts of kindness can transform lives.
The Importance of Empathy: Understanding others’ feelings fosters deeper connections and mutual respect.
Finding Joy in Small Moments: Cherishing little things brings happiness in everyday life.
Overcoming Fear: Facing fears leads to growth, courage, and new opportunities.
The Value of Family: Families provide love and support and shape our foundational values.
The Beauty of Diversity: Diversity enriches experiences, promoting learning and cultural appreciation.
The Impact of a Smile: A simple smile can brighten days and bridge connections.
The Strength of Resilience: Overcoming challenges builds strength and fosters personal growth.
Honesty in Relationships: Truthfulness is the foundation of trust and strong relationships.
The Influence of Music: Music transcends barriers, evoking emotions and connecting people.
The Freedom of Forgiveness: Forgiving liberates from grudges, bringing peace and reconciliation.
The Significance of Education: Education empowers, enlightens, and opens doors to opportunities.
The Magic of Nature: Nature’s wonders inspire awe, offering peace and rejuvenation.
Pursuit of Dreams: Chasing dreams adds purpose and excitement to life’s journey.
The Role of Hope: Hope provides strength during adversity and motivates progress.
The Wisdom of Age: Age brings wisdom, insights, and valuable life lessons.
Overcoming Adversity: Facing hardships head-on builds character and resilience.
The Gift of Giving: Giving enriches the giver’s soul more than the receiver’s.
Embracing Change: Change, though challenging, is essential for growth and progress.
The Power of Imagination: Imagination fuels creativity, innovation, and endless possibilities.
Finding Purpose in Life: Discovering life’s purpose brings direction, fulfillment, and satisfaction.
The Strength of Vulnerability: Embracing vulnerability leads to authenticity and deeper connections.
The Healing Power of Laughter: Laughter heals, reduces stress, and promotes emotional connection.
Self-Discovery: Understanding oneself is key to personal growth and happiness.
The Importance of Self-Care: Prioritizing self-care is essential for wellbeing and balance.
Learning from Mistakes: Mistakes are valuable lessons that guide future success.
Embracing Creativity: Creativity expresses individuality and drives innovation.
The Joy of Travel: Travel broadens horizons, fosters understanding, and creates memories.
The Impact of Gratitude: Gratitude cultivates positivity and appreciation for life’s blessings.
The Beauty of Solitude: Solitude offers peace, reflection, and rejuvenation for the soul.
The Value of Friendship: Friends provide support, joy, and a sense of belonging.
The Courage to Be Authentic: Authenticity requires courage but leads to genuine self-expression.
The Gift of Time: Time is a precious, non-renewable resource to be cherished.
The Power of Second Chances: Second chances offer opportunities for growth and redemption.
The Importance of Mindfulness: Mindfulness encourages living fully in the present moment.
The Influence of Role Models: Role models inspire and guide through their actions and values.
The Joy of Giving Back: Giving back to the community brings fulfillment and joy.
Embracing Diversity: Celebrating diversity leads to a richer, more inclusive world.
The Strength of Community: Communities provide support, strength, and a sense of belonging.
The Value of Perseverance: Perseverance through challenges leads to success and achievement.
The Magic of Serendipity: Unexpected, fortunate discoveries add surprise and delight to life.
The Significance of Humility: Humility grounds us and fosters genuine human connections.
The Beauty of Simplicity: Simplicity brings clarity, focus, and appreciation for the essentials.
The Importance of Compassion: Compassion creates empathy and understanding in relationships.
The Wisdom of Experience: Experience teaches invaluable lessons and enriches decision-making.
Overcoming Prejudice: Challenging prejudices leads to a more inclusive, fair society.
The Healing Power of Art: Art heals, expresses emotions, and transcends cultural boundaries.
The Influence of Literature: Literature expands minds, stirs imagination, and reflects societies.
The Freedom of Expression: Expressing oneself is fundamental to individuality and democracy.
The Impact of Technology: Technology revolutionizes lives but requires mindful usage.
The Joy of Parenting: Parenting, while challenging, is immensely rewarding and transformative.
The Role of Faith: Faith provides comfort, guidance, and a sense of belonging.
The Value of Honesty: Honesty builds trust and is key to ethical living.
The Strength of Patience: Patience leads to better outcomes and less stress.
The Beauty of Cultural Exchange: Cultural exchange enhances understanding and enriches lives.
The Importance of Environmental Stewardship: Protecting the environment ensures a sustainable future for all.
The Power of Respecting Differences: Respecting differences fosters harmony and mutual respect.
The Impact of Small Acts of Kindness: Small kindnesses can have a huge impact on others.
The Significance of Dreams: Dreams inspire and guide us towards our goals.
The Joy of Learning: Learning keeps the mind active and expands horizons.
The Influence of Family Traditions: Traditions strengthen family bonds and connect generations.
The Freedom of Choice: Making choices empowers and shapes our life paths.
The Role of Acceptance: Acceptance leads to inner peace and harmonious relationships.
The Value of Integrity: Integrity is the cornerstone of character and trustworthiness.
The Strength of Optimism: Optimism brightens perspectives and overcomes challenges.
The Beauty of Sunsets: Sunsets remind us of nature’s beauty and life’s transience.
The Importance of Mental Health: Mental health is vital for overall wellbeing and happiness.
The Healing Power of Love: Love heals, comforts, and forms the basis of relationships.
The Influence of Role Models: Role models shape lives through inspiration and example.
The Power of Self-Reflection: Reflecting on oneself leads to growth and self-awareness.

These topics encompass a wide array of beliefs and experiences, offering you the opportunity to explore your own convictions and share them with others through the art of the “I Believe” essay.

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This I Believe Essay Examples

How to write a This I believe essay? To better understand the This I believe statements format and get inspired, you can read some exemplary essays from the project. This project, initiated by Edward R. Murrow in the 1950s and revived by National Public Radio (NPR), encourages individuals to share their personal beliefs in concise essays. Here are a few This I believe ideas to provide insight into the style and content:

“The Courage to Be Yourself” by Laura Yoo:

In this essay, Laura Yoo shares her belief in the importance of being true to oneself and embracing individuality. She reflects on her experiences as an immigrant and how her journey led her to appreciate the courage it takes to stay authentic.

“The Power of Music” by Michelle Barrios:

Michelle Barrios explores her deep connection with music and how it has been a source of comfort, inspiration, and healing throughout her life. She believes in the transformative power of melodies and lyrics.

“The Gift of Gratitude” by Sarah Adams:

Sarah Adams discusses the significance of gratitude in her life. She believes acknowledging and expressing gratitude for even the smallest blessings can lead to a more fulfilling and content existence.

These examples showcase the diversity of topics and personal experiences that “I Believe” essays can encompass. Each essay offers a unique perspective, emphasizing the power of personal beliefs and reflections.

Final Words

At long last, This I Believe essays allow people to express their deepest beliefs and share their personal philosophy with a larger audience. Remember that the most compelling I believe statements about life come from the heart, drawing on your unique life experiences and values. As demonstrated by the examples from the “This I Believe” project, these essays have the potential to inspire, provoke thought, and connect people through the power of shared beliefs. So, pick a topic that resonates with you, and let your beliefs shape your words, creating a meaningful essay that can touch the hearts and minds of others.

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53 This I Believe Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

1. introduction.

So, you are confused by yet another essay type and are thinking about how to write a "This I Believe" essay. Look at the essay's "meat" to understand its main idea. When it comes to a "This I Believe" essay, look for a unique topic about personal beliefs. This topic does not necessarily need to be a religion because most often, we have been taught from our early stages to understand that "belief" has something to do with the "religions." But it is not for a "This I Believe" essay. At this stage of our lives, so many things have come into "familiarity" and "evidence" as we have matured; therefore, we have gone far away from being called as superstitious. However, gaining life experiences, we have encountered situations that put ourselves in one of the following conditions: gaining more credible evidence to support what we "believe in", been "distracted" by some misunderstanding and temptations. Or something actually "overturned" our "long time beliefs" - no matter what that would be. It has been general philosophy in life as well as, in any journey, we ever rule out the possible instance that we may need the help or supports from the "unseen forces" to be successful - in other words, we must believe in something that we do not know due to our narrow perception. Often, we hear people say, "I don't believe in anything" but I think that is not really true since we are always in a situation, good or bad, in which our response is not always under control. I think that people continue living is the evidence of trust and beliefs.

1.1. Definition of "This I Believe" essay

The "This I Believe" essay is an analysis project that explores the values and beliefs that shape a person's identity. It's quite distinctive. This piece of creative writing is about the topic that is given to us. One can find many "This I Believe essay examples" online, which can help in understanding the format and structure of an essay for different topics. The writer doesn't prove his thoughts, experience or taste; in a descriptive and creative work, the reflection of personal experiences and opinions can be dedicated to any topic. One can freely write about anything. This I Believe essay's project is to share a value or core belief, which is important to you. In accumulating a study all together in class, every student is to both offer his composing to the class and offer some feedback on his peer's work. It is necessary for the students to follow the provided rules and the given value or belief; the essays and feedbacks need to talk about the same value/belief, make sure the students are able to understand the essence and the outcome of the project. Also, a student can write "This I Believe essays" for money in the Internet; in fact it can be quite profitable, because there are different websites that offer this service. However, one has to be very careful with the websites; just because there is an opportunity to buy an essay, it doesn't guarantee best quality. Every essay is to be checked for quality. The general form of essays is the introduction, main body and conclusion. The "This I Believe essay" is no exception. It's a project which has the students formulate a statement of what their beliefs are. The "This I Believe essay" is a part of a project which engages students in speaking and writing. Every student will be able to share his thoughts and work. It's amazing how freely writing for the "This I Believe" project can help one express oneself. This project can be a powerful tool for confidence building. Students may find that having the opportunity to write and share their core beliefs gives them a chance to understand who they truly are and what is important to them. This kind of project is a great asset to all students, both physically and emotionally, as it can broaden one's horizon. From all this, it can be safe to conclude that "This I Believe essays" can really help people to be fully aware of their selves. Writing this sort of essay provides solid training to sharpen our critical thinking skills and help guide behavior in our thoughts; some might even apply what they have learned to a more objective point of view.

1.2. Importance of personal beliefs in shaping one's identity

It is a common English high school and college writing assignment. In it, you are assigned a belief and you have to write an essay and present it to your classmates about what you believe in. This could be everything from "I believe in the power of music" to "I believe in peace in the world." There are many This I Believe essay topic ideas for writing you could choose from. The essay is about personal beliefs. It is based on a radio program from the 1950s. It was a time of great cultural change and the program was designed to encourage listeners to share their beliefs with one another. To guide you through the process, This I Believe provides good guidelines that are meant to help. All of your work should be original. This is a reflection, so remember to include experiences that help you to believe, that are personal to you and help to illustrate your point. The common phrase "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" appears to be ever so popular. If you're planning on writing about this topic for a This I Believe essay, take into consideration that the phrase has a cliche status. This particular belief is general and doesn't allow much room for growth. But this is counterintuitive to the purpose of the assignment. Instead, choose a different belief and write a This I Believe essay about that. You choose how the This I Believe essay fits in with your overall grade in the class. It could just be for practice; in a college writing class, practice could be a good topic, as could a general assignment, stressed and time management, understanding audience and purpose, and more. This kind of essay is generally written in a very strict and serious tone. It will be direct and to the point, but without being too harsh. A free essay can be a good resource for all types of writers and students. This is also the perfect time to read this kind of essay because it can help me decide which is best for you. I can look out for stories that will keep your readers engaged. And most of all, everybody has his or her beliefs. So the kind of topics for This I Believe essay we should avoid in writing are those that contain ambiguous narrative elements and poor validity of the personal beliefs.

1.3. Overview of the essay topic ideas and examples

After reading the study, I can say that in general, "This I Believe" essays really focus on life's practices and pay very little or no attention to traditional "Kolb learning style cycles," etc. It actually forces a particular manner of composing that is imploring, touching, persuasive, and personal. Because of the truth that personal phrases are far weaker than general statements, the writings do have a particular opinion on particular performance of suggestions or further analysis. Another critical factor is that contemporary life as a quick lifestyle actually makes people not want to think too much and replicate the life custom of yesterday. The "This I Believe" essays really ask college students to do something new. It forces folks to assume critically. So, the results that come from "This I Believe" essays might be placed in the category of learning. Learning is about change or change and it's associated with chronic improvement and adaptation. And change starts with thoughtful investigation. So these beliefs not only change from people to people but also commit "This I Believe" essays to the process of constructing, to the analysis and discovery of the ideas. Also, the teaching strategies for the "This I Believe" essays are also very useful because students can follow methods. Students will be "guided to prepare their own personal philosophies and to place them into dialog with wider public contexts and dialogue".

2. Section 1: Personal Values and Beliefs

The first section of This I Believe is focused on personal values and beliefs. The three essays in this section were inducted into the Library of Congress and material for This I Believe essays and related activities are published on the Web site. In the first essay, a father finds happiness sharing the life of his paralyzed son and living the "now", rather than worrying about the future. And in the essay about family, the author makes it clear how family can shape beliefs and values and in another, how friendships shape one's values. Overall, the essays of this first section provide a better understand about what are the beliefs or values then the later section of religions. And the message is also more positive in the section 1 essays, which is about the personal values and beliefs, while the section 2 essays on the whole are more about the social system than individual views. Also, in terms of religions, essays of different writers have different views to it. It could base on their own religious experiences or what they have obtained from the teachings. And many of the essays will focus mainly on the global and social problems instead of self reflections, as this kind of essays are mainly used for the students of different levels to have language practice and to learn knowledge, such as the ways to improve the writing. But the message implies in many essays would be the hope or the beliefs for a better life in the future. And for the author himself, as the organizer and also a writer of the essays, he thinks "hope is one of the greatest emotional support for making a thought of values and beliefs come true in life." He believes hoping for better life is a common thing among everyone, including people who may not be realized that what they are hoping for. And that's the reason why he puts "hope" in the name of the project. Because whatever we hope for could be anything for better future, and it seems like that's the value we are lived in and living for. Every individual experience is affected by the culture, values and belief. However, it is always hard for the parents to work out which method is the most suitable to apply. Some people believe that parents should teach children how to be good members of the society. While others think the society should be responsible for raising the children. If you want to have a writing on the topic ‘what is the most appropriate way to raise children in the today's society', visit our site for the This I Believe Essay Topics 2021. Every voice publish is highly welcomed. Thank you very much!

2.1. The role of family in shaping personal beliefs

Since God created humans based on His image, the person's family is the first social structure with a significant impact in shaping their world views. In most cases, it is the first and also the most enduring influence. Children at a young age do not have the ability to choose what kind of family to be born into. As a result, they are entirely dependent on their family for their material, social, and intellectual growth. From every aspect, the family's influence is far-reaching. For instance, the values inculcated by the family, as well as the role each member is expected to play, serve as the building blocks for society. Some of the common expectations are such as the father should be the breadwinner, the mother should be the one who manages the household, whereas children are the ones who need to listen to the parent and project a good image to the community. These beliefs are normally carried down from generation to generation, thus have a strong sustaining impact on society. In Chinese traditional families, the parents will decide what is "right" or "good" to be practiced. They will do things such as force their children to get married to someone who they think is the most suitable candidate for their children. In this case, the children have no say in choosing their life partner. Over time, the children, like the one mentioned above, will live through the culture of what the family believes. They might then pass it down to their children, and the cycle continues.

2.2. The impact of cultural background on one's beliefs

Secondly, many essay topic ideas are based on students' personal connection to cultural background, including traditions, customs, and even the social environment. This is obviously in line with beliefs because many, if not all, political activities treat culture as a value-laden phenomenon. Just as each type of political activity rests on a particular understanding of the concept of culture, each college, professor, or student's activity assumes some faculty of commitment to the claims of culture. This new trend seems to be the most popular one, even though I know an essay about cultural backgrounds and the impact of culture on personality has been around for a few years from now. I think this furthers the ongoing debate over the use of culture as either an independent variable that affects the beliefs and meaning of identity or as a dependent variable that may change the political and social structure of a cultural group. Also, technological advances in humans' understanding of genetics, as well as the impact of globalization, are some of the incontrovertible facts that challenge the traditional notions of culture and identity. Through researching different types of essay topic ideas, I have confirmed that knowledge produced by human beings as a result of culture changes the traditions, rituals, and religion as much as cultural background is shaped by the generation of technology. I am very impressed by this new kind of approach as it gets more and more people to consider the possibility and potential of progress and discovery in a culturally diverse society. Cultural diversity and the dissertation of the meaning of the plurality of realities and the possibility of growth and self-actualization choices, they are the good signs for improvement in human civilization. Ergo, globalization has had both positive and negative impacts on certain aspects of both non-Western and Western countries in helping to respect cultural traditions and values.

2.3. How personal experiences shape individual values

Secondly, personal experiences give us an opportunity to step out of the world we live in, to see life from a different perspective. American traditions are an important part of our country, and by living that tradition, we give our lives true meaning and value. For example, every year my family sets up our Christmas tree, and when setting up the tree we play Christmas music. My father will be in charge of the tree decorating and my mother will be in charge of judging the tree. This little family tradition has become something I have, and always will hold close to me. When I was young, I did not understand the value of the tradition. I saw people playing Christmas music as noise, and the way my mother judged the tree as something silly. However, after years of the same routine, I finally began to appreciate it. I realized that everybody in life, including myself, needs a little something to make them feel alive inside. For some people, it's painting, reading, or a family tradition that's true value is only known by the members of that family. Life is about exploring and finding out true values based on our experiences. I value what comes with tradition, and am grateful for the important role that tradition has played in my life.

3. Section 2: Social and Global Issues

Firstly, who doesn’t know the word "empathy"? Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. How to understand why empathy is important in this situation? Well, the answer is simple but complicated. "In order for people to see that these are problems that need to be solved, they need to have empathy," said Rachel Pohl, an artist and educator from Whitefish, Montana. When we look somewhere or anywhere in the world, there are many different people and living things suffering from a variety of problems. However, why can't human beings solve these problems easily collaboratively? It is probably because people don’t care about others' problems even if they already know what these are. We can say it is really hard to encourage someone who doesn't care about others' or global problems to solve them. This is why empathy is important by showing others what someone may feel. That empathy for will let others get an understanding of a problem. Also, farmers have to use the belief of empathy towards their workers in the farming communities who labor under the heat of the sun and other natural challenges every day even though farmers may not consistently receive workers' respect and understanding towards the employers. As mentioned in Keith E. Whittington's essay "Teaching Religion and Politics", giving students the opportunity to cultivate empathy for religious worldview is the first step to achieving a fair and equal society, and this is also the way of initiating positive change in the world. He argued, "Empathy, the capacity to appreciate what it takes to hold a particular point of view, is foundational to a liberal education and is a key step on the pathway to developing the sophisticated moral imagination necessary for reflection on and coordination in the world." It is true that the power of empathy cannot be overlooked in today's complex global world full of continuing and emerging challenges. His argument enhances my belief in the importance of empathy not only in facilitating quality education in colleges but also in addressing social problems. Well, in order for people to see that these are problems that need to be solved, they need to have empathy.

3.1. The importance of empathy in addressing societal problems

Although our main goal for each of our personal belief essays will be to tell a personal narrative, what is a narrative essay? It is a type of paper whose primary job is to tell a story to the readers. Thanks to the active voice, the story feels compelling and engaging, carrying the reader along with the plot. Also, writers are to include the characters, setting, climax, and the conclusion of the story. Narrative writing is similar to novels, but they sometimes have specific rules for writing. These rules can vary depending on numerous aspects. However, to truly understand a lesson through someone else's eyes, empathy has been strongly effective. What is empathy? And how does it affect the world around us? Well, empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This means that we could understand what other people feel and share what we feel. However, us humans can sometimes have the resistance to show empathy. But according to a good scholar, Jamil Zaki, he believes that empathy could be improved and taught. This is because the human brain is always adapting. So when people's lives are improved, the capacity for empathy has been growing. As Zaki suggests, in order to build a more empathetic society, we need to work together. We have to build the systems and communities that support people. And most importantly, we have to exercise our extraordinary potential for empathy and help our children. As a result, empathy is a crucial skill that has the capacity to transform individual lives and create a more just and caring world. James Doty, a great writer for Psychology Today, shared a story about a boy named Chris. Chris grew up in a horrendous environment, with a lot of abuse, both physical and emotional. Well into his elderly years, Chris demonstrated incredibly severe antisocial behavior, which led to many people feeling frustrated and trying to help him. Later on in Chris's life, something changed. Something changed him to be able to transform his life and find the potential of what he could do. That 'something' was encountering someone who showed Chris real empathy and real care. After going through the strong effects of empathy, Chris was able to understand other people and he started to develop meaningful, healthy connections with them. At last, Chris became a person who lived a fulfilling life, enjoying his life and helping others. This is the potential that empathy holds. It has such a strong effect that it has the potential to transform from a boy who lived in a devastating life to a grown-up man who finally found his place. It is simply magical how empathy could easily change someone's life. As Zaki argues, the capacity of empathy has been growing. People use empathy to improve other people's lives and reach out more to help. Chris's story strengthens even more the power of empathy. By that, we can share and value what we feel and then understand what other people feel too. Chris has shown that empathy is not just a skill but also a method to help transform people's lives and reach a place where we can truly be self-actualized. Not only that, we use narrative. We can truly understand that personally having life change to a certain degree based on the empathy that we experience. And most importantly, it could happen constantly. Chris's life example again demonstrates the power of empathy that has the potential to transform individuals' lives and has the opportunity to create a better world. Empathy is a special characteristic that can turn any of the personal beliefs into reality. It has the direct power to change all the negativity in the world to positive behavior. As mentioned before, empathy is learned and not an inborn characteristic. That's another essential explanation of why we must show empathy. The reason is that we all have the chance to learn the magic of empathy and understand others. These changes in psychology, emotional intelligence, or philosophy might start out just in an individual's mind, but eventually, it could construct a better world that is full of empathy.

3.2. The power of education in creating positive change

Education has always been a vital tool for shaping the world around us. It offers a better understanding of the workings of both individual minds and society as a whole. Educational systems across the world have incorporated "goodwill" as part of their education to promote moral values within the students. Through their education, they are able to learn the importance of "respecting others," "helping those in need," "being honest," and "making the world a better place." This is kindness in action! When knowledge is shared, it is doubled. A great saying goes, but when love and kindness are shared, they make an even greater impact. Furthermore, a good educated society, in turn, is more tolerant, which ensures social stability and unity. Through getting a good education and applying the knowledge and critical thinking in our constantly changing world, we can achieve success in both our personal and professional life. A good education is a platform for success and a weight that holds great significance in the world.

3.3. Examining the role of religion in shaping beliefs about social justice

One of the many social issues that I feel strongly about is social justice. Social justice is a concept of a society in which every human being is treated justly, fairly, and given an equal share of benefits, resources and services. In this society, unlike the society depicted in the book Of Mice and Men, there is no need for the marginalization of specific groups of people. Social justice is a necessity in a society in order to prevent a rift between the social classes. An example of social justice is the way the individual characters are treated by others in the society and the treatment given to the disliked "outsider" Curley's wife. Throughout the whole book, Curley's wife's name was never mentioned. This is due to the lack of respect and justice available for her, including her husband Curley as well. Curley and his wife gave the impression that they were of a higher social status than some other characters. As a result of that, they received more respect and were able to treat the other characters in whichever way they wished. This is unfair and wrong. The fact that even the women who agree to be with men (marrying Curley's wife) treat her with the same disregard shows that in that society, women are given a much lower social treatment, the women are always put down by the men. Social justice will be achieved when everyone in society shares the same values and enjoys the same protection by the law. It is my belief that all people should be treated as equals and that fair opportunity to succeed in life should be available to them. With a strong interest in history and decision making process in society and as a good communicator, I am convinced that I will pursue a career as a barrister that will give me the opportunity to serve people and to help the society to change for the better. "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - "until you climb into his skin and walk around in it," said by Atticus Finch in the book to his daughter, Scout. This is based on the sociological aspect of human's perception to the society. I want to make sure I know how to climb into the person's skin and walk around in it. The society should function in which people embrace each other's difference and whenever injustice does surface, someone should be motivated, willing and vocal in bringing change. Only then, social justice shall prevail. I believe that this aspiration is not only mine but many of us today and later will always be in pursuit of social justice not only for ourselves but for the whole community and the coming future. I have been equipped with the education of critical reflection on social work that this will help me to best articulate my service to people and the society in a more effective way. By the next ten years, I see myself being an active member of the bar. Now, is the beginning of the end." This is what my lecturer told us when I started my year one. Truly inspiring. It suggests to me that the journey of making social justice a reality is a long process but well worth the time sacrifices. This I Believe is an international organization engaging people in writing and sharing essays describing the core values that guide their daily lives. Over 125,000 of these essays, written by people from all walks of life, have been archived here on our website, heard on public radio, chronicled through our books, and featured in weekly podcasts. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow. By M.K.

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32 “This I Believe” Essay

The history of ‘this i believe’.

by Tanya Matthews

This I Believe is an exciting media project that invites individuals from all walks of life to write about and discuss the core beliefs that guide their daily lives. They share these statements in weekly broadcasts on NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered .

The series is based on the 1950’s radio program This I Believe , hosted by acclaimed journalist Edward R. Murrow. Each day, some 39-million Americans gathered by their radios to hear compelling essays from the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller and Harry Truman as well as corporate leaders, cab drivers, scientists and secretaries — anyone able to distill into a few minutes the guiding principles by which they lived. Their words brought comfort and inspiration to a country worried about the Cold War, McCarthyism and racial division.

Eventually, the radio series became a cultural phenomenon. Eighty-five leading newspapers printed a weekly column based on This I Believe . A collection of essays published in 1952 sold 300,000 copies — second only to the Bible that year. The series was translated and broadcast around the globe on the Voice of America. A book of essays translated into Arabic sold 30,000 copies in just three days.

[The NPR series This I Believe can be read and heard here . In addition, the website and organization This I Believe houses thousands of essays written by famous people, such as the ones mentioned above, and everyday people like you and me.]

As a college student in 2020, you are faced with turbulent politics, socioeconomic issues, and ethical dilemmas that will challenge you to take a stand and contribute to the local, national, and global conversation around you. The purpose of this writing task is not to persuade you to agree on the same beliefs. Rather, it is to encourage you to begin the much more difficult task of developing respect for beliefs different from your own. Fifty years ago, Edward R. Murrow’s project struck such a chord with millions of Americans. It can do so again today…with you.

Video Resources for Generating Ideas

Dan gediman on writing a “this i believe essay”.

Read Cecelia Munoz’s essay “Getting Angry Can Be a Good Thing” referred to in the previous video here .

“This I Believe” Essay with Animation

“This I Believe” Essay Ideas

Prewriting Activity

1) analyze others’ statements.

Consider the following statements, written in response to the question What Have You Learned About Life? Highlight any sentences that resonate with you. Talk about them with a partner or group, explaining why. 1. I’ve learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. – Age 9 2. I’ve learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. – Age 14 3. I’ve learned that although it’s hard to admit it, I’m secretly glad my parents are strict with me. – Age 15 4. I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. – Age 39 5. I’ve learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don’t know how to show it. – Age 42 6. I’ve learned that you can make someone’s day by simply sending them a little note. – Age 44 7. I’ve learned that the greater a person’s sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others. – Age 46 8. I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. – Age 48 9. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. – Age 53 10. I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. – Age 58 11. I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. – Age 62 12. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. – Age 66 13. I’ve learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth, I’ve seen several. – Age 75 14. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. – Age 82 15. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch—holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. – Age 85 16. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. – Age 92

2) Compose Your Own Statement

Write down a sentence that expresses what YOU have learned about life. Maybe it is similar to one of the statements above; maybe it’s completely different. Whatever it is, write it down.

3) Freewrit e

Now free-write about your sentence. Include at least two examples / experiences that you have had that support why you think this way.

Personal Statement/Philosophy: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Why do you believe in this statement? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name two experiences that you had that would support the statement: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What does this say about yourself or your personality? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ After your life experience, how have you come to the conclusion that this should be your statement? How have your beliefs changed, if at all? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How has the event effected your relationship with a person, place, or object? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ How does your statement apply to you today? (How you view yourself & society) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SAMPLE STUDENT ESSAYS

Sample #1: america’s beauty is in its diversity.

written by Alaa El-Saad, high school student, as heard on NPR’s Tell Me More (2009)

America is built on the idea of freedom, and there is no exception for Muslim women. I believe in the freedom of religion and speech. But mostly, I believe it’s OK to be different, and to stand up for who and what you are. So I believe in wearing the hijab.

The hijab is a religious head covering, like a scarf. I am Muslim and keeping my head covered is a sign of maturity and respect toward my religion and to Allah’s will. To be honest, I also like to wear it to be different. I don’t usually like to do what everyone else is doing. I want to be an individual, not just part of the crowd. But when I first wore it, I was also afraid of the reaction that I’d get at school.

I decided on my own that sixth grade was the time I should start wearing the hijab. I was scared about what the kids would say or even do to me. I thought they might make fun of me, or even be scared of me and pull off my headscarf. Kids at that age usually like to be all the same, and there’s little or no acceptance for being different.

On the first day of school, I put all those negative thoughts behind my back and walked in with my head held high. I was holding my breath a little, but inside I was also proud to be a Muslim, proud to be wearing the hijab, proud to be different.

I was wrong about everything I thought the kids would say or even do to me. I actually met a lot of people because of wearing my head covering. Most of the kids would come and ask me questions—respectfully—about the hijab, and why I wore it.

I did hear some kid was making fun of me, but there was one girl—she wasn’t even in my class, we never really talked much—and she stood up for me, and I wasn’t even there! I made a lot of new friends that year, friends that I still have until this very day, five years later.

Yes, I’m different, but everyone is different here, in one way or another. This is the beauty of America. I believe in what America is built on: all different religions, races and beliefs. Different everything.

Sample #2: The Essentials to Happiness

written by Alexxandra Schuman, high school student, as heard on The Bob Edwards Show (2013)

As a child, I was generally happy; singing and dancing to my favorite songs; smiling and laughing with my friends and family. But as far back as second grade, I noticed a “darkness,” about me. I didn’t enjoy engaging in many things. I didn’t relate to my peers in elementary school because they appeared so happy, and I didn’t have that ability to achieve happiness so easily.

In middle school things in my life began to get even worse. I began withdrawing from everything I once enjoyed; swimming, tennis, family. I hated going to sleep knowing I had to wake up to another day. I was always tired. Everything was horrible. Finally, midway through eighth grade, I was told I had a chemical imbalance; diagnosed with clinical depression and put on medication. It took months for me to feel the effects of the medication.

When I began to feel happy again, is when I realized that I had to take the responsibility for getting better myself, rather than relying on medication and therapy alone. Aristotle said, “To live happily is an inward power of the soul,” and I believe that this quote describes what I had to do to achieve happiness. Happiness is a journey. Everyone seems to need different things to be happy. But I believe people are blinded from what truly makes one happy.

Growing up, we’re encouraged to be successful in life; but how is success defined? Success and happiness are imagined now as having a lot of money. It is so untrue. Recently I went to Costa Rica and visited the small town of El Roble. I spent the day with a nine-year old girl named Marilyn. She took me to her house to meet her parents. It was obvious that they were not rich; living in a small house with seven children. The house was cluttered but full of life. Those who have decided that success and happiness comes from having money and a big house would be appalled at how utterly happy this family from El Roble is. People say that seeing things like that make you appreciate what you have, but for me, it made me envy them for being so happy without all the things I have.

“The essentials to happiness are something to love, something to do, and something to hope for,” a quote from William Blake sums up what I believe people need to realize to be truly happy in life. People need love; I feel they need their family and their friends more than anything in the world. People need work to do, something to make them feel they are making a difference in the world. People need to know that more good is to come in the future, so they continue to live for “now” instead of constantly worrying about the bad that could come. And most importantly people need to know that happiness is not something that happens overnight. Love and hope is happiness.

Sample #3: Find a Good Frog

written by Delia Motavalli, high school student, as heard on The Bob Edwards Show (2013)

I believe in finding a good frog. It seems that all throughout childhood, we are taught to look for a happily ever after. “And they all lived happily ever after”; isn’t that the conclusion to many children’s films? When I was a kid I always thought of that as magical; but now really it just seems unrealistic. And it teaches us that what we want is a fairytale like they have in the storybooks. We all want to be Cinderella who gets swept off her feet by the hot prince; we want to live in the royal castle, right? But I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing for us to seek. Now I’m not saying I believe in being pessimistic, but I do believe in being realistic; it’s something I got from my mom.

My mother and I always have our best conversations in the rain. We sit in the car, neither of us wanting to brave the rain to get to the house. So we sit. We watch droplets race down the windshield, listen to the rain strike the roof of her little blue Honda, and feel the heater on full-blast rushing at our feet (just the way we like it). I don’t know why, but sitting in the car, we always talk more than normal. There was one rainy day when my mom told me something that is going to stick with me forever. Earlier that day she and my dad had been arguing about something; I can’t remember what. So she said, “Don’t spend your life looking for Prince Charming. Instead, find yourself a really good frog.”

At the time, I found this thought really disheartening. Who wants to think that you’ll never find Prince Charming? You’ll never get to be Cinderella? Another thought that struck my mind: if my mom says there’s no Prince Charming, then what’s my dad? A frog? I asked her, and she replied with, “Of course! If he were Prince Charming, he wouldn’t snore, would be able to cook, and we would never argue. But you know what? He’s a damn good frog.” Of course, being young, I didn’t think of the meaning behind what she was saying. I was too busy thinking of it literally, visualizing my mom as a princess and my dad in frog form.

But a few years later, I understand the value of my mom’s words. You can’t expect everything to be perfect. Let’s be completely honest; if you wait your whole life for your prince with flowing hair, statuesque features, and a white horse, you’re going to be lonely. I think that the point of finding a good frog is you accept something that’s great, flaws and all. It’s so easy to be picky. You can find the one tiny thing that’s wrong, and that one tiny thing is what you can’t get your mind off of. But in life, we can’t afford to wait years in vain for perfection. So I think that a good frog, an amazing frog, the best frog you can find is what we’re really looking for in this world. Don’t laze through life waiting for a happily ever after, because I don’t think you’ll be very happy with the outcome.

Examples from the ‘This I Believe’ Website

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude by Sarah Adams

They Lived Their Faith by Charles Henry Parrish

Returning to What’s Natural by Amelia Baxter-Stoltzfus

The Birthright of Human Dignity by Will Thomas

Remembering All The Boys by Elvia Bautista

I Am Still The Greatest by Muhammad Ali

A Goal Of Service To Humankind by Anthony Fauci

My Life Is Better by Abraham

Give Me a Waffle by Brenda

The Little Things by Sophie Crossley

You can also browse thousands more This I Believe essays by theme .

Prefer to Listen to Get Inspiration?

Check out This I Believe’s Podcast Series

4) Drafting

Assignment guidelines + suggestions and tips for drafting.

1. While the examples you’ve been given can serve as a model, it is essential that each of you write about a personal belief or philosophy that you feel strongly about. 2. Tell a story. Personal experiences are the corner stone of a good essay. Your story doesn’t have to be a heart breaker or even a major event, but it must be something that has affected how you think, feel, and act. List your personal experiences that you intend to use as evidence below: 3. Be concise. Avoid repetition. This essay should be between 500 – 650 words. When read aloud, it should take roughly four minutes. 4. Name your belief. It is essential that you can name your belief in a sentence or two. Focus on one belief only. This is your thesis. Write it here: 5. Be positive. Avoid preaching or persuading. You aren’t trying to change the way others think or act. Write about what you believe, not what you don’t believe. 6. Use the first person. Speak for yourself. Avoid using we or you. 7. Let your voice shine. Use language that sounds like you. Read it aloud as your revise. Keep making changes until your essay sounds like you and captures the essence of your belief.

5) Peer Review

Once you have written your first draft, arrange for your essay to be edited by a peer, using the following Peer-Editing Checklist: Writer’s Name: ________________________________________________ Peer Editor’s Name: ________________________________________________ Use your PENCIL or PEN (NOT red or green) to make corrections. Remember, this essay is a work in progress. You are not done writing! Look for ways to improve what you’ve already written. Tick each step if it has been completed. _____ 1. Read the paper backwards, one sentence at a time. Check for spelling errors. Use a dictionary, a friend, or a spell checker to find the correct spelling. _____ 2. Check for capitalized proper nouns and the first word of each sentence. _____ 3. Skip a line between each paragraph. _____ 4. Every sentence should have end punctuation. _____ 5. Check commas. Are they only used for compound sentences, a list of items, an introductory word or phrase, direct address, setting off interruptions, separating adjectives, or in dates? Do you need to add commas? Make sure you do not have commas separating complete sentences (i.e. comma splice errors that create run-on sentences). _____ 6. Apostrophes are used only for contractions and to show ownership. _____ 7. The use of more complex punctuation (dashes, hyphens, semi-colons, parentheses, etc.) is done correctly. _____ 8. Have you used commonly mixed pairs of words correctly? Check these: they’re/their/there, your/you’re, it’s/its, a/an, to/too/two, are/our/hour, and others. _____ 9. Read the paper backwards one sentence at a time. Check for sentence fragments and run-ons and correct them. _____ 10. Did you stay in present tense (such as is, am, do, take, know, etc.) or past tense (such as was, were, did, took, knew, etc.) throughout the entire essay? _____ 11. Did you stay in first person (I, me, my, we, us, our) or third person (he, him, she, her, they, them, their) throughout the entire essay? _____ 12. Was there adequate use of specific details and sensory details? Were the details clear and relevant to the statement? _____ 13. Is the overall purpose/philosophy clear? _____ 14. Does the conclusion make you go, “Wow!” “Cool!” “I never thought about it that way,” or any other similar reaction? Other suggestions for the overall content of the piece: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

possible grading rubric for This I Believe essay

This I Believe by Tanya Matthews is licensed by CC-BY-SA

“This I Believe” Essay Copyright © 2020 by Liza Long; Amy Minervini; and Joel Gladd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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This I Believe

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Celebrating Four Years Of 'This I Believe'

April 27, 2009 • During its four-year run on NPR, This I Believe engaged listeners in a discussion of the core beliefs that guide their daily lives. We heard from people of all walks of life — the very young and the very old, the famous and the previously unknown.

Saying Thanks To My Ghosts

April 26, 2009 • Novelist Amy Tan hasn't always believed in ghosts, but as a writer she's had too many inspirations that she can't fully explain. Now, Tan embraces her belief in ghosts and the messages of joy, love and peace they bring her.

Life Is An Act Of Literary Creation

April 23, 2009 • Mexican-American novelist Luis Urrea used to think that simply being a good observer would make his writing better. But over time, he's come to believe that being a good writer and a good person comes from paying attention to the world around him.

The Art Of Being A Neighbor

April 12, 2009 • A few years ago, Eve Birch was broke and living alone in a dilapidated mountain shack. But a community of people befriended her, shared what little they had with her and showed Birch the value of neighbors uniting to help one another.

Muhammad Ali John Lair/Muhammad Ali Center hide caption

I Am Still The Greatest

April 6, 2009 • To be the "Greatest of All Time," boxing legend Muhammad Ali says you have to believe in yourself. It's a lesson his parents taught him and it has helped him in fighting Parkinson's disease.

Dancing To Connect To A Global Tribe

March 29, 2009 • Matt Harding has been to 70 countries to dance — badly — in front of a camera, and videos of his travels have become an Internet sensation. Harding believes interacting with so many different people challenges him to understand what unites humanity.

My Father Deserves Spectacular Results

March 26, 2009 • Environmental activist Van Jones is a special adviser to the Obama administration. He says his dad, who died last year, would have gotten a kick out of seeing Obama become president. But his dad had high standards, and there is much more work to be done.

The Beatles Live On

March 15, 2009 • Macklin Levine was born more than 25 years after the Fab Four broke up, but at 12, she has a deep appreciation for Beatles music. "As old as the songs are, you can learn a lot about yourself from the lyrics," she says. And the Beatles help her remember her Dad, too.

Finding Freedom In Forgiveness

March 5, 2009 • Jennifer Thompson-Cannino was certain that Ronald Cotton was the man who raped her in 1984. But she was wrong. After Cotton spent 11 years in jail, DNA evidence proved his innocence. Now, the two have a friendship based on their belief in forgiveness.

Work Is A Blessing

March 1, 2009 • When he was 12, Russel Honore got his first job helping a neighbor milk 65 dairy cows twice a day. Fifty years later, the retired Army lieutenant general believes hard work helps build character, strengthen communities and promote freedom.

Seeing Beyond Our Differences

February 26, 2009 • Scientist Sheri White says that despite differences in size, shape and color, all humans are 99.9 percent biologically identical. White believes we should embrace our similarities and honor the differences that make each of us unique.

Historical Archives

Reflections on race: essays from the archives.

February 23, 2009 • Dan Gediman, executive producer of NPR's This I Believe, explores the archives of the original series hosted by Edward R. Murrow in the 1950s. He says the essays shed light on the realities of segregation at the dawn of the civil rights movement.

Gediman explores the 'This I Believe' archives.

The magic of letters.

February 15, 2009 • Chameli Waiba was raised in a village in Nepal and didn't attend school as a child. When she finally learned to read as an adult, Waiba discovered the power words could have to change her life, as well as the lives of others in her rural community.

How To Survive Life's Tests

February 9, 2009 • Kendra Jones assigned her students to write This I Believe essays and decided that she owed it to them to write one of her own. Jones believes toughness, steeliness and even meanness have helped her throughout her life.

Our Awareness Controls Human Destiny

February 8, 2009 • In an essay from 1951 for the original This I Believe series, Margaret Mead says she can't separate the beliefs she has as a person from the beliefs she has as an anthropologist. She says that humans have a responsibility for the entire planet.

A Hope For Bettering Humanity

February 1, 2009 • In an essay from 1953 for the original This I Believe series, Sir Charles Galton Darwin, the grandson of naturalist Charles Darwin, drew on his study of science to say he believed the future of humanity depended on the practice of eugenics.

Listening Is Powerful Medicine

February 1, 2009 • It took a scolding from an elderly patient to get Dr. Alicia Conill to look up from her charts and stop to listen. Conill came to understand the value of listening in the treatment process — especially when she herself became the patient.

America's Beauty Is In Its Diversity

January 29, 2009 • In sixth grade, Alaa El-Saad decided to start wearing the hijab , a religious head covering for Muslim women. Despite some trepidation, she found her classmates supported her choice. Now El-Saad believes being different is part of being American.

Thirty Things I Believe

January 18, 2009 • When Tarak McLain's kindergarten group celebrated their 100th day of class, some kids brought 100 nuts or cotton balls. Tarak brought a list of 100 things he believes. Now a first-grader, Tarak shares his top beliefs about God, life, nature and war.

Inviting The World To Dinner

January 12, 2009 • Every Sunday for 30 years, Jim Haynes has welcomed complete strangers into his Paris home for dinner. By introducing people to each other and encouraging them to make personal connections, Haynes believes he can foster greater tolerance in the world.

Pathways Of Desire

January 4, 2009 • Gina Parosa believes in letting her kids, pets and livestock make their own paths in life. But she also realizes that as a farmer and parent, she sometimes has to step in and set good boundaries — while still being flexible enough to change them.

This Is Home

January 1, 2009 • Majora Carter believes you don't have to move out of your old neighborhood to live in a better one. Carter was raised in the South Bronx and spent years trying to leave. But when the city proposed a waste facility there, she was inspired to fight for her community.

Health Is A Human Right

December 21, 2008 • As an infectious disease specialist, Dr. Paul Farmer has traveled the planet to organize and provide medical treatment for people living in poverty. He believes good health care is vital but just the first step in creating a world free of all human suffering.

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inspiring essay topic ideas

85 Original “This I Believe” Essay Topic Idea

A lecturer may ask students to turn in a “this I believe essay topic idea”, writing about something they think exists. Thus, students start to search the internet on “this I believe essay topic idea”. In writing a “this I believe” essay, there are no limits. You can write about anything you believe in from true love to a religious belief to your political stand. However, getting the right “this I believe essay topic idea” is something that students struggle with. In this article, you will be getting many essay topic ideas you can choose from. So, continue reading!

85 I Believe Essay Topic Ideas

I Believe In Doing A Good Turn
I Believe In Gender Equality
I Believe In God
I Believe In True Love
I Believe In Myself
I Believe In Diligence At Work
I Believe In Living Single Forever
I Believe In Having A Best Friend
I Believe In Dreams
I Believe In Fate
I Believe In Working Hard
I Believe In Communal Work
I Believe In The Power Of Words
I Believe In Drawing My Inner Strength
I Believe In Talking As A Means Of Solving Problems
I Believe In Women Dominating Politics
Robots Will Take Over Human Labour In 10 Years, This I Believe
I Believe Homeschooling Is Better Than Attending School Physically
I Believe In Feminism
I Believe In Showing The World My Hidden Talent
I Believe In Volunteering For Charity Events
I Believe In Visiting Countries As A Teenager
I Believe That Social Media Has Adverse Effects On Mental Health
I Believe Having Pets Help A Person
I Believe In Spending Time With The Elderly
I Believe In Rekindling Old Friendships
I Believe We All Have Hidden Abilities
I Believe Children Should Not Be Spanked
I Believe Prisoners Should Be Allowed To Vote
I Believe Women Should Rule The World
I Believe The Simplest Things In Life Bring Fulfillment
I Believe In Taking Risks
I Believe In Going On Adventures
I Believe Abortion Should Be Delegalized
I Believe In Making Sacrifices For Loved Ones
I Believe Success Is Relative
I Believe The Theory Of Evolution Is A Myth
I Believe In Learning How To Cook At A Young Age
I Believe In Learning Tech At A Young Age
I Believe In Body Positivity And Confidence
I Believe In Having Role Models
I Believe In A Mother’s Love
I Believe In A Father’s Love
I Believe In Spending Time With My Family
I Believe In Writing Letters To My Younger Self
I Believe In Writing Letters To My Older Self
I Believe There Is Intrusion Of Privacy Of Social Media Users
I Believe More Youths Have Mental Health Issues
I Believe The Media Misrepresents The Youth
I Believe In Keeping Family Traditions Alive
I Believe In Hard Copies Are Better Than E-books
I Believe In Financial Responsibility
I Believe In Legal Punishment For Cyber-bullying
I Believe Foetus Should Have Legal Rights
I Believe In Shared Domestic Roles For Husbands And Wives
I Believe In Helping The Sick
I Believe Everyone Has Their Personal Fashion Sense
I Believe Would-be Fathers Should Have A Say In Determining Whether An Abortion Is Carried Out Or Not
I Believe Democracy Has No Place In The 21st Century
I Believe Technology Has Contributed Immensely To Fashion
I Believe Teachers Should Be Paid Higher Salaries
I Believe Teachers Are Under-appreciated
I Believe Libraries Are The Bedrocks Of Literacy
I Believe Cultures Should Be Preserved
I Believe That Women Should Be More Financially Empowered
I Believe Children Should Be Financially Empowered
I Believe NGOs Should Pay Taxes
I Believe Art Is Life
I Believe In Formal Education
I Believe Cars Should Drive Themselves
I Believe China Is The Next Superpower
I Believe The US Interferes In Other Countries’ Affairs
I Believe Preteenagers Should Start A Job During The Holiday
I Believe There Should Not Be Summer Lessons
I Believe Supreme Court Justices Should Be Elected
I Believe The Internet Should Be Regulated
I Believe Religion Is Relevant In The 21st Century
I Believe Sex Education Should Be Introduced In Grade Level
I Believe 5G Technology Is More Beneficial To Humans
I Believe Vegetables Should Replace Junk
I Believe Students Should Wear Uniforms To School
I Believe Sororities Are Irrelevant To Schools
I Believe Immigrants Face Discrimination In Schools
I Believe Public Schools Are Under-facilitated
I Believe Euthanasia Should Be Made A Criminal Offence

How To Write A “This I Believe Essay”

Now that you have these topics, the next thing to get is the structure: title, introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Make sure you go straight to the point and cut out unnecessary words.

With these essay topics, you are on the right path to writing a good “this I believe” essay. Remember to start your essay with the title, followed by an introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion.

List of 75 essay topic ideas for middle school students, 70 argumentative essay topic ideas college students, leave a reply cancel reply.

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Power Lesson: “This I Believe” Essays

December 4, 2016

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“Doing homework” by Predi is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

In this power lesson shared by high school English teacher Cynthia Ruiz , students write their own personal statements of belief. The essay pushes students to write about something that matters to them and helps them get to know each other on a deeper level.

I used to assign a “Letter to the Teacher” at the beginning of every year to get a snapshot of how a student writes while simultaneously learning background information. Being completely honest, this assignment is also an easy way to get the first few back-to-school days started when a 90-minute class period feels like 900 minutes, because everyone is typically on their best behavior and not talking much. Although I enjoy reading the letters, the assignment doesn’t lend itself to revising and is written only for a specific, one-person audience.

I know building relationships with students is important and a way to get to know them is through their writing, so I did some research to see what other teachers were trying. I came across the “This I Believe” site and immediately liked the concept better than an introduction letter for a teacher.

Assignment Guidelines

The first time I assigned a “This I Believe” essay was in the fall of 2014, during the second week of school. I planned it as a year-long endeavor, something we could work on as a distraction from other essays required to prepare for state testing. This past year, I did not assign it until late April; it would be our last major writing task. I wanted to give everyone plenty of time to write but held them to a firm deadline of having four weeks to work.

This time, I crafted my writing guidelines according to those posted on the NPR site that hosts hundreds of This I Believe essays from around the world. My rubric still has some typical writing conventions, but overall I think it focuses more on student voice than structure. I made it clear that students had a lot of choice regarding both content and format. The biggest restriction came directly from the This I Believe site: a 500-600 word limit. I know a lot of writing teachers are divided when it comes to word count, but I figured it was still better than giving a specific number of required paragraphs and sentences.

One other requirement was that students use at least three “vocabulary devices.” This may seem like a restriction, but it actually supported student voice. Over the spring semester, we spent a lot of time reviewing both rhetorical and literary devices (anaphora, hypothetical questions, simile) and I told students to focus on the devices they genuinely felt comfortable using.

Helping Students Choose a Topic

Because the rubric leaves room for a lot of choice, I encouraged students to visit the featured essays site and not only read, but listen to real examples. I wanted them to see that this wasn’t just another run-of-the-mill assignment, that what they believe is important and writing is just one way to share those beliefs. I also made it a point to tell them our end goal was to share this essay with their entire class by way of a gallery walk.

After giving students time to explore the site, I had them “rush write” in their notebooks to see what immediate ideas they captured to help start the brainstorming process. Here’s the prompt I used:

This I Believe For 2 minutes: List words or ideas that you think about when you think of YOUR LIFE. (Can be feelings, symbols, names, events, etc.)

After students generated this list, I asked them to consider what they wanted to write about and share with others. I wanted them to imagine a larger audience and think outside of meeting my expectations.

For some, deciding what to write about was easy and they began drafting immediately. However, the majority of students struggled not so much with what they believe, but how to write about it. Even though they appreciated having so much choice, they still needed some direction to get started.

We continued the listing strategy by focusing on “most memorables”: most memorable events in life so far, most memorable stuffed animal, most memorable friends, family experiences, life lessons learned, and so on. I asked them to focus on why they remember what they remember, and whether or not it impacts any of their beliefs. One student remembered a saying his grandmother always told him that still provides comfort as he’s gotten older. Another focused on her family not having a big house when they first moved to America and how she’s learned to be satisfied with opportunities instead of possessions. While this strategy helped a lot of light bulbs go off, it didn’t work for everyone.

Another strategy I tried was using involved sentence stems: I know I am the way I am today because______. I know I think about things the way I do because _______. I think most people would describe me as ______. I emphasized that these phrases did not have to be included in their final products, but should help generate ideas. I talked with a few frustrated students about this strategy and they told me it made them realize they’ve never really had to think about themselves in this way, but ultimately, it gave them direction for their essays.

Drafting and Revising

Because of block scheduling, I gave students about a week and a half to complete a working draft, which required having at least two paragraphs of their essay done. I only gave a portion of two to three class periods to actually write in class; students were expected to write on their own time.

On the day drafts were due, I set aside class time for revision. I asked students to refer to the rubric and focus on voice and vocabulary strategies. Questions I told them to consider were: Does this sound like me? Do I talk like this to my friends or family? I gave students the option of reviewing their own essays or partnering up with someone to peer edit. Again, this was the end of the year, so we had already established a pretty firm community of trust in class. I don’t know if peer editing would have been as easy had I done the assignment early in the year.

Overall, draft day didn’t feel like the usual “revising and editing” days we’ve had with other essays. Students were very concerned with whether or not they were making sense, if they should add more, or if they were being too repetitive, rather than only being concerned about capitalization, spelling, and grammatical errors.

Sharing the Finished Essays

The culmination of this assignment was when the essays were shared in a gallery walk . The gallery walk is my answer to having students write for a larger audience, and it really helps this essay become about what students have to say instead of just another grade. I can’t count how many times I have returned tediously graded essays only to have a kid immediately walk over to the recycling bin and trash it! Sure he read the comments and suggestions I made, or saw the cute smiley face I left by an excellent word choice, but it didn’t mean much to him because the paper is graded and finished, and he is now done thinking about it. With a gallery walk, not only are students thinking about what they wrote, but they have the opportunity to think about what their classmates wrote as well.

I printed each essay without any names, and made sure any identifying statements were revised. However, there were quite a few students who said they were proud of what they wrote and had no problem if others knew which essay belonged to them. Because not every student turned in a final copy, I printed additional copies of some completed essays to ensure every student had something to read during our gallery walk, instead of drawing attention to the two or three students who did not finish the assignment.

I placed the essays on different tables throughout the room and allowed students to move around as needed; some chose to stand and read an essay, others opted to sit, while others sprawled out on the floor to read. I played soft music and asked that the room volume stay quiet enough to be able to hear the music at all times. I didn’t mind if students were sharing and discussing, and I really wish I recorded the various conversations and comments I overheard that day: “Wow! Did you read this one yet?” “Man. Who wrote this? I might cry. Good tears, though.” “This one is life, Ms. Ruiz.”

I provided a pad of post-its near each essay and told students to leave POSITIVE feedback for each other. I provided sentence stems to help:

Something I liked…

Something I can relate to/agree with…

Something that surprised me…

Something I want to know more about…

I really think…

I periodically checked to make sure no one was being inappropriately critical or just leaving cute hearts or check marks. I wanted students to think about what they were reading, and understand that feedback is a crucial part of the writing process

After about 40 minutes, each essay had received multiple written comments, looking similar to the picture below:

Overall, the feedback was uplifting and actually created a sense of belonging in each class. Students told me they learned so much about each other that day and were shocked by their classmates’ writing. A few said they wished they had written this essay sooner.

Sample Student Work

I was floored by some of the essays I received. Some made me laugh, some made me gasp, some made me cry. Compared to the typical papers I usually assign, this essay allowed my students to not just think about what they were writing but to care about their writing and to be intentional in the language they were using, both in word choice and rhetorical strategies, because it was about what they believe. It is some of the strongest student writing I have ever received as an English teacher.

Here are some sample paragraphs from students who gave me permission to share their work:

From a student who told me he hates school and hates writing.

From a student who by all outward appearances, comes from a traditional family.

From a student battling depression and anxiety.

From a student who missed almost a whole semester but is trying to stay in school.

Although this essay helped end the year with a strong sense of community, I think teachers could easily have students write it at the beginning of the school year or even in January at the start of a new year. I’d love to hear how other teachers have used an essay like this in their classes. ♦

Have you taught a lesson or designed a learning experience we should feature in Power Lessons? Send a full description of your lesson through our contact form and we’ll check it out!

What to Read Next

Categories: Instruction

Tags: English language arts , lesson planning , power lessons

39 Comments

Cynthia and Jennifer, Thank you for sharing this Power Lesson; it’s one I plan on “borrowing” for sure in January. I love the connection built during the gallery walk. I can imagine this being truly powerful for all students. Well done!

I LOVE this!! I will use this in the Spring with my students. The excerpts in the blog post were so personal. I hope the students realize what a gift they shared.

Tonya, I agree. I’m always so grateful when students are willing to let us see their work here!

I love this assignment. I use it every semester with Public Speaking students, following a similar brainstorm and drafting process. Since the assignment comes from a radio program, my students audio record themselves, and our celebration of the work happens through hearing each student read the essay. Very powerful hearing their voices!

Ruth, thanks so much for taking the time to share this idea. I’m sure lots of teachers will love how audio enriches this assignment.

Thank you for sharing the students’ samples. Writing is such a great way to express oneself and when you make it personal students are engaged. ❤️ it! I am thinking about adding it as my last assignment for my 3rd graders!

Thank you for sharing, especially the students’ work samples.This will help inspire my students to share important details about their lives. Might I also recommend an excellent book I purchased used recently: Reading, Writing and Rising Up (by Linda Christensen)

I like this writing strategy. Last week I started something similar with my Arabic students. In groups of 3 to 4 students, they wrote stories (Brainstorm, first draft…) They started writing their final draft(with illustrations and drawings) on the butcher paper. On Monday, they will hang it on the wall and they will give each other feed back wile walking and reading each other’s essays. The problem with the foreign languages students writing is that they have brilliant ideas in English, but they cannot express them in Arabic or French… My questions is the following: Is there a way to adapt this writing strategy to World Languages students with taking into consideration the limited students’ language levels.

I love this assignment. I use at the end of the year with my seniors. I tell them to focus on a belief that they have formed over their past years of school and that will guide them as they make steps on their next journey — college, military, work, etc. Every year I am awed by the thought and pride they take in it. Their voices shine through the papers. The emotions, ranging from joy to sadness or humor to regret, overtake their essay making each both personal and universal. I also always write one that I individualize for each class and how they have shaped or firmed one of my own beliefs.

I love this, especially as a way to “re-enter” in January! I hope that I can use it effectively with my middle schoolers. Thank you so much for sharing this!

YES!! This was my first lesson in my first year of teaching and it completely set the tone for the rest of the year. The work I received from eleven year olds blew my mind, and I even submitted(with their permission) a few pieces to be published because they were that deep. Bravo to this I believe essays & sharing lessons like this with other educators.

Did you find that you had to add in any scaffolds/support for students? I want to try this with my 7th graders who really struggle with writing and getting started with ideas.

This looks like a fabulous project and one I am keen to try out next semester.

I, too, have been doing this assignment for a few years now. It is my favorite assignment of the year. I teach 8th grade English and I have my students share their essays aloud. We sit in a circle and listen to each student share his/her belief. It is powerful. We laugh. We cry. We learn. Having students write for an audience of their peers is challenging for them, but so rewarding in the end.

This looks great for January. I noticed that the This I Believe website has a high school curriculum for sale for $20. Has anyone used it? Is it worth it? Necessary?

This reminds me of an assignment I had in high school. It was called our “Capstone,” and was a year-long process (12th grade). We first chose three things that were important to our lives: a person, a place, and an event. Over the first semester we wrote about these in three separate papers. Then come second semester we had to connect them with a metaphor, and put together a 20 minute presentation that connected everything. It really allowed students to get creative while expressing what was most important to us.

Do you happen to have an example of this still? It sounds AWESOME and I would love to do it with my 8th graders!

Your students’ essays are beautiful, authentic and inspiring, as I am sure your teaching is. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the lesson. I like this idea for journaling too!

A brilliant idea! Thanks!

Thanks for sharing and including student work examples. Essays like this are a great way to get to know students at a deeper level and could also make a good college entrance essay!

Thank you for sharing this. Inspirational and heartfelt writing from young people.

This is so inspiring and beautiful. Thank you so much, both of you for sharing this power lesson. I was lookibng for a writing task muy ss could include in their e-Portafolio. Can’t wait to try it!! Thank you again!!

I know this might be simplistic, but could you share more about the vocabulary devices?

Hi, April! For the vocabulary devices, I’m referring to adding similes, metaphors, hyperboles, imagery, etc. We usually practice devices like anaphora and asyndeton in my advanced classes, so those can also be used. One of my favorite lines this year was: “I mean, I thought a step stool would do the job but instead it was like climbing a 20 foot ladder just to finish my goal…” We talked about how using a vocab device is more powerful than “I worked really hard.” Hope that helps! Cheers!

This is sooooo great!! I love it!!!!!

I love this. Has anyone tried it at the start if the year? Are students willing to write about such personal experiences and beliefs with a teacher and classmates that they don’t know well?

Hi Lizzie! I work for Cult of Pedagogy, but I’m replying as a teacher. I teach college level freshman comp and I started my previous semester with this essay. Because it was the beginning of the year, I didn’t do a gallery walk; it was more of a practice assignment to get used to the flow of papers and feedback. They had to bring in a rough draft for in-class workshops, so I made sure they knew a few of their classmates would be reading what they wrote. For extra credit, I offered them the chance to record their paper as a “podcast” and post it on YouTube. I was blown away by how in-depth most of them went! In fact, I’m starting my fall semester with it again.

I love this assignment in the spring for senior English. Generally, kids are appreciative that we’re doing the final writing assignment about something that is ‘real world legit’. I’ve always been impressed by their level of attention (and attendance),as our gallery walk happens on the last day of their English class in June.

Hi! This looks like a fantastic lesson and I would love to try it with one of my English classes. I noticed that your writing guidelines link is no longer available. Is there anyway I could get this information? Thanks Kelsey

Hi Kelsey! Thanks for letting us know about the link. This was a guest post and we will be happy to reach out to Cynthia to see if she has a current link to the writing guidelines. If so, we’ll get that updated on the post as soon as we can. Thanks again!

I was wondering about the guidelines as well. I teach in China and we are out of school right now for Chinese New Year, so I would love to have this when we return in February. Thanks for your help!

Hi Karen & Kelsey! I wanted to follow up on your request for the guidelines to let you know that Jenn no longer has access to them. If you haven’t already done so, Jenn recommends to check out the writing guidelines posted on NPR. I hope this helps!

I teach a course called Theory of Knowledge. One of the concepts we study is ‘faith’ as a way of knowing or gaining knowledge. I remember the “This I believe” series on the radio and then NPR. I have my students read several of the essays from the website and a few I copy from one of the books published. Then, they brainstorm and write their own essays. This spring, right before the Covid shutdown, one of my students committed suicide. I had returned his essay to him only days before; he’d written about the importance of love and relationships in life. Being able to share his essay with his mother and brother (who I had also taught) was a gift for all of us. I think the inspiration to have students write these essays was somehow a preparation for this sad experience. I like the suggestions here and may use the sentence stems to help those who struggle to get started.

Hello! I want to say that I had some difficulties in writing essays and statements. When I entered college, the first thing I encountered was writing a quality application.

thanks for sharing, this is really useful information for me!

thanks for sharing informative!

This looks like an amazing lesson plan and although it is late in the year I will try to use it. could you please send the grading rubric you used?

Hi, there! Because this post was written so long ago,we have unfortunately lost touch with the author, Cynthia Ruiz. From what we understand, she is no longer in the classroom. However, you may be able to connect with her on Twitter by clicking on the Twitter icon at the top of the post underneath Cynthia’s name.

If you are looking to create your own rubric, the section of this post called Assignment Guidelines links to the NPR website where Cynthia found the writing guidelines that she used as a basis for her own. In addition, there is another Cult of Pedagogy post on the single-point rubric , which you might find useful. I hope this helps!

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Beliefs — This I Believe: Exploring Core Values and Personal Convictions

This I Believe: Exploring Core Values and Personal Convictions

Categories: Personal Beliefs Values of Life

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Published: Sep 5, 2023

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Personal reflections on beliefs, fostering connection and empathy, inspiring thought and contemplation, unity amidst diversity.

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223 Belief Essay Ideas, Topics, & Examples

Looking for belief essay ideas? Being a subject of numerous philosophical debates, the concept of belief is worth exploring.

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⭐ personal belief essay topics, 💡 most interesting belief topics to write about, 📑 simple & easy belief essay titles, 📌 top belief topics to write about, 👍 exciting belief essay ideas, ❓ belief system research questions.

In your belief essay, you might want to focus of various philosophical approaches to the concept. Another idea is to compare religious and secular belief systems. One more option is to talk about your strongest personal beliefs and practices. Whether you have to write a high-school or a college assignment, our article will be helpful. Here you’ll find everything you might need to write a belief essay. Best personal belief essay topics and examples written by A+ students are collected below.

Omnism: Belief in All Religions The practice of omnism has been in here for a while, but the definition of the term is quite young. In Japan, an omnism religion is called Kokyo was formed in the 1800s, and the […]
“Confessions of Faith” Written by Cecil Rhodes In particular, the author argues that the citizens of the British Empire have a right to rule different regions of the world.
The Faith Concept and Types The concept of faith, types of faith and the criticism of faith are the key areas explored in this paper. The most common type of faith in the world is the religious faith.
Ecologies of Faith in the Digital Age and Surviving and Thriving in Seminary Therefore, based on this powerful technique, I believe that embracing the concept of spiritual growth through the use of the online platform will enable me to learn from the online community as well as to […]
Cultural Belief System: Experiences and Traditions In most communities, the belief systems form the basis for validity of governance systems in the community as well as the acceptable laws governing behavior in the society.
Faith and Materialism in Matthew 6:24-30 Due to simplicity, readers do not have to refer or infer to the original text in Greek or to the bible dictionary to get the meaning of the complex words in the text.
The Circle of Life: Belief of Native Americans He shows the weakest and frailest infants being at the base of the hill while the oldest were on the top.
The Importance of Perseverance and Self-Belief Of course, I was fluent in Spanish, which was my native language, but I faced a problem in the USA – I needed to learn English to feel comfortable and free.
“Is Justified True Belief Knowledge?” by Gettier In addition, the article reveals that the concepts of ‘the right to be sure that’ and ‘has adequate evidence for’ only work if the element of ‘justified true belief’ is not introduced in an analysis.
Religion in Moliere’s Tartuffe: True Faith Versus Hypocrisy Notably, he uses religion as the major instrument of his influence as it is easy to become a mentor and guide through the hazards of the world.
Relationship Between Psychology and Christian Faith Truly, I have realized that sincerity is found in Jesus discipleship and the study of persona, but the varying aspects guiding the honesty are the belief in Christ and analytical thinking.
Christian Faith and Scientific Disciplines It is believed that the introduction of philosophical naturalism to scientific thinking led to the development of the natural sciences. In contrast to the natural sciences, the social sciences focus on particular people and communities […]
Critique of Health-Belief Model by R. Davidhizar The primary objective of concept analysis is to examine the main idea critically to identify the themes of the design. The concept of health-related behavior is used in the field of breast cancer to enlighten […]
Kant’s Categorical Imperative vs. Kierkegaard’s Notion of Faith The reason of why Kant’s ideas are preferable to me is that the categorical imperative allows to define what actions are obligatory and which ones should be forbidden and to choose the way that is […]
Mary Rowlandson’s Strong Faith, Captivity and Restoration Her strong faith helped her to endure her captivity and ultimately be restored to her family. Rowlandson’s faith in God gave her the strength to endure this difficult situation.
Adam’s Apples: Testing of Faith Adam, on the other hand, is skeptical and eager to confront the vicar, seeking to prove that Ivan’s miserable life is a sign of God’s hatred.
Change in Belief System Their life experiences, friends, and exposure to reality are some of the factors that contribute to such shifts in belief and attitude towards diverse occurrences in life.
“The Ethics of Belief” by William K. Clifford On religious beliefs, Clifford advises that belief matters are private and that people have the right to choose whichever religion to believe.
Without Faith, There Can Be No True Virtue? It relates to the author of integrity and the dishonest virtue that occurs where there is no faith in God even if the qualities of an individual are the best.
Ethics and Faith in the Movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” In this motion picture, he seems to support the defeat of the religious as seen through the death of the most religious person in the story – Ben.
Health Belief Model: Description and Concepts The concept is based on a person’s sufficient motivation to affect an issue, the existence of a threat, and the realization that the benefits are worth the cost.
Faith and the Future: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Jews can gloat and say that they are the chosen people but this is not a wise decision to make because they will be threatened on all side and in fact since two thousand years […]
Faith Integration in the Hebrew 11 Passage The examples of people leading by their example and convincing others to accept the Christian faith as the [path to salvation are incredibly inspiring, which is why the specified part of the Scripture has a […]
Human Belief in Myths and Legends However, suppose one understands the meaning and the reasons for their creation, which in most cases are similar regardless of the area of origin of the legend.
The “Dynamics of Faith” Book by Paul Tillich Relying on the study of Dynamics of Faith, Paul Tillich would analyze the “dynamics of faith” present in The Plague’s Fr.
God’s Healing Is Not Influenced by Level of Faith For example, in response to the courage that the woman with the flow of blood demonstrated, Jesus said that the faith she had made her whole.
The Relationship Between Faith and Charity The word church in the Apostles’ Creed, similarly to the Bible, refers to the people of God, the holy society made up of individuals who profess faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy […]
The Role of Faith in the US-Middle East Foreign Policy Moreover, the belief that the US was the nation assigned the role of fulfilling God’s promise to his people and the whole of humanity encouraged them to contribute to the well-being of settlers and natives […]
Reason and Faith in Christianity It should be stressed that the two entities of theological justification are seen to be reason and faith. People must have both the right justification and faith in order to believe, as those are the […]
Faith Integration: 1 Peter 5:1-4 The Bible verse can be applied to corporations that may take advantage of vulnerable consumers. Such an approach is detrimental to the consumers and the organizations.
Pascal’s Wager: Belief in God as a Rational Choice It is one of the favorite tools of religious preachers who try to appeal to famous names and a kind of logic to convince people to enter their faith. The second argument against Pascal’s wager […]
Evangelism in Daily Life: Sharing the Christian Faith The main Bible statement for Evangelism is “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”.
How Christianity Faith Influenced Mathematics Christianity displays God to have qualities of order due to the fashion and timeline of creation. Divisive interpretations between Christianity and science challenge the interconnectivity of both fields.
“Midsommar” and Sublime Nature of the Belief The work’s title hints at the central theme that follows the plot’s narrative the power of belief in the higher force in the world.
Faith and Transformational Teaching The authors say that being deeply and comprehensively trained in the field being taught is the path to success as a teacher.
Perception of Faith: Perspective and Science I became kinder, more righteous, and wiser as I began to deepen my understanding of the Nature of things. I first noticed the influence of the gospel when I had to make a difficult decision.
The “Your Grown-Up Faith” Book by Kenneth Parker The author shows the importance of the spiritual path in avoiding the traps of pseudo-spirituality and mysticism. The Youth’s Way is a challenging stage of doubts and searches for a place in the world and […]
The Jewish Belief of Heaven and Hell in Comparison to New Testament The Old Testament Sheol is both the plan of dead souls in the direct and the state of the fallen soul in the figurative sense.
Shintoism as a Faith Indigenous to the Japanese Currently, no central authority exists in Shinto, and practitioners employ a diverse number of ways to practice their faith Though the exact date of the creation of Shinto is not known, the variation of the […]
Personal Reflection on Integrating Faith and Work The relevance of a Christian’s positive view of the sociocultural practices of other people is biblically supported by the story of creation.
Augustine on Instructing Beginners in Faith The main thesis of this book is how to provide relevant instructions to the new converts. Therefore, improvements should be made to help in addressing the situation in most of the Christian conventions.
Aspects of Belief of Jainism When learning about religions and philosophies, I find that origins or backgrounds are essential in interpreting the context and content of a religion.
Christian Faith: Influence on Learning He discusses science and how humans are the products of the world they are endowed with feeling and thought, which are beyond natural.
“Faith and Learning” by David Dockery The main feature of this perception of the literary text is that the reader should not look for the secret meaning of the writer.
Preaching: Communicating Faith in Age of Skepticism Keller provides six approaches to preach Jesus from all of Scripture that are appropriate to both the message and the context of a given chapter to assist avoid these pitfalls.
“Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism” Book by Tim Keller In his book, Timothy Keller underlines the centrality of the gospel as one of the major means to connect an individual and the Church and establish fair and effective relationships.
Faith and Other Areas of Human Development From my point of view, there is undoubtedly a certain kind of connection between the development of faith and other areas of human development.
Evolutionary Ethics vs. Belief in God In addition, the disadvantage of the evolutionary theory is that moral and ethical norms cannot be determined only to a biological degree.
Spiritual Formation Reflection: Integrating Faith and Learning This strengthened understanding of the mutual necessity of faith and learning in becoming closer to God is a crucial result of this course for me.
Philosophy of Religion: Approaches to Faith and Church The epistemology in this work is not based on avid socialism but a specific definition of concepts and their application to religion.
Integrating Faith While Caring for Pediatric Patients: The Concept of Health The key points that the paper discusses are the need to care for patients, the desire to offer emotional support to them, the responsibility of personal sacrifice, and the call to be committed to the […]
The Experience of Faith The major concern in religion is that the relationship between faith and spirituality is a frequently debated subject among all Christians.
“The Ethics of Belief” by Clifford and “The Will to Believe” by James Belief in God is a momentous decision, and the benefits of yielding to religious faith outweigh the potential risks of error.
Faith and Justice in the City. Seek for Justice It is crucial to have the same law and the same treatment to a foreign person and for a native-born, as equal treatment is one of the main aspects of justice, promoted in the Bible.
How Faith Leaders Are Divided Over Equality Act The Vatican refuses to bless same-sex marriages saying that this is not in accordance with the canons of the Roman Catholic Church since marriage is a union of a man and a woman.
Public Health Theories. Health Belief Model For example, it is difficult to understand the relationship between perceived severity of HIV and perceived benefits of engaging in positive sexual health behaviors.
Discussion of Miracle and Faith in Medicine Thus, one of the most interesting concepts tackled in the topic readings is the evaluation of scientism as a means of explaining the phenomena of death, illness, and morality.
Identity Formation: Faith Overview As a result, I made a commitment and took the responsibility for my decisions, which was a long process. Undoubtedly, my faith was helpful in the process of my identity formation in other areas as […]
Islamic Belief Is Comprehensive The central theme of Islam as carried in all beliefs is peaceful co-existence and respect for other people’s religion.
Spiritual Growth: The Sense of Spirituality and Faith In the read story, the author mentioned two basic methods of development, which consist in the sense of spirituality and faith.
Religious Belief and Buying Behavior The main categories to be assessed are religious affiliation and religious dedication in respect to Hinduism and Islam. According to the research, religious affiliation and religiosity play a vital part in shopping conduct.
Faith and Gods in Ancient Civilizations Thus, it was important for the people of Ancient Greece, Rome, and China to have faith and praise the gods they chose.
Role of Faith in Social Work The first lesson of this book is that social work should be multifaceted to meet the specific needs of people, and it should consider the opportunities that every person has.
Faith Integration and Strategic Management At the Adult and Teen Challenge Ohio organization, which seeks to offer support and encouragement to women struggling with substance addiction, the focus on the search of a spiritual core as the key source of […]
Faith Integration: Opportunities and Threats Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio presently operates in Columbus, OH, yet the organization may expand in the future to embrace larger markets and address the needs of a more diverse range of clients. It is […]
Analytical Processing, Religion Belief & Science In order to test validity of the difference, it may be necessary to conduct an investigation on analytical processing skills of individuals in science and in religion.
Health Belief and Precautionary Adoption Process Models The agreement to change depends on the susceptibility of the risk. The study established that the construct of risk perception among the parents played a crucial role in determining the completion of the vaccination process.
Health Care Provider and Faith Diversity in Health Care The universal Christian community believes in the power of prayer in healing and the clergy offer prayers and spiritual nourishment to the sick.
Faith Diversity: Healing Prospects Muslims believe in the effect of the evil eye, jinns or magic, and it is this effect that results in illnesses with a supernatural cause.
Reason, Motivations, and Belief for Conducting Cyber Attack The end is beneficial to the threat source and detrimental to other users. In fact, activities of cyber attackers make the Internet both a blessing and a curse.
An Ethical Dilemma – Religious Belief Versus Medical Practice In the first step, the ethical dilemma is between the principle of beneficence in the treatment of meningitis and the principle of autonomy with respect to the decision of the parents.
Religion: The Canons as a Standards to Measure One’s Faith The authority of God in the New Testament cannot be exclusively attributed in the writing of the twenty-seven books that make up the New Testament as is the case with the Old Testament or Hebrew […]
Religion: Christians’ Belief in God So, in essence, he might take such turbulent times as a test of faith since the belief in the existence of God lies within the affirmation that God is in all things that we encounter.
Modality of Family Faith and Meanings and Relationships in Family Life The theme of this study is to investigate two broad categories of modalities of faith in family life: first, what they value or seek, and how they relate to God or to others and the […]
Acting in Good Faith: Contract and Agency Law To start with the validity of the contract should be analyzed; and in this case, the two contracting parties had agreed mutually to reduce the amount to a nominal amount of $150.
“Strength in the Unfeigned Faith” To the extent of questioning the incarnation of Jesus Christ, I become skeptical in basing my belief on the knowledge of this world.
Christian Faith and Work With Service Members In their article, Kick and McNitt discuss the importance of faith in providing help to the military members, veterans, and their families.
Faith-Based Organization Services as the Best Means to Prevent HIV and AIDS in Southern Cameroons The HIV/AIDS issue was complicated by the fact that at the moment of this research, there was no cure and the only way of addressing the infection spread was through prevention and ensuring that people […]
Belief and Evidence Between Religion and Science Therefore, they base their hopes on the belief that all will be well with them, and they will wake up to continue with their daily activities.
“Faith-Sharing” by Fox and Morris The three concepts that I have learned from the text include the meaning of faith, the motivation for faith sharing, and the appreciation of the meaning of faith sharing.
“Ferguson and Faith” by Leah Francis In this way, the religious activists may raise public awareness about the topical social issues in relation to the spiritual dimensions of human life, and engage people “in conversation about the theological imperative” in the […]
Four Apostles’ by Albrecht Dürer: Protestant Faith Protestantism emerged in Europe at the beginning of the 16th century as the opposition to the Roman Catholic Church and based on the belief in personal faith and the connection to God.
Spiritual Belief Is the Integral Parts of Human Beings In other words, the fact of the existence of the universe proves the idea of God responsible for the creation of such ideal objects and things.
Reason and Religious Belief. An introduction to The Philosophy of Religion’ by M. Peterson The chapter reveals that God is imperceptible to the senses of a man, and unconditionally pervades all the reality known to man. Therefore, it is challenging to reconcile the concept of God with evil and […]
The Chinese Belief on Death and Dying These distinctions are visible due to several cultures act of subjecting to an influencing experience of death in the African perspective, the keeping with the nature of the Bible or its times, the people from […]
Discovering Faith: The Search for Truth and Certainty The author starts his article with “truthseekers” using reason and faith as tools to find the truth. As opposed to both extremes- Fundamentalist Protestantism and Christian apologetic- Taylor argues that it is wrong to ridicule […]
Creationism as a Religious Belief The evolutionary scientists believe that the positions taken by creation scientists on the origin of the earth and life forms are irreconcilable to theirs.
Aquinas and Faith: Theological Theories Aquinas asserts that true faith should believe in what has been revealed by God The agreement that characterizes faith is being wholehearted and not timid. Through revelation one accepts the propositions in faith that God […]
Martin Buber: Two Types of Faith The first type of faith is expressed in the continuity of the nation which one is born in and he is a member.
Voluntaristic Faith: Readings by Clifford and James Faith, according to the readings of Clifford and James is a strong belief inscribed in the mind of an individual that that what they think is right.
Ethics of Belief: Term Discussion For instance, in the above example of taking your friends to a restaurant, you have to follow epistemic norm and the moral norm almost becomes obligatory.
”The Believers”: An Analysis of Belief & Faith Thus faith involves a process and belief is only a part of the process by way in which you acquire faith faith being the ultimate expression of belief.
Martin Luther: Justification by Faith Alone The basis of the doctrine of justification by faith is the doctrine of grace as undeserved favor of God to fallen humanity.
Islamic Faith and Ritual Practice In the Islamic faith, rituals, known in their religion as ibadat, meaning acts of obedience, service, and worship to God, form the foundation on which the whole faith is anchored.
Vedic Hinduism, Classical Hinduism, and Buddhism: A Uniting Belief Systems The difference between Vedic and Classical Hinduism is fundamentally approach towards life rather than beliefs or reformation and the progression from the former to latter is not clear in terms of time.
Ethics and Combination of Religious Faith, Ethical and Aesthetic Beliefs It is essentially described by the existence of pleasure and in living an aesthetic life to the maximum one has to aim at maximizing the given pleasures.
Christian Ministry and Personal Faith Moreover, should we want to focus on the Christian Ministry, and any other ministry for that matter, I think we have to get back to the basic teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and this […]
Human Experience and Development Of Religious Belief In an analysis of the role of the human experience in the development of religious beliefs, it is necessary also to note that the relation between human experience and religion is the exact background to […]
Islam: a Restatement of Israeli Faith He did not have formal training or wisdom to have made any editorializing or modification to the word of God hence Muslims believe that the Koran is the pure and unadulterated word of God as […]
Cherokee Indian Belief: Gateway to Modern Civilization The Cherokee learned the art of combat war from the Europeans and they used the same tactics later on to attack their neighbors in the frontiers.
The Christian Faith in Geisler’s and Feinberg’s “Introduction to Philosophy: A Christian Perspective” In spite of all this reason vs.revelation debate, there is an underlying determination that is made apparent in the book: this is the determination to overcome any kind of rationalist thought or idea and discount […]
Islam: Connection of Belief With a Traditional Life Knowledge of the bases of Muslim doctrine is rather variously at various layers of the population and in the different countries of traditional distribution of Islam.
The Conditions in Formulating a Reasonable Belief 2 Both ideas make sense, and the goal of this review is to compare the opinions of James and Clifford to strengthen an understanding of the connection between beliefs, evidence, and sentiments.
Faith and Critical Reason Issues My understanding of faith is close to the definition suggested by Tilley, who argues that faith is the relationship between the person who has faith and that “which one has faith in”.
Mahāyāna Awakening of Faith and Chinese Culture To support this argument, it is possible to read through the Awakening and note the parts that might have been influenced by the situation in China at the time.
Cardiac Surgery vs. Faith Healing However, I believe that it is our duty as true Christians to forego any other interventions, including operations, since it has already been proven that it is wrong to go against God’s will.
Core Values in Personal Belief System These are my core values and include happiness, family, friends, pleasure and financial security and stability. In conclusion, I agree that values are important to my life.
Belief Systems in Generation X and Millennials As the purpose of the project consists in analyzing various belief systems pursued by Generation X and Millennials, it is purposeful to represent photos, statistics, and graphs uncovering the percentage characteristics in terms of the […]
Reformation Theology as the Source of Religious Faith The three major teachings from Martin Luther regarding reforming the church include the fact that faith in God’s gift of forgiveness is very essential and is the only way through which individuals could win salvation […]
Faith Development in Adolescents I believe my input was valuable for the patient and her faith development as she carved some of the spiritual pillars that would be helpful in her adulthood.
Religious Belief and Academic Content It should adapt to the overall situation and change the nature of the speeches to reflect that the people’s righteousness was the cause of the good times and that their perseverance would help them overcome […]
Faith and Excellent Systematic Knowledge In the context of a specific parish, one will need to encourage the promotion of parishioners’ education to ensure that they are aware of the key market principles.
Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith is one of his writings that discusses religion that is close to the author.
Philosophical Views: Faith vs. Science It is important to look at some of the philosophical views and philosophers that supported the concept of faith, science or both.
Morality, Faith, and Dignity in Modern Youth The blistering evolution of society combined with the appearance of new opportunities resulted in the significant deterioration of moral and values which determine the nature of human actions.
Mindfulness in a Faith-Based Education Setting The College’s overall strategy for the following years is to continue promoting education in faith to form the staff around the Lasallian values, improve their appreciation of these values, use the Lasallian principles as a […]
Testing a Person for His Faith and Devotion to God Suffering is usually perceived as a negative experience since it is commonly believed that it is a punishment for the sinner.
The Faith and Ethics Course: Attaining Ethical Maturity In Christian context, the Bible is the principle guide to ethical conduct and all actions should be in conformity to it.
Faith and Ethics Role in Religion We will discuss two of the characteristics of the ethics of Jesus, that is, His new concept of love and the value of the individual person and how they can be incorporated in our own […]
Christian Faith: Ancient Religion For example, ity teaches that Jesus is the son of God, he is the way to salvation, and he was sent by God to save the world from sin.
Islamic Faith: Teachings and Practices Ahmed elaborates that Muslims in Middle East, India and Pakistan are keen and aware of the distinctions between the two factions.
Religious Studies: The Rahman Discussion and His Faith in Islam Yes, Rahman believes in the teachings of the Quran because they are the basis of all his writing. He cites from the Quran that this day will be the Day of Decision.
Religious Studies: Shinto’ Belief System This differs significantly from a vast majority of current belief systems such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and the Hindu religion wherein some form of the profession of faith is necessary to be considered a member […]
Faith, Justice, War – and Human Rights in the Realm of the Present-Day World Quran: The Most Ancient and Sacred Islamic Book as the Basis for the Laws on Human Rights Considering the Issue from a Different Perspective: The Fifteen Postulates Security of life and property: bi-al haqq and […]
Ushpizin: An Unshakable Jewish Faith This is a Jewish film owing to the title, language, setting, themes and even the actors involved in the film. The level of concern that they have for the Sukkot festival is indicative of their […]
The Main Problems of “Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief” by John Frame One of the best ways to solve this problem is to approach it from the point of view of God’s love for mankind.
“Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief” by John M. Frame The book goes further to analyze God’s will and power. Christians should use this book in order to establish the best relationships with their God.
Integrating Faith and Learning Kotter and Keller provide that marketing management is the process of formulating and organizing marketing strategies to control the organizational activities as well as allocate the marketing resources.
‘Belief in Action: The Salvation Army, a Global Not-for-Profit Organization’ Strategic planning goes through a process from setting the mission, objectives, situation analysis, strategy creation, execution and finally control so as to achieve positive results and an effective plan of action.”Strategic planning is inextricably interwoven […]
Rational Approach to the Issue of Belief In spite of the fact, objecting the position of Clifford, the person can support James’s views, and objecting the position of James, the person can discuss Clifford’s ideas as relevant, it is possible to provide […]
The Individual, Faith, and Society Hobbes managed to overcome all the political and social havocs that affected his life and which were the major things that shaped the way he was thinking.
Empowerment Through Art: A Biographical Study on Faith Ringgold But the key lies in knowing that the sickness is real, and her art strives to inform the masses of just that.
Faith and Grace as the Peculiarities of Religion Analyzing the opinions of different researchers, it is possible to consider faith as a set of the moral principles caused by the personal experience of God, while grace is a gift given by God in […]
Analyzing the Inculturation Process of Specific Historical Moments in the Development of the Christian Faith Inculturation refers to the process of going against the culture or societal values in the process of developing faith. This paper seeks to analyze the inculturation process of specific historical moments in the development of […]
W. K. Clifford, ‘The Ethics of Belief’ Clifford provided an opinion in opposition to theism where his statements can be put in three points; there is inadequate evidence to believe that there is existence of God, it is incorrect forever, all over, […]
Relationship Between Christian Faith and Science For this reason, science and faith are integral fields of knowledge that enhance understanding of the universe and human existence in the society; thus, theology should allow faith to correlate with science and seek understanding […]
Cross-Cultural Psychology: Similarities and Differences in Belief Systems and Behavioral Patterns These similarities and differences in cultural backgrounds have led to emergence of cross-cultural psychology, a study on the interaction between diverse human culture, belief systems and behavioral patterns.
Belief, Doubt and Modern Mind With the efforts to try and find solutions to one of the greatest mysteries, the ancient societies tried to come up with different suggestions that became a foundation for the creation of religion and religious […]
Philosophy of Religion: Argument According to Pascal’s Wager on the Belief in God In the philosophical argument presented by the book, Pascal’s Wager, by Jeff Jordan with regard to the existence and work of God, it emerges that people’s belief in God is often enhanced by self-interests rather […]
Belief Without Prior Evidence This is one of the main points that one can make in response to William Clifford’s essay The Ethics of Belief.
“The Ethics of Belief” by William Clifford While advancing his idea that there can be no justification for people to be blinded with irrational beliefs to such an extent that they grow deaf to the voice of reason, Clifford resorted to the […]
An Individual’s Belief is a Private Matter In Clifford’s article “The Ethics of Belief”, the author argues that individuals’ beliefs are not private matters. In the story of the ship, had the ship not capsized, the owner would have achieved his aims.
Faith and Family: Video Review The significance of a family as a building block of the community is enormous because it is important for each individuals to have a feeling of connection.
Blind Faith vs. the Rational Approach However, the novelty of the approach wears off quickly, since the only original idea of the presuppositional apologetics is that Christian religion is the only rational explanation for everything that happens in the world.
The Ethics of Belief: Based on Evidence or Inquiry In his essay The Ethics of Belief, William Clifford argued that every form of belief had to be based on some evidence or inquiry.
Families of Faith East and West, Their Cosmologies, Core Beliefs and Practice Christians believe in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church and that God is the creator and the savior of mankind.
Historical Background of Islamic Faith The fundamental goal of this pillar is to ensure sharing among the Muslims. Muslims believe that the purpose of sexual relations is to beget children.
Buddhism: Analysis of the Religion’s Faith and Practices This includes the name of the religion followers, the history and origins of the religion including the founders, the name of the Supreme Being or God, as well as the name of the place of […]
Criticism of “Our Faith in Science” The authors imply that scientific methods can help to prove the positive effect of Tenzin Gyatso’s practices in order to tell about this phenomenon to the international community.
Belief in Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” This is the beginning of his disbelief and loss of faith in good. This is the main factor which points to the weakening of the society in general.
Religion: Reason and Faith Judaism According to Anon, this is one of the religions that have their origin in the covenant of Abraham with God.
What is Theology – Faith and Reason in Theology Paul Ricoeur specialized in philosophy and of relevance to this paper are his thoughts on the effect of the past on the present.
The Belief in God The existence of God is justified in the sense that existence in the mind as a concept limits the idea of God already in the minds of people.
Corporate Ethics in the “Business Through the Eyes of Faith” He concludes that prosperity and profitability in business should not be equated to God’s approval and favor, rather it should be perceived as due reward for diligence and discipline in the course of running the […]
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Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2024, February 22). 223 Belief Essay Ideas, Topics, & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/belief-essay-topics/

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 113 perfect persuasive essay topics for any assignment.

General Education

Do you need to write a persuasive essay but aren’t sure what topic to focus on? Were you thrilled when your teacher said you could write about whatever you wanted but are now overwhelmed by the possibilities? We’re here to help!

Read on for a list of 113 top-notch persuasive essay topics, organized into ten categories. To help get you started, we also discuss what a persuasive essay is, how to choose a great topic, and what tips to keep in mind as you write your persuasive essay.

What Is a Persuasive Essay?

In a persuasive essay, you attempt to convince readers to agree with your point of view on an argument. For example, an essay analyzing changes in Italian art during the Renaissance wouldn’t be a persuasive essay, because there’s no argument, but an essay where you argue that Italian art reached its peak during the Renaissance would be a persuasive essay because you’re trying to get your audience to agree with your viewpoint.

Persuasive and argumentative essays both try to convince readers to agree with the author, but the two essay types have key differences. Argumentative essays show a more balanced view of the issue and discuss both sides. Persuasive essays focus more heavily on the side the author agrees with. They also often include more of the author’s opinion than argumentative essays, which tend to use only facts and data to support their argument.

All persuasive essays have the following:

Introduction: Introduces the topic, explains why it’s important, and ends with the thesis.
Thesis: A sentence that sums up what the essay be discussing and what your stance on the issue is.
Reasons you believe your side of the argument: Why do you support the side you do? Typically each main point will have its own body paragraph.
Evidence supporting your argument: Facts or examples to back up your main points. Even though your opinion is allowed in persuasive essays more than most other essays, having concrete examples will make a stronger argument than relying on your opinion alone.
Conclusion: Restatement of thesis, summary of main points, and a recap of why the issue is important.

What Makes a Good Persuasive Essay Topic?

Theoretically, you could write a persuasive essay about any subject under the sun, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Certain topics are easier to write a strong persuasive essay on, and below are tips to follow when deciding what you should write about.

It’s a Topic You Care About

Obviously, it’s possible to write an essay about a topic you find completely boring. You’ve probably done it! However, if possible, it’s always better to choose a topic that you care about and are interested in. When this is the case, you’ll find doing the research more enjoyable, writing the essay easier, and your writing will likely be better because you’ll be more passionate about and informed on the topic.

You Have Enough Evidence to Support Your Argument

Just being passionate about a subject isn’t enough to make it a good persuasive essay topic, though. You need to make sure your argument is complex enough to have at least two potential sides to root for, and you need to be able to back up your side with evidence and examples. Even though persuasive essays allow your opinion to feature more than many other essays, you still need concrete evidence to back up your claims, or you’ll end up with a weak essay.

For example, you may passionately believe that mint chocolate chip ice cream is the best ice cream flavor (I agree!), but could you really write an entire essay on this? What would be your reasons for believing mint chocolate chip is the best (besides the fact that it’s delicious)? How would you support your belief? Have enough studies been done on preferred ice cream flavors to support an entire essay? When choosing a persuasive essay idea, you want to find the right balance between something you care about (so you can write well on it) and something the rest of the world cares about (so you can reference evidence to strengthen your position).

It’s a Manageable Topic

Bigger isn’t always better, especially with essay topics. While it may seem like a great idea to choose a huge, complex topic to write about, you’ll likely struggle to sift through all the information and different sides of the issue and winnow them down to one streamlined essay. For example, choosing to write an essay about how WWII impacted American life more than WWI wouldn’t be a great idea because you’d need to analyze all the impacts of both the wars in numerous areas of American life. It’d be a huge undertaking. A better idea would be to choose one impact on American life the wars had (such as changes in female employment) and focus on that. Doing so will make researching and writing your persuasive essay much more feasible.

List of 113 Good Persuasive Essay Topics

Below are over 100 persuasive essay ideas, organized into ten categories. When you find an idea that piques your interest, you’ll choose one side of it to argue for in your essay. For example, if you choose the topic, “should fracking be legal?” you’d decide whether you believe fracking should be legal or illegal, then you’d write an essay arguing all the reasons why your audience should agree with you.

Arts/Culture

Should students be required to learn an instrument in school?
Did the end of Game of Thrones fit with the rest of the series?
Can music be an effective way to treat mental illness?
With e-readers so popular, have libraries become obsolete?
Are the Harry Potter books more popular than they deserve to be?
Should music with offensive language come with a warning label?
What’s the best way for museums to get more people to visit?
Should students be able to substitute an art or music class for a PE class in school?
Are the Kardashians good or bad role models for young people?
Should people in higher income brackets pay more taxes?
Should all high school students be required to take a class on financial literacy?
Is it possible to achieve the American dream, or is it only a myth?
Is it better to spend a summer as an unpaid intern at a prestigious company or as a paid worker at a local store/restaurant?
Should the United States impose more or fewer tariffs?
Should college graduates have their student loans forgiven?
Should restaurants eliminate tipping and raise staff wages instead?
Should students learn cursive writing in school?
Which is more important: PE class or music class?
Is it better to have year-round school with shorter breaks throughout the year?
Should class rank be abolished in schools?
Should students be taught sex education in school?
Should students be able to attend public universities for free?
What’s the most effective way to change the behavior of school bullies?
Are the SAT and ACT accurate ways to measure intelligence?
Should students be able to learn sign language instead of a foreign language?
Do the benefits of Greek life at colleges outweigh the negatives?
Does doing homework actually help students learn more?
Why do students in many other countries score higher than American students on math exams?
Should parents/teachers be able to ban certain books from schools?
What’s the best way to reduce cheating in school?
Should colleges take a student’s race into account when making admissions decisions?
Should there be limits to free speech?
Should students be required to perform community service to graduate high school?
Should convicted felons who have completed their sentence be allowed to vote?
Should gun ownership be more tightly regulated?
Should recycling be made mandatory?
Should employers be required to offer paid leave to new parents?
Are there any circumstances where torture should be allowed?
Should children under the age of 18 be able to get plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons?
Should white supremacy groups be allowed to hold rallies in public places?
Does making abortion illegal make women more or less safe?
Does foreign aid actually help developing countries?
Are there times a person’s freedom of speech should be curtailed?
Should people over a certain age not be allowed to adopt children?

Government/Politics

Should the minimum voting age be raised/lowered/kept the same?
Should Puerto Rico be granted statehood?
Should the United States build a border wall with Mexico?
Who should be the next person printed on American banknotes?
Should the United States’ military budget be reduced?
Did China’s one child policy have overall positive or negative impacts on the country?
Should DREAMers be granted US citizenship?
Is national security more important than individual privacy?
What responsibility does the government have to help homeless people?
Should the electoral college be abolished?
Should the US increase or decrease the number of refugees it allows in each year?
Should privately-run prisons be abolished?
Who was the most/least effective US president?
Will Brexit end up helping or harming the UK?

What’s the best way to reduce the spread of Ebola?
Is the Keto diet a safe and effective way to lose weight?
Should the FDA regulate vitamins and supplements more strictly?
Should public schools require all students who attend to be vaccinated?
Is eating genetically modified food safe?
What’s the best way to make health insurance more affordable?
What’s the best way to lower the teen pregnancy rate?
Should recreational marijuana be legalized nationwide?
Should birth control pills be available without a prescription?
Should pregnant women be forbidden from buying cigarettes and alcohol?
Why has anxiety increased in adolescents?
Are low-carb or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
What caused the destruction of the USS Maine?
Was King Arthur a mythical legend or actual Dark Ages king?
Was the US justified in dropping atomic bombs during WWII?
What was the primary cause of the Rwandan genocide?
What happened to the settlers of the Roanoke colony?
Was disagreement over slavery the primary cause of the US Civil War?
What has caused the numerous disappearances in the Bermuda triangle?
Should nuclear power be banned?
Is scientific testing on animals necessary?
Do zoos help or harm animals?
Should scientists be allowed to clone humans?
Should animals in circuses be banned?
Should fracking be legal?
Should people be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets?
What’s the best way to reduce illegal poaching in Africa?
What is the best way to reduce the impact of global warming?
Should euthanasia be legalized?
Is there legitimate evidence of extraterrestrial life?
Should people be banned from owning aggressive dog breeds?
Should the United States devote more money towards space exploration?
Should the government subsidize renewable forms of energy?
Is solar energy worth the cost?
Should stem cells be used in medicine?
Is it right for the US to leave the Paris Climate Agreement?
Should athletes who fail a drug test receive a lifetime ban from the sport?
Should college athletes receive a salary?
Should the NFL do more to prevent concussions in players?
Do PE classes help students stay in shape?
Should horse racing be banned?
Should cheerleading be considered a sport?
Should children younger than 18 be allowed to play tackle football?
Are the costs of hosting an Olympic Games worth it?
Can online schools be as effective as traditional schools?
Do violent video games encourage players to be violent in real life?
Should facial recognition technology be banned?
Does excessive social media use lead to depression/anxiety?
Has the rise of translation technology made knowing multiple languages obsolete?
Was Steve Jobs a visionary or just a great marketer?
Should social media be banned for children younger than a certain age?
Which 21st-century invention has had the largest impact on society?
Are ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft good or bad for society?
Should Facebook have done more to protect the privacy of its users?
Will technology end up increasing or decreasing inequality worldwide?

Tips for Writing a Strong Persuasive Essay

After you’ve chosen the perfect topic for your persuasive essay, your work isn’t over. Follow the three tips below to create a top-notch essay.

Do Your Research

Your argument will fall apart if you don’t fully understand the issue you’re discussing or you overlook an important piece of it. Readers won’t be convinced by someone who doesn’t know the subject, and you likely won’t persuade any of them to begin supporting your viewpoint. Before you begin writing a single word of your essay, research your topic thoroughly. Study different sources, learn about the different sides of the argument, ask anyone who’s an expert on the topic what their opinion is, etc. You might be tempted to start writing right away, but by doing your research, you’ll make the writing process much easier when the time comes.

Make Your Thesis Perfect

Your thesis is the most important sentence in your persuasive essay. Just by reading that single sentence, your audience should know exactly what topic you’ll be discussing and where you stand on the issue. You want your thesis to be crystal clear and to accurately set up the rest of your essay. Asking classmates or your teacher to look it over before you begin writing the rest of your essay can be a big help if you’re not entirely confident in your thesis.

Consider the Other Side

You’ll spend most of your essay focusing on your side of the argument since that’s what you want readers to come away believing. However, don’t think that means you can ignore other sides of the issue. In your essay, be sure to discuss the other side’s argument, as well as why you believe this view is weak or untrue. Researching all the different viewpoints and including them in your essay will increase the quality of your writing by making your essay more complete and nuanced.

Summary: Persuasive Essay Ideas

Good persuasive essay topics can be difficult to come up with, but in this guide we’ve created a list of 113 excellent essay topics for you to browse. The best persuasive essay ideas will be those that you are interested in, have enough evidence to support your argument, and aren’t too complicated to be summarized in an essay.

After you’ve chosen your essay topic, keep these three tips in mind when you begin writing:

Do your research
Make your thesis perfect
Consider the other side

What's Next?

Need ideas for a research paper topic as well? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.

Thinking about taking an AP English class? Read our guide on AP English classes to learn whether you should take AP English Language or AP English Literature (or both!)

Deciding between the SAT or ACT? Find out for sure which you will do the best on . Also read a detailed comparison between the two tests .

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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RIP Metaverse

An obituary for the latest fad to join the tech graveyard

The Metaverse , the once-buzzy technology that promised to allow users to hang out awkwardly in a disorientating video-game-like world, has died after being abandoned by the business world. It was three years old.

The capital-M Metaverse, a descendant of the 1982 movie "Tron" and the 2003 video game "Second Life," was born in 2021 when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg changed the name of his trillion-dollar company to Meta. After a much-heralded debut, the Metaverse became the obsession of the tech world and a quick hack to win over Wall Street investors. The hype could not save the Metaverse, however, and a lack of coherent vision for the product ultimately led to its decline. Once the tech industry turned to a new, more promising trend — generative AI — the fate of the Metaverse was sealed.

The Metaverse is now headed to the tech industry's graveyard of failed ideas. But the short life and ignominious death of the Metaverse offers a glaring indictment of the tech industry that birthed it.

Grand promise

From the moment of its delivery, Zuckerberg claimed that the Metaverse would be the future of the internet. The glitzy, spurious promotional video that accompanied Zuckerberg's name-change announcement described a future where we'd be able to interact seamlessly in virtual worlds: Users would "make eye contact" and "feel like you're right in the room together." The Metaverse offered people the chance to engage in an "immersive" experience, he claimed.

These grandiose promises heaped sky-high expectations on the Metaverse. The media swooned over the newborn concept: The Verge published a nearly 5,000-word-long interview with Zuckerberg immediately following the announcement — in which the writer called it "an expansive, immersive vision of the internet." Glowing profiles of the Metaverse seemed to set it on a laudatory path, but the actual technology failed to deliver on this promise throughout its short life. A wonky virtual-reality interview with the CBS host Gayle King , where low-quality cartoon avatars of both King and Zuckerberg awkwardly motioned to each other, was a stark contrast to the futuristic vistas shown in Meta's splashy introductory video .

The Metaverse also suffered from an acute identity crisis. A functional business proposition requires a few things to thrive and grow: a clear use case, a target audience, and the willingness of customers to adopt the product. Zuckerberg waxed poetic about the Metaverse as "a vision that spans many companies'' and "the successor to the mobile internet," but he failed to articulate the basic business problems that the Metaverse would address. The concept of virtual worlds where users interact with each other using digital avatars is an old one, going back as far as the late 1990s with massively multiplayer online role-player games, such as "Meridian 59," "Ultima Online," and "EverQuest." And while the Metaverse supposedly built on these ideas with new technology, Zuckerberg's one actual product — the VR platform Horizon Worlds, which required the use of an incredibly clunky Oculus headset — failed to suggest anything approaching a road map or a genuine vision. In spite of the Metaverse's arrested conceptual development, a pliant press published statements about the future of the technology that were somewhere between unrealistic and outright irresponsible . The CNBC host Jim Cramer nodded approvingly when Zuckerberg claimed that 1 billion people would use the Metaverse and spend hundreds of dollars there, despite the Meta CEO's inability to say what people would receive in exchange for their cash or why anyone would want to strap a clunky headset to their face to attend a low-quality, cartoon concert.

A high-flying life

The inability to define the Metaverse in any meaningful way didn't get in the way of its ascension to the top of the business world. In the months following the Meta announcement, it seemed that every company had a Metaverse product on offer, despite it not being obvious what it was or why they should.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella would say at the company's 2021 Ignite Conference that he couldn't "overstate how much of a breakthrough " the Metaverse was for his company, the industry, and the world. Roblox, an online game platform that has existed since 2004, rode the Metaverse hype wave to an initial public offering and a $41 billion valuation. Of course, the cryptocurrency industry took the ball and ran with it: The people behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT company conned the press into believing that uploading someone's digital monkey pictures into VR would be the key to "master the Metaverse." Other crypto pumpers even successfully convinced people that digital land in the Metaverse would be the next frontier of real-estate investment . Even businesses that seemed to have little to do with tech jumped on board. Walmart joined the Metaverse. Disney joined the Metaverse.

Companies' rush to get into the game led Wall Street investors, consultants, and analysts to try to one up each other's projections for the Metaverse's growth. The consulting firm Gartner claimed that 25% of people would spend at least one hour a day in the Metaverse by 2026. The Wall Street Journal said the Metaverse would change the way we work forever . The global consulting firm McKinsey predicted that the Metaverse could generate up to "$5 trillion in value," adding that around 95% of business leaders expected the Metaverse to "positively impact their industry" within five to 10 years. Not to be outdone, Citi put out a massive report that declared the Metaverse would be a $13 trillion opportunity .

A brutal downfall

In spite of all this hype, the Metaverse did not lead a healthy life. Every single business idea or rosy market projection was built on the vague promises of a single CEO. And when people were actually offered the opportunity to try it out, nobody actually used the Metaverse.

Decentraland, the most well-funded, decentralized, crypto-based Metaverse product (effectively a wonky online world you can "walk" around), only had around 38 daily active users in its "$1.3 billion ecosystem." Decentraland would dispute this number, claiming that it had 8,000 daily active users — but that's still only a fraction of the number of people playing large online games like "Fortnite." Meta's much-heralded efforts similarly struggled: By October 2022, Mashable reported that Horizon Worlds had less than 200,000 monthly active users — dramatically short of the 500,000 target Meta had set for the end of 2022. The Wall Street Journal reported that only about 9% of user-created worlds were visited by more than 50 players , and The Verge said that it was so buggy that even Meta employees eschewed it . Despite the might of a then-trillion-dollar company, Meta could not convince people to use the product it had staked its future on.

The Metaverse fell seriously ill as the economy slowed and the hype around generative AI grew. Microsoft shuttered its virtual-workspace platform AltSpaceVR in January 2023, laid off the 100 members of its "industrial metaverse team ," and made a series of cuts to its HoloLens team . Disney shuttered its Metaverse division in March, and Walmart followed suit by ending its Roblox-based Metaverse projects. The billions of dollars invested and the breathless hype around a half-baked concept led to thousands — if not tens of thousands — of people losing their jobs .

But the Metaverse was officially pulled off life support when it became clear that Zuckerberg and the company that launched the craze had moved on to greener financial pastures. Zuckerberg declared in a March update that Meta's "single largest investment is advancing AI and building it into every one of our products." Meta's chief technology officer, Andrew Bosworth, told CNBC in April that he, along with Mark Zuckerberg and the company's chief product officer, Chris Cox, were now spending most of their time on AI. The company has even stopped pitching the Metaverse to advertisers , despite spending more than $100 billion in research and development on its mission to be "Metaverse first." While Zuckerberg may suggest that developing games for the Quest headsets is some sort of investment, the writing is on the wall: Meta is done with the Metaverse.

Did anyone learn their lesson?

While the idea of virtual worlds or collective online experiences may live on in some form, the Capital-M Metaverse is dead. It was preceded in death by a long line of tech fads like Web3 and Google Glass. It is survived by newfangled ideas like the aforementioned generative AI and the self-driving car. Despite this long lineage of disappointment, let's be clear: The death of the Metaverse should be remembered as arguably one of the most historic failures in tech history.

I do not believe that Mark Zuckerberg ever had any real interest in "the Metaverse," because he never seemed to define it beyond a slightly tweaked Facebook with avatars and cumbersome hardware. It was the means to an increased share price, rather than any real vision for the future of human interaction. And Zuckerberg used his outsize wealth and power to get the whole of the tech industry and a good portion of the American business world into line behind this half-baked idea.

The fact that Mark Zuckerberg has clearly stepped away from the Metaverse is a damning indictment of everyone who followed him, and anyone who still considers him a visionary tech leader. It should also be the cause for some serious reflection among the venture-capital community, which recklessly followed Zuckerberg into blowing billions of dollars on a hype cycle founded on the flimsiest possible press-release language. In a just world, Mark Zuckerberg should be fired as CEO of Meta (in the real world, this is actually impossible ).

Zuckerberg misled everyone, burned tens of billions of dollars, convinced an industry of followers to submit to his quixotic obsession, and then killed it the second that another idea started to interest Wall Street. There is no reason that a man who has overseen the layoffs of tens of thousands of people should run a major company. There is no future for Meta with Mark Zuckerberg at the helm: It will stagnate, and then it will die and follow the Metaverse into the proverbial grave.

Ed Zitron is the CEO of EZPR , a national tech and business public-relations agency. He is also the author of the tech and culture newsletter Where's Your Ed At .

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Believe it or not, more than 100 bird species visit BU’s urban campuses—whether you’re a beginning bird-watcher or an expert in ornithology, there’s lots to see

Marc chalufour.

Concrete. Asphalt. Brick. The city is not a natural habitat for wildlife, yet birds of all shapes, sizes, and colors can be found in Boston. In fact, more than 100 bird species visit Boston University’s campuses throughout the year. They’re “the last of the truly wild species around us. The last of the great migrations,” says Andrew King, a professor at the Questrom School of Business and an avid birder. And, he says, “urban areas can sometimes be better than rural ones.” If you look closely, BU’s campuses—Charles River, Fenway, and Medical—are home to an incredible array of birds.

In recent years, peregrine falcons have nested on dorms , red-tailed hawks got cozy atop the School of Law , and wild turkeys have roamed the streets . The waterways that form natural boundaries for the Charles River and Fenway Campuses provide an ideal habitat for waterfowl and migratory songbirds.

[Birds are] the last of the truly wild species around us. The last of the great migrations. Andrew King

Birding as a hobby has exploded in popularity in recent years—a trend widely attributed to pandemic-forced social distancing and more people working from home. People took notice of the rhythms of the environment around their homes and sought the safety of natural outdoor spaces. Audubon , the National Audubon Society’s magazine, reported that sales of birdseed skyrocketed in the first half of 2020. The Global Big Day , an international birding event held each May, has set participation records four years in a row. BU students, staff, faculty, and alumni have found their own ways to appreciate the wilderness around them.

Stan Sclaroff, dean of Arts & Sciences, began taking daily walks on the Charles River Esplanade during the pandemic. He often invites colleagues to join him. The birds, he says, “are truly a source of wonderment and help us to pause, focus, and marvel at the natural world that’s right here, near campus.” He recalls watching immature bald eagles and hawks feeding on the river.
Samantha Casey (CAS’21, SSW’25) finds beauty in one of BU’s most visible species, the common pigeon, and manages a pigeon appreciation Instagram account .
Randy Ellis, a professor of economics at the College of Arts & Sciences, created a winter bird bingo card as a pandemic diversion for family and faculty friends.
Fred Wasserman, an associate professor of biology at CAS, challenged his ornithology students to identify 10 bird species on campus by sound, using the Merlin Bird ID app.
Chuck Hagner (CAS’82, COM’82), the former editor of BirdWatching magazine and director of the nonprofit Bird City Wisconsin , teaches birding classes in the Milwaukee area.
School of Public Health colleagues Anita DeStefano, a professor of biostatistics, and Amparo Ortiz, assistant director of academic partnership, led Celebrate Urban Birds, a summer program for children at Boston’s Blackstone Community Center, for four years.

Those are just a few of the creative ways the BU community appreciates Boston’s birds. Since 2000, birders on the eBird app have reported 145 bird species on BU campuses, from the common (Canada geese and pigeons) to the rare (Wilson’s warbler and yellow-billed cuckoo), reflecting remarkable biodiversity across the University.

BU Today asked avid BU birders to share tips on when, where, and how to start birding on campus.

Charles River Campus

The northern edge of BU’s largest campus is defined by its namesake river, which flows past dorms, fields, schools, and the BU Beach. Explore the Esplanade along the Charles River and watch for Canada geese, double-crested cormorants, red-breasted mergansers, and mallards—after all, this is where the stars of Make Way for Ducklings first settled. Herring gulls wander upriver from Boston Harbor and red-tailed hawks often soar overhead. Inland, the most visible wildlife might be pigeons cooing from Comm Ave rooftops, but look a little closer and you may notice some surprising visitors. Find a green space and watch for movement or flashes of color in the trees and bushes. James Johnson, a professor and chair of history at CAS, reports seeing a tree near Kenmore Square filled with cedar waxwings one winter and an irruption of robins on Bay State Road one spring.

Red-Tailed Hawk

The image depicts a male mallard duck swimming gracefully on a calm body of water. The duck has a neutral blond and brown appearance with a chestnut-colored breast. Its sleek, streamlined body and webbed feet propel it effortlessly through the water. In the background, there is lush, green vegetation, suggesting a natural, wetland environment. The mallard's neutral colors and elegant movements make it a beautiful and recognizable waterfowl species.

Cedar Waxwing

American Goldfinch

Also look for:.

Common: Canada goose, house sparrow, song sparrow, herring gull, American robin, blue jay, double-crested cormorant, common pigeon, common starling

Uncommon: red-breasted merganser, northern mockingbird, peregrine falcon, tufted titmouse, common grackle, mute swan, great blue heron, black-capped chickadee, common turkey, house finch, northern cardinal

Rare: American bald eagle, Cooper’s hawk, red-throated diver, hermit thrush, eastern kingbird, red-winged blackbird, American black duck, osprey, dark-eyed junco, warbling vireo, catbird, white-breasted nuthatch, golden crowned kinglet

This data was obtained from the eBird Observational Dataset on GBIF.org and represents a partial list of the 78 species reported from 2000–2023.

Fenway Campus

Boston’s Riverway , a narrow 34-acre park that follows the Muddy River as it flows from Dorchester to Back Bay, is one of the city’s premier birding locations, and BU’s Fenway Campus borders one of its northernmost stretches. Waterfowl—including mallards, American black ducks, and delightfully colored wood ducks—feed in the water. Watch for great blue herons and black-crowned night herons lurking in the shallows and listen for the drumming of downy, hairy, and red-bellied woodpeckers in the trees. The beginning of May, early in the morning, is perhaps the best time to visit the area because of the migratory birds passing through. Your patience could be rewarded with the sighting of a bright orange Baltimore oriole, the song of a warbling vireo, or any of dozens of tiny, colorful species stopping for a rest on their way north.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

White-Throated Sparrow

Black-Crowned Night Heron (L) & Great Blue Heron

Also look for.

Common: mallard, black-capped chickadee, common grackle, northern cardinal, red-winged blackbird, tufted titmouse, downy woodpecker, mourning dove, American black duck, hooded merganser, white-breasted nuthatch, American goldfinch, ring-necked duck

Uncommon: catbird, common teal, Baltimore oriole, warbling vireo, northern flicker, northern shoveler, northern parula, northern pintail, yellow-rumped warbler, American crow, American redstart, cedar waxwing

Rare: yellow warbler, black-and-white warbler, Cooper’s hawk, black-throated blue warbler, common yellowthroat, blackpoll warbler, belted kingfisher, northern waterthrush, magnolia warbler, red-eyed vireo, ruby-crowned kinglet

This data was obtained from the eBird Observational Dataset on GBIF.org and represents a partial list of the 136 species reported from 2000–2023.

Medical Campus

Though landlocked and bordered by the busy Melnea Cass Boulevard and Interstate 93, BU’s Medical Campus still attracts a surprising variety of feathered friends. Raptors and seabirds fly overhead and smaller birds stop to eat and rest on the campus’ green spaces. “I’m always birding as I walk around,” says SPH’s DeStefano. She’s seen a fox sparrow and an ovenbird on those walks, and once spotted peregrine falcons nesting on BU’s Solomon Carter Fuller building. DeStefano recommends the campus’ Talbot Green, Franklin Square, and Blackstone Square for birding.

Peregrine Falcon

Fox Sparrow

House Finch

Herring Gull

Common: common pigeon, common starling, house sparrow, American robin, American crow

Uncommon: northern mockingbird, American goldfinch, common raven, great black-backed gull, eastern towhee, mourning dove, song sparrow

Rare: hermit thrush, gray catbird, northern cardinal, chipping sparrow, brown-headed cowbird, black-throated blue warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak

This data was obtained from the eBird Observational Dataset on GBIF.org and represents a partial list of the 32 species reported from 2000–2023.

Off Campus

A short walk or T ride from BU’s campuses opens up all new birding opportunities. Here are some favorites recommended by members of the BU community.

Hall’s Pond and Amory Woods

This five-acre pond and forest parcel is located just off Beacon Street, about halfway between BU’s Charles River and Fenway Campuses. Watch for great blue herons and black-crowned night herons along the edges of the pond and smaller birds in nearby trees. Emma Parker (CAS’25) recalls spotting a black-and-white warbler here last spring.

Chestnut Hill Reservoir

This reservoir, easily accessed on the B and C Branches of the Green Line, is a popular stopover for migrating waterfowl. Pack binoculars and enjoy the clear sight lines across the water from the 1.5-mile loop path. Watch for geese, cormorants, loons, and a range of ducks. Venture into the woods along the reservoir’s northern shore to look for songbirds.

Mount Auburn Cemetery

Thousands of trees and shrubs fill this 175-acre cemetery, making it a common resting spot for migratory birds—including the brilliant scarlet tanager and Baltimore oriole—and a popular destination for birders. Questrom’s King has a piece of advice for navigating the maze of winding roads: follow the other birders. “If they are clustered around a tree and pointing, there is something unusual there,” he says. You can reach the cemetery via the MBTA’s 71 and 73 buses.

Arnold Arboretum

With 271 acres and more than 2,000 different plant species, Arnold Arboretum is another popular spot for birds. Bring a printout of the meticulous checklist of 188 species identified here in the past century and visit the Hunnewell Visitor Center to see a list of recent sightings. Take the Orange Line to Forest Hills or the 35, 38, 39, or 51 MBTA bus to visit the arboretum.

Boston Harbor Islands

Getting out to the islands requires some work—you’ll need to purchase a ferry ticket —but it’s a great way to see something new. Seabirds, rarely seen inland, frequent the islands, including plovers, sandpipers, cormorants, and gulls.

The image depicts a striking black and white warbler perched on a tree branch. The bird has a distinctive black and white striped pattern covering its entire body, starting from it's crown and extending along it's back, down to it's wings contrasting sharply with its white chest and underparts. Its small, pointed beak and alert expression suggest it is actively foraging or surveying its surroundings. The warbler's compact, streamlined shape and the blurred, out-of-focus greenery in the background indicate this is a close-up, detailed view of the bird in its natural woodland habitat. Black and white warblers are known for their unique monochromatic coloration and acrobatic movements as they search tree trunks and branches for insects, making them a visually captivating species for birdwatchers.

Black & White Warbler

Baltimore Oriole

Double-Crested Cormorant

Marc Chalufour is a senior editor/writer responsible for print and digital magazines for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Communication. Prior to joining BU in 2018, he spent a decade editing AMC Outdoors, the Appalachian Mountain Club’s magazine, where his feature writing received multiple awards from Association Media & Publishing. Profile

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America’s Colleges Are Reaping What They Sowed

Universities spent years saying that activism is not just welcome but encouraged on their campuses. Students took them at their word.

Juxtaposition of Columbia 2024 and 1968 protests

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N ick Wilson, a sophomore at Cornell University, came to Ithaca, New York, to refine his skills as an activist. Attracted by both Cornell’s labor-relations school and the university’s history of campus radicalism, he wrote his application essay about his involvement with a Democratic Socialists of America campaign to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act . When he arrived on campus, he witnessed any number of signs that Cornell shared his commitment to not just activism but also militant protest, taking note of a plaque commemorating the armed occupation of Willard Straight Hall in 1969.

Cornell positively romanticizes that event: The university library has published a “ Willard Straight Hall Occupation Study Guide ,” and the office of the dean of students once co-sponsored a panel on the protest. The school has repeatedly screened a documentary about the occupation, Agents of Change . The school’s official newspaper, published by the university media-relations office, ran a series of articles honoring the 40th anniversary, in 2009, and in 2019, Cornell held a yearlong celebration for the 50th, complete with a commemorative walk, a dedication ceremony, and a public conversation with some of the occupiers. “ Occupation Anniversary Inspires Continued Progress ,” the Cornell Chronicle headline read.

As Wilson has discovered firsthand, however, the school’s hagiographical odes to prior protests have not prevented it from cracking down on pro-Palestine protests in the present. Now that he has been suspended for the very thing he told Cornell he came there to learn how to do—radical political organizing—he is left reflecting on the school’s hypocrisies. That the theme of this school year at Cornell is “Freedom of Expression” adds a layer of grim humor to the affair.

Evan Mandery: University of hypocrisy

University leaders are in a bind. “These protests are really dynamic situations that can change from minute to minute,” Stephen Solomon, who teaches First Amendment law and is the director of NYU’s First Amendment Watch—an organization devoted to free speech—told me. “But the obligation of universities is to make the distinction between speech protected by the First Amendment and speech that is not.” Some of the speech and tactics protesters are employing may not be protected under the First Amendment, while much of it plainly is. The challenge universities are confronting is not just the law but also their own rhetoric. Many universities at the center of the ongoing police crackdowns have long sought to portray themselves as bastions of activism and free thought. Cornell is one of many universities that champion their legacy of student activism when convenient, only to bring the hammer down on present-day activists when it’s not. The same colleges that appeal to students such as Wilson by promoting opportunities for engagement and activism are now suspending them. And they’re calling the cops.

The police activity we are seeing universities level against their own students does not just scuff the carefully cultivated progressive reputations of elite private universities such as Columbia, Emory University, and NYU, or the equally manicured free-speech bona fides of red-state public schools such as Indiana University and the University of Texas at Austin. It also exposes what these universities have become in the 21st century. Administrators have spent much of the recent past recruiting social-justice-minded students and faculty to their campuses under the implicit, and often explicit, promise that activism is not just welcome but encouraged. Now the leaders of those universities are shocked to find that their charges and employees believed them. And rather than try to understand their role in cultivating this morass, the Ivory Tower’s bigwigs have decided to apply their boot heels to the throats of those under their care.

I spoke with 30 students, professors, and administrators from eight schools—a mix of public and private institutions across the United States—to get a sense of the disconnect between these institutions’ marketing of activism and their treatment of protesters. A number of people asked to remain anonymous. Some were untenured faculty or administrators concerned about repercussions from, or for, their institutions. Others were directly involved in organizing protests and were wary of being harassed. Several incoming students I spoke with were worried about being punished by their school before they even arrived. Despite a variety of ideological commitments and often conflicting views on the protests, many of those I interviewed were “shocked but not surprised”—a phrase that came up time and again—by the hypocrisy exhibited by the universities with which they were affiliated. (I reached out to Columbia, NYU, Cornell, and Emory for comment on the disconnect between their championing of past protests and their crackdowns on the current protesters. Representatives from Columbia, Cornell, and Emory pointed me to previous public statements. NYU did not respond.)

The sense that Columbia trades on the legacy of the Vietnam protests that rocked campus in 1968 was widespread among the students I spoke with. Indeed, the university honors its activist past both directly and indirectly, through library archives , an online exhibit , an official “Columbia 1968” X account , no shortage of anniversary articles in Columbia Magazine , and a current course titled simply “Columbia 1968.” The university is sometimes referred to by alumni and aspirants as the “Protest Ivy.” One incoming student told me that he applied to the school in part because of an admissions page that prominently listed community organizers and activists among its “distinguished alumni.”

Joseph Slaughter, an English professor and the executive director of Columbia’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights, talked with his class about the 1968 protests after the recent arrests at the school. He said his students felt that the university had actively marketed its history to them. “Many, many, many of them said they were sold the story of 1968 as part of coming to Columbia,” he told me. “They talked about it as what the university presents to them as the long history and tradition of student activism. They described it as part of the brand.”

This message reaches students before they take their first college class. As pro-Palestine demonstrations began to raise tensions on campus last month, administrators were keen to cast these protests as part of Columbia’s proud culture of student activism. The aforementioned high-school senior who had been impressed by Columbia’s activist alumni attended the university’s admitted-students weekend just days before the April 18 NYPD roundup. During the event, the student said, an admissions official warned attendees that they may experience “disruptions” during their visit, but boasted that these were simply part of the school’s “long and robust history of student protest.”

Remarkably, after more than 100 students were arrested on the order of Columbia President Minouche Shafik—in which she overruled a unanimous vote by the university senate’s executive committee not to bring the NYPD to campus —university administrators were still pushing this message to new students and parents. An email sent on April 19 informed incoming students that “demonstration, political activism, and deep respect for freedom of expression have long been part of the fabric of our campus.” Another email sent on April 20 again promoted Columbia’s tradition of activism, protest, and support of free speech. “This can sometimes create moments of tension,” the email read, “but the rich dialogue and debate that accompany this tradition is central to our educational experience.”

Evelyn Douek and Genevieve Lakier: The hypocrisy underlying the campus-speech controversy

Another student who attended a different event for admitted students, this one on April 21, said that every administrator she heard speak paid lip service to the school’s long history of protest. Her own feelings about the pro-Palestine protests were mixed—she said she believes that a genocide is happening in Gaza and also that some elements of the protest are plainly anti-Semitic—but her feelings about Columbia’s decision to involve the police were unambiguous. “It’s reprehensible but exactly what an Ivy League institution would do in this situation. I don’t know why everyone is shocked,” she said, adding: “It makes me terrified to go there.”

Beth Massey, a veteran activist who participated in the 1968 protests, told me with a laugh, “They might want to tell us they’re progressive, but they’re doing the business of the ruling class.” She was not surprised by the harsh response to the current student encampment or by the fact that it lit the fuse on a nationwide protest movement. Massey had been drawn to the radical reputation of Columbia’s sister school, Barnard College, as an open-minded teenager from the segregated South: “I actually wanted to go to Barnard because they had a history of progressive struggle that had happened going all the way back into the ’40s.” And the barn-burning history that appealed to Massey in the late 1960s has continued to attract contemporary students, albeit with one key difference: Today, that radical history has become part of the way that Barnard and Columbia sell their $60,000-plus annual tuition.

Of course, Columbia is not alone. The same trends have also prevailed at NYU, which likes to crow about its own radical history and promises contemporary students “ a world of activism opportunities .” An article published on the university’s website in March—titled “Make a Difference Through Activism at NYU”—promises students “myriad chances to put your activism into action.” The article points to campus institutions that “provide students with resources and opportunities to spark activism and change both on campus and beyond.” The six years I spent as a graduate student at NYU gave me plenty of reasons to be cynical about the university and taught me to view all of this empty activism prattle as white noise. But even I was astounded to see a video of students and faculty set upon by the NYPD, arrested at the behest of President Linda Mills.

“Across the board, there is a heightened awareness of hypocrisy,” Mohamad Bazzi, a journalism professor at NYU, told me, noting that faculty were acutely conscious of the gap between the institution’s intensive commitment to DEI and the police crackdown. The university has recently made several “cluster hires”—centered on activism-oriented themes such as anti-racism, social justice, and indigeneity—that helped diversify the faculty. Some of those recent hires were among the people who spent a night zip-tied in a jail cell, arrested for the exact kind of activism that had made them attractive to NYU in the first place. And it wasn’t just faculty. The law students I spoke with were especially acerbic. After honing her activism skills at her undergraduate institution—another university that recently saw a violent police response to pro-Palestine protests—one law student said she came to NYU because she was drawn to its progressive reputation and its high percentage of prison-abolitionist faculty. This irony was not lost on her as the police descended on the encampment.

After Columbia students were arrested on April 18, students at NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study decided to cancel a planned art festival and instead use the time to make sandwiches as jail support for their detained uptown peers. The school took photos of the students layering cold cuts on bread and posted it to Gallatin’s official Instagram. These posts not only failed to mention that the students were working in support of the pro-Palestine protesters; the caption—“making sandwiches for those in need”—implied that the undergrads might be preparing meals for, say, the homeless.

The contradictions on display at Cornell, Columbia, and NYU are not limited to the state of New York. The police response at Emory, another university that brags about its tradition of student protest, was among the most disturbing I have seen. Faculty members I spoke with at the Atlanta school, including two who had been arrested—the philosophy professor Noëlle McAfee and the English and Indigenous-studies professor Emil’ Keme—recounted harrowing scenes: a student being knocked down, an elderly woman struggling to breathe after tear-gas exposure, a colleague with welts from rubber bullets. These images sharply contrast with the university’s progressive mythmaking, a process that was in place even before 2020’s “summer of racial reckoning” sent universities scrambling to shore up their activist credentials.

In 2018, Emory’s Campus Life office partnered with students and a design studio to begin work on an exhibit celebrating the university’s history of identity-based activism. Then, not long after George Floyd’s murder, the university’s library released a series of blog posts focusing on topics including “Black Student Activism at Emory,” “Protests and Movements,” “Voting Rights and Public Policy,” and “Authors and Artists as Activists.” That same year, the university announced its new Arts and Social Justice Fellows initiative, a program that “brings Atlanta artists into Emory classrooms to help students translate their learning into creative activism in the name of social justice.” In 2021, the university put on an exhibit celebrating its 1969 protests , in which “Black students marched, demonstrated, picketed, and ‘rapped’ on those institutions affecting the lives of workers and students at Emory.” Like Cornell’s and Columbia’s, Emory’s protests seem to age like fine wine: It takes half a century before the institution begins enjoying them.

N early every person I talked with believed that their universities’ responses were driven by donors, alumni, politicians, or some combination thereof. They did not believe that they were grounded in serious or reasonable concerns about the physical safety of students; in fact, most felt strongly that introducing police into the equation had made things far more dangerous for both pro-Palestine protesters and pro-Israel counterprotesters. Jeremi Suri, a historian at UT Austin—who told me he is not politically aligned with the protesters—recalls pleading with both the dean of students and the mounted state troopers to call off the charge. “It was like the Russian army had come onto campus,” Suri mused. “I was out there for 45 minutes to an hour. I’m very sensitive to anti-Semitism. Nothing anti-Semitic was said.” He added: “There was no reason not to let them shout until their voices went out.”

From the May 1930 issue: Hypocrisy–a defense

As one experienced senior administrator at a major research university told me, the conflagration we are witnessing shows how little many university presidents understand either their campus communities or the young people who populate them. “When I saw what Columbia was doing, my immediate thought was: They have not thought about day two ,” he said, laughing. “If you confront an 18-year-old activist, they don’t back down. They double down.” That’s what happened in 1968, and it’s happening again now. Early Tuesday morning, Columbia students occupied Hamilton Hall—the site of the 1968 occupation, which they rechristened Hind’s Hall in honor of a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza—in response to the university’s draconian handling of the protests. They explicitly tied these events to the university’s past, calling out its hypocrisy on Instagram: “This escalation is in line with the historical student movements of 1968 … which Columbia repressed then and celebrates today.” The university, for its part, responded now as it did then: Late on Tuesday, the NYPD swarmed the campus in an overnight raid that led to the arrest of dozens of students.

The students, professors, and administrators I’ve spoken with in recent days have made clear that this hypocrisy has not gone unnoticed and that the crackdown isn’t working, but making things worse. The campus resistance has expanded to include faculty and students who were originally more ambivalent about the protests and, in a number of cases, who support Israel. They are disturbed by what they rightly see as violations of free expression, the erosion of faculty governance, and the overreach of administrators. Above all, they’re fed up with the incandescent hypocrisy of institutions, hoisted with their own progressive petards, as the unstoppable force of years’ worth of self-righteous rhetoric and pseudo-radical posturing meets the immovable object of students who took them at their word.

In another video published by The Cornell Daily Sun , recorded only hours after he was suspended, Nick Wilson explained to a crowd of student protesters what had brought him to the school. “In high school, I discovered my passion, which was community organizing for a better world. I told Cornell University that’s why I wanted to be here,” he said, referencing his college essay. Then he paused for emphasis, looking around as his peers began to cheer. “And those fuckers admitted me.”

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Guest Essay

Daniel Barenboim: What Beethoven’s Ninth Teaches Us

By Daniel Barenboim

Mr. Barenboim is a pianist and conductor.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was first performed exactly 200 years ago Tuesday and has since become probably the work most likely to be embraced for political purposes.

It was played at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin; it was performed in that city again on Christmas 1989 after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Leonard Bernstein replaced the word “Joy” in the choral finale with “Freedom”; the European Union adopted the symphony’s “Ode to Joy” theme as its anthem. (These days the Ninth is being played in concert halls worldwide in commemoration of the premiere. The classical music world loves anniversaries.)

Beethoven might have been surprised at the political allure of his masterpiece.

He was interested in politics, but only because he was deeply interested in humanity. The story goes that he originally wanted to dedicate his “Eroica” symphony to Napoleon — it was to be called “Bonaparte” — but he changed his mind after Napoleon abandoned the ideals of the French Revolution and was crowned emperor.

I don’t believe, however, that Beethoven was interested in everyday politics. He was not an activist.

Instead, he was a deeply political man in the broadest sense of the word. He was concerned with moral behavior and the larger questions of right and wrong affecting all of society. Especially significant for him was freedom of thought and of personal expression, which he associated with the rights and responsibilities of the individual. He would have had no sympathy with the now widely held view of freedom as essentially economic, necessary for the workings of the markets.

The closest he comes to a political statement in the Ninth is a sentence at the heart of the last movement, in which voices were heard for the first time in a symphony: “All men become brothers.” We understand that now more as an expression of hope than a confident statement, given the many exceptions to the sentiment, including the Jews under the Nazis and members of minorities in many parts of the world. The quantity and scope of the crises facing humankind severely test that hope. We have seen many crises before, but we do not appear to learn any lessons from them.

I also see the Ninth in another way. Music on its own does not stand for anything except itself. The greatness of music, and the Ninth Symphony, lies in the richness of its contrasts. Music never just laughs or cries; it always laughs and cries at the same time. Creating unity out of contradictions — that is Beethoven for me.

Music, if you study it properly, is a lesson for life. There is much we can learn from Beethoven, who was, of course, one of the strongest personalities in the history of music. He is the master of bringing emotion and intellect together. With Beethoven, you must be able to structure your feelings and feel the structure emotionally — a fantastic lesson for life! When we are in love, we lose all sense of discipline. Music doesn’t allow for that.

But music means different things to different people and sometimes even different things to the same person at different moments. It might be poetic, philosophical, sensual or mathematical, but it must have something to do with the soul.

Therefore, it is metaphysical — but the means of expression is purely and exclusively physical: sound. It is precisely this permanent coexistence of metaphysical message through physical means that is the strength of music. It is also the reason that when we try to describe music with words, all we can do is articulate our reactions to it, and not grasp music itself.

The Ninth Symphony is one of the most important artworks in Western culture. Some experts call it the greatest symphony ever written, and many commentators praise its visionary message. It is also one of the most revolutionary works by a composer mainly defined by the revolutionary nature of his works. Beethoven freed music from prevailing conventions of harmony and structure. Sometimes I feel in his late works a will to break all signs of continuity.

The Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci said a wonderful thing in 1929, when Benito Mussolini had Italy under his thumb. “My mind is pessimistic, but my will is optimistic,” he wrote to a friend from prison. I think he meant that as long as we are alive, we have hope. I try to take Gramsci’s words to heart still today, even if not always successfully.

By all accounts, Beethoven was courageous, and I find courage an essential quality for the understanding, let alone the performance, of the Ninth. One could paraphrase much of the work of Beethoven in the spirit of Gramsci by saying that suffering is inevitable, but the courage to overcome it renders life worth living.

Daniel Barenboim is a pianist and conductor, co-founder of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and founder of the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin.

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I believe in saving for a rainy day. I believe in investing in oneself. I believe in the saying, "money doesn't grow on trees.". I believe that rich people should be forced to pay more taxes. These 50 I Believe essay topics are sure to inspire your own original beliefs and help you create a powerful and unique essay.
101 This I Believe Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
"This I Believe" essays are a popular genre in the academic and personal writing world. They allow individuals to reflect on their beliefs, values, and experiences in a concise and engaging manner. If you're looking for some inspiration for your own "This I Believe" essay, here are 101 topic ideas and examples to get you started:
Themes
Explore. Featured Essays Essays on the Radio; Special Features; 1950s Essays Essays From the 1950s Series; Browse by Theme Browse Essays By Theme Use this feature to browse through the tens of thousands of essays that have been submitted to This I Believe. Select a theme to see a listing of essays that address the selected theme. The number to the right of each theme indicates how many essays ...
'I Believe' Essay Topic Ideas
This article presents a curated collection of 'I Believe' essay topics designed to inspire reflection and expression of personal convictions. Explore themes that challenge and encourage deep thinking about one's values and beliefs.
53 This I Believe Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
I never did my homework and it became so hard for me to catch up with the rest in class. This was the time when I remembered the words of my grandmother "only fools rush […] This I Believe: Happiness Is a Choice. I know that I can choose to be happy. I was ashamed and worried that he would know I took it. We will write.
53 This I Believe Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
1. Introduction So, you are confused by yet another essay type and are thinking about how to write a "This I Believe" essay. Look at the essay's "meat" to understand its main idea. When it comes to a "This I Believe" essay, look for a unique topic about personal beliefs. This topic does not necessarily need to be a religion because most often, we have been taught from our early stages to ...
This I Believe Essay
In this article, we will delve into the definition of a This I Believe essay, present a step-by-step guide on how to craft one, address common questions, and explore the essence of this expressive form. 1. High School This I Believe Essay Example. misswrighteng9.weebly.com. Details. File Format. Size: 487 KB. Download.
"This I Believe" Essay
This I Believe is an exciting media project that invites individuals from all walks of life to write about and discuss the core beliefs that guide their daily lives. They share these statements in weekly broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered. The series is based on the 1950's radio program This I Believe, hosted by ...
This I Believe : NPR
This I Believe Beginning in 1951, radio pioneer Edward R. Murrow asked Americans from all walks of life to write essays about their most fundamental and closely held beliefs. Half a century later ...
85 Original "This I Believe" Essay Topic Idea
How To Write A "This I Believe Essay" Now that you have these topics, the next thing to get is the structure: title, introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Make sure you go straight to the point and cut out unnecessary words. Conclusion. With these essay topics, you are on the right path to writing a good "this I believe" essay.
This I Believe Essay Topics
This I Believe Essay Topics. Instructor Clio Stearns. Clio has taught education courses at the college level and has a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction. Cite this lesson. Getting students ...
Power Lesson: "This I Believe" Essays
Here's the prompt I used: This I Believe. For 2 minutes: List words or ideas that you think about when you think of YOUR LIFE. (Can be feelings, symbols, names, events, etc.) After students generated this list, I asked them to consider what they wanted to write about and share with others.
'This I Believe' Essay Showcase
This I Believe is a popular essay genre that allows the writer to share a personal belief and, through a narrative, explain that belief's origin or a time that belief was put into action. The essay genre started in the 1950s on a radio show with Edward R. Murrow and was continued by NPR in 2004.
Featured Essays Archives
Explore. Featured Essays Essays on the Radio; Special Features; 1950s Essays Essays From the 1950s Series; Browse by Theme Browse Essays By Theme Use this feature to browse through the tens of thousands of essays that have been submitted to This I Believe. Select a theme to see a listing of essays that address the selected theme. The number to the right of each theme indicates how many essays ...
This I Believe: Exploring Core Values and Personal Convictions: [Essay
The "This I Believe" essay series has provided a platform for individuals to share their deeply held beliefs, values, and reflections on life. These essays offer a glimpse into the diverse perspectives and convictions that shape our understanding of the world and guide our actions. This essay delves into the significance of the "This I Believe" essays, examining their power to foster ...
Original and creative I believe essay topics
Order total: 00.00. Order now. Here is a list of 35 "I believe essay topics" to aid you in writing your essay. When choosing from the list of I believe essay topics, mind that you will need to provide a good explanation of why you think something really exists or works. Do not opt for the theme that you cannot support with relevant ...
50 Great Argumentative Essay Topics for Any Assignment
Check out our helpful list of argumentative essay topics, plus tips on picking the best one for you. Call Direct: 1 (866) 811-5546 Sign In Start Free Trial ... Sometimes you may find yourself arguing things you don't necessarily believe. That's totally fine—you don't actually have to wholeheartedly believe in what you're arguing in ...
PDF How to Write Your Own This I Believe Essay
believe, not what you don't believe. Avoid statements of religious dogma, preaching, or editorializing. Be personal: Make your essay about you; speak in the first person. Try reading 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
223 Belief Essay Ideas, Topics, & Examples
In your belief essay, you might want to focus of various philosophical approaches to the concept. Another idea is to compare religious and secular belief systems. One more option is to talk about your strongest personal beliefs and practices. Whether you have to write a high-school or a college assignment, our article will be helpful.
113 Perfect Persuasive Essay Topics for Any Assignment
List of 113 Good Persuasive Essay Topics. Below are over 100 persuasive essay ideas, organized into ten categories. When you find an idea that piques your interest, you'll choose one side of it to argue for in your essay. For example, if you choose the topic, "should fracking be legal?" you'd decide whether you believe fracking should ...
Thousands Believe Covid Vaccines Harmed Them. Is Anyone Listening
'I'm Not Real' Patients who believe they experienced serious side effects say they have received little support or acknowledgment. Shaun Barcavage, 54, a nurse practitioner in New York City ...
Opinion
"This is not who we are as a nation," one journalist exclaimed in what was a common response to the violence on Jan. 6, "and we must not let ourselves or others believe otherwise." Mr ...
The Metaverse, Zuckerberg's Tech Obession, Is Officially Dead ...
The Metaverse is now headed to the tech industry's graveyard of failed ideas. But the short life and ignominious death of the Metaverse offers a glaring indictment of the tech industry that ...
Sample Essays From This I Believe: Massachusetts
Explore. Featured Essays Essays on the Radio; Special Features; 1950s Essays Essays From the 1950s Series; Browse by Theme Browse Essays By Theme Use this feature to browse through the tens of thousands of essays that have been submitted to This I Believe. Select a theme to see a listing of essays that address the selected theme. The number to the right of each theme indicates how many essays ...
A Birder's Guide to Boston University
Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English.
Colleges Love Protests—When They're in the Past
Attracted by both Cornell's labor-relations school and the university's history of campus radicalism, he wrote his application essay about his involvement with a Democratic Socialists of ...
Essays Archive
Explore. Featured Essays Essays on the Radio; Special Features; 1950s Essays Essays From the 1950s Series; Browse by Theme Browse Essays By Theme Use this feature to browse through the tens of thousands of essays that have been submitted to This I Believe. Select a theme to see a listing of essays that address the selected theme. The number to the right of each theme indicates how many essays ...
The Adults Are Still in Charge at the University of Florida
Higher education isn't daycare. Here are the rules we follow on free speech and public protests.
This I Believe: Voices of Youth
Explore. Featured Essays Essays on the Radio; Special Features; 1950s Essays Essays From the 1950s Series; Browse by Theme Browse Essays By Theme Use this feature to browse through the tens of thousands of essays that have been submitted to This I Believe. Select a theme to see a listing of essays that address the selected theme. The number to the right of each theme indicates how many essays ...
Daniel Barenboim: What Beethoven's Ninth Teaches Us
Guest Essay. Daniel Barenboim: What Beethoven's Ninth Teaches Us. May 6, 2024. ... I don't believe, however, that Beethoven was interested in everyday politics. He was not an activist.