Esmeralda Reynaga 12/ 5/11 Reflection #1 1. Please provide a detailed summary describing the artifact and its purpose.

In my 9th grade English class we had to write an essay following the This I Believe website format. The This I Believe is a website where anyone can submit an essay or story explaining an experience that lead to that person creating a belief. Our task was to brainstorm 3 events or experiences in our lives that had a great impact on us. Out of those 3 events we had to choose one, the one that had the most effect in our belief. Once we had our topic picked out we then had to brainstorm all the little things that took place that led to that one main event. For the essay it was a format of the first paragraph being the introduction explaining our event and our belief. In my second paragraph we had to explain as to how we looked at life before our belief was created. It was as if we were showing the reader a before and after. We were given the option of explaining these events in one or two paragraphs, but I was able to make it all in one paragraph. Lastly we had our conclusion, where we had to restate our belief, let the reader know/comprehend the full reason for our belief, and how it has impacted our lives since. 2.Identify and list the GLPO(s) that were satisfied in completing this artifact. In addition, please explain how these GLPO(s) were met by specifically referring to the examples or evidence from the artifact. (Please specifically refer to the indicators within each domain, and do not simply state that you Took Action or Communicated Ideas.) The GLPO(s) that was satisfied was Recognizing Perspectives: Applying Cross Cultural Understandings. We were able to express our own perspective on situations, events, issues or phenomena and identifies various influences on that perspective. This assignment falls under this category because when we did this assignment not only did we have to identify our perspectives of how we viewed the world but, we also had the obstacle of explaining as to why we have that perspective. For example, in my essay I stated , This is why I believe in taking and making the best of what life puts in our way. This here shows my view of the world and states as to what ideas I carry with me everyday and live life with. Another example would be, I believe things are put in our life to test us, my brother was my test, successfully I was able to pass this test, also realizing that I should not only appreciate that my brother was placed in my life, healthy or unhealthy, but that I had the privilege to spend the rest of my life with him and get to know him. This is explaining to the reader that I first I didnt appreciate my brother for who he is and the fact that he was in my life, but then I learned that I should appreciate my brother no matter what, and to know that I am lucky to have him in my life.

3. What skills and concepts were learned in completing this artifact and how have these affected your future?

Esmeralda Reynaga 12/ 5/11 The skill that I learned during this project was to show not tell. It is a skill that my English teacher taught us during this assignment. She taught us that by using the show not tell method in an essay, that it will give the reader a fuller and better understanding of what the person is trying to portray. Knowing this skill will affect me in my future because it will help me create more elaborate and visual essays in my college assignments. A concept that I learned during this project was MLA format. MLA format is the format as to which all essays must be followed by, which isnt required until college. For this project we had to learn and fully understand that format in order to be able to actually turn in our essay. Knowing this format now will affect my future because by the time I get to college and everyone is barely getting the idea of this format I will already have mastered this format which could potentially give me some lead in that class. 4. Looking back on the completion of this artifact, what might you do differently if you were able to recreate or revise the final product? If I got the chance to revise my final project I would go back and add the results that have happened ever since I started putting my belief into place. I would explain how my life has changed and what factors have stayed the same. This would help the reader to understand the purpose of my belief. It would also help the reader learn that when one creates a belief it could literally change their entire world. Another thing that I would do differently would be the way that I plotted out the events in my essay. Instead of just telling the reader when and what happened I would want the reader to tell stay wondering as to what might have happened or might happen. I believe that by doing this it would want the reader to keep reading and find out the answer to their wonders, which would potentially force them to read my whole essay. I believe that if I ever had the chance to change these things it would not only improve my essay but it will also improve my writing skills.