1. author/speaker
2. crux or “thesis” of statement
3. 3 observations regarding style, delivery, structure, or other storytelling elements
4. your attitude in relation to the speaker’s
Once you have completed this step, begin constructing and refining your own statement.
Visit “The Moth” site. Over the course of the next week or so (check the syllabus for specific timelines), you will listen to 5 Mole stories. For each story, note the following:
1. speaker and title
2. theme of the story
3. 3 observations regarding style, delivery, structure, or other storytelling elements
4. your attitude in relation to the speaker’s story
5. a score (based on our rubric)
Then, click here to learn some storytelling tips. Once you have completed this step, begin constructing and refining your own story.
13 comments:
Katherine Bowman talked about not wearing any makeup because her mother told her she did not need any and the title was "The Real Me"
Jessica Mercer Zerr talked about staying happily married and that people choose who they love in "The Love I Choose"
Howard White talked about greeting people and always saying something when passing someone by in "The Power of Hello"
Sara Silva
Tone/Speaker
1) The hardships of facing that Santa Clause is not real when you move to America and all the younger children tell you about it, so when it came to see Santa Clause there was no presents left for her because her parents never heard of Santa Clause either.
2) The ability of loving dogs as the same of loving a human and how the dogs are more understanding.
3) The love and faith all American soldiers obtain for their country. The amount of gratitude it takes to perform the ultimate sacrifice.
4) The hurt of the speaker because he was attacked by Hitler and the Nazi’s just for being Jewish.
5) That if people find any laughter in their situation than it automatically alleviate the situation.
Thesis of the statement
1) The act of being naive and believing all the younger students about Santa Clause.
2) Dogs don’t judge you they don’t care what you are or what you look like so they are a better companion that an actual person.
3) How some American soldiers are overlooked for their duty and that they do not get recognized with their heroic attitudes and personality.
4) That even though people have been so brutally hurt by others and how they wanted to exterminate there entire race people will still forgive.
5) That people will always try to see laughter in the situation and that if you do you win.
3 Observations
1) Her attitude to the situation, she got a Santa Clause come to her house at 25 and the note said, “I’m sorry I missed you in the 2nd grade but you were always in my heart”. Sympathy towards herself she said she should not of cried and was made she did. Her willingness to believe in the REAL Santa Clause.
2) The love of dogs the author portrays through his writing, the true facts that are behind that will be surprising to hear about, the fact that the author wants the world to be dogs only.
3) That people will overlook you for all of your accomplishments.
4) That act or forgiveness, the act of betrayal and the fact that life goes on after a tragedy.
5) Laughter, forgiving and always learning how to smile to make people feel better.
Your attitude in relation to the speaker
1) She has a great moral of the story and that she still believes in the real Santa Clause and the goodness in people.
2) I do believe that he has good points throughout his literature but they become a little overbearing when he states that he wants the whole world to be like dogs and that humans are uncompassionate.
3) Americans are the true heroes who give their life to their country and how they are over looked.
4) That moral of the story is forgiveness and how people will forgive you and that you will always be the bigger person.
5) I agree with the speakers opinion, if people will always try to laugh at a situation and always look at the good people will always leave happy.
Sara Silva
Tone/Speaker
1) The hardships of facing that Santa Clause is not real when you move to America and all the younger children tell you about it, so when it came to see Santa Clause there was no presents left for her because her parents never heard of Santa Clause either.
2) The ability of loving dogs as the same of loving a human and how the dogs are more understanding.
3) The love and faith all American soldiers obtain for their country. The amount of gratitude it takes to perform the ultimate sacrifice.
4) The hurt of the speaker because he was attacked by Hitler and the Nazi’s just for being Jewish.
5) That if people find any laughter in their situation than it automatically alleviate the situation.
Thesis of the statement
1) The act of being naive and believing all the younger students about Santa Clause.
2) Dogs don’t judge you they don’t care what you are or what you look like so they are a better companion that an actual person.
3) How some American soldiers are overlooked for their duty and that they do not get recognized with their heroic attitudes and personality.
4) That even though people have been so brutally hurt by others and how they wanted to exterminate there entire race people will still forgive.
5) That people will always try to see laughter in the situation and that if you do you win.
3 Observations
1) Her attitude to the situation, she got a Santa Clause come to her house at 25 and the note said, “I’m sorry I missed you in the 2nd grade but you were always in my heart”. Sympathy towards herself she said she should not of cried and was made she did. Her willingness to believe in the REAL Santa Clause.
2) The love of dogs the author portrays through his writing, the true facts that are behind that will be surprising to hear about, the fact that the author wants the world to be dogs only.
3) That people will overlook you for all of your accomplishments.
4) That act or forgiveness, the act of betrayal and the fact that life goes on after a tragedy.
5) Laughter, forgiving and always learning how to smile to make people feel better.
Your attitude in relation to the speaker
1) She has a great moral of the story and that she still believes in the real Santa Clause and the goodness in people.
2) I do believe that he has good points throughout his literature but they become a little overbearing when he states that he wants the whole world to be like dogs and that humans are uncompassionate.
3) Americans are the true heroes who give their life to their country and how they are over looked.
4) That moral of the story is forgiveness and how people will forgive you and that you will always be the bigger person.
5) I agree with the speakers opinion, if people will always try to laugh at a situation and always look at the good people will always leave happy.
Sara Silva
Tone/Speaker
1) The hardships of facing that Santa Clause is not real when you move to America and all the younger children tell you about it, so when it came to see Santa Clause there was no presents left for her because her parents never heard of Santa Clause either.
2) The ability of loving dogs as the same of loving a human and how the dogs are more understanding.
3) The love and faith all American soldiers obtain for their country. The amount of gratitude it takes to perform the ultimate sacrifice.
4) The hurt of the speaker because he was attacked by Hitler and the Nazi’s just for being Jewish.
5) That if people find any laughter in their situation than it automatically alleviate the situation.
Thesis of the statement
1) The act of being naive and believing all the younger students about Santa Clause.
2) Dogs don’t judge you they don’t care what you are or what you look like so they are a better companion that an actual person.
3) How some American soldiers are overlooked for their duty and that they do not get recognized with their heroic attitudes and personality.
4) That even though people have been so brutally hurt by others and how they wanted to exterminate there entire race people will still forgive.
5) That people will always try to see laughter in the situation and that if you do you win.
3 Observations
1) Her attitude to the situation, she got a Santa Clause come to her house at 25 and the note said, “I’m sorry I missed you in the 2nd grade but you were always in my heart”. Sympathy towards herself she said she should not of cried and was made she did. Her willingness to believe in the REAL Santa Clause.
2) The love of dogs the author portrays through his writing, the true facts that are behind that will be surprising to hear about, the fact that the author wants the world to be dogs only.
3) That people will overlook you for all of your accomplishments.
4) That act or forgiveness, the act of betrayal and the fact that life goes on after a tragedy.
5) Laughter, forgiving and always learning how to smile to make people feel better.
Your attitude in relation to the speaker
1) She has a great moral of the story and that she still believes in the real Santa Clause and the goodness in people.
2) I do believe that he has good points throughout his literature but they become a little overbearing when he states that he wants the whole world to be like dogs and that humans are uncompassionate.
3) Americans are the true heroes who give their life to their country and how they are over looked.
4) That moral of the story is forgiveness and how people will forgive you and that you will always be the bigger person.
5) I agree with the speakers opinion, if people will always try to laugh at a situation and always look at the good people will always leave happy.
Sara Silva
Tone/Speaker
1) The hardships of facing that Santa Clause is not real when you move to America and all the younger children tell you about it, so when it came to see Santa Clause there was no presents left for her because her parents never heard of Santa Clause either.
2) The ability of loving dogs as the same of loving a human and how the dogs are more understanding.
3) The love and faith all American soldiers obtain for their country. The amount of gratitude it takes to perform the ultimate sacrifice.
4) The hurt of the speaker because he was attacked by Hitler and the Nazi’s just for being Jewish.
5) That if people find any laughter in their situation than it automatically alleviate the situation.
Thesis of the statement
1) The act of being naive and believing all the younger students about Santa Clause.
2) Dogs don’t judge you they don’t care what you are or what you look like so they are a better companion that an actual person.
3) How some American soldiers are overlooked for their duty and that they do not get recognized with their heroic attitudes and personality.
4) That even though people have been so brutally hurt by others and how they wanted to exterminate there entire race people will still forgive.
5) That people will always try to see laughter in the situation and that if you do you win.
3 Observations
1) Her attitude to the situation, she got a Santa Clause come to her house at 25 and the note said, “I’m sorry I missed you in the 2nd grade but you were always in my heart”. Sympathy towards herself she said she should not of cried and was made she did. Her willingness to believe in the REAL Santa Clause.
2) The love of dogs the author portrays through his writing, the true facts that are behind that will be surprising to hear about, the fact that the author wants the world to be dogs only.
3) That people will overlook you for all of your accomplishments.
4) That act or forgiveness, the act of betrayal and the fact that life goes on after a tragedy.
5) Laughter, forgiving and always learning how to smile to make people feel better.
Your attitude in relation to the speaker
1) She has a great moral of the story and that she still believes in the real Santa Clause and the goodness in people.
2) I do believe that he has good points throughout his literature but they become a little overbearing when he states that he wants the whole world to be like dogs and that humans are uncompassionate.
3) Americans are the true heroes who give their life to their country and how they are over looked.
4) That moral of the story is forgiveness and how people will forgive you and that you will always be the bigger person.
5) I agree with the speakers opinion, if people will always try to laugh at a situation and always look at the good people will always leave happy.
This I Believe
The Power of Paying Attention
Author: Michael Somers
Thesis: Noticing the little things in life is what opens you up to the big things.
Style: Recalling personal experiences; taking precarious breaks; chronologically noting his experiences, from childhood to his current occupation.
Opinion: I completely agree with Somers. I think it’s the little things in life that make the biggest differences.
The Stillness of the Library
Author: Clint Morehead
Thesis: When studying quietly, the world around seems to disappear and all focus shifts to oneself.
Style: Talking calmly, reflecting the main idea; very descriptive settings; narrative of a time when he went to his private library room.
Opinion: I, too, believe that being quietly by myself is a worthwhile experience.
The Power of Comedy
Author: John Cheadle Rich
Thesis: There is always room for comedy.
Style: Huge reliance on emotion; examples of humor in serious situations; frequent short breaks.
Opinion: I think that comedy can be used in many situations for many reasons.
Discomfort
Author: Daniel Libman
Thesis: We need to embrace being uncomfortable in order to experience comfort.
Style: Humor; personal accounts of discomfort; recalls a revelation.
Opinion: Well, I don’t like experiencing discomfort…
Love on Four Feet
Author: Sarah Culp Searles
Thesis: Real love (like that from our pets) is steadfast and unconditional.
Style: Pathos; appropriate breaks; recalling of a major realization.
Opinion: I wholly agree with Searles because of the experiences I have had with my own pets.
The Moth
The Deer & I
Speaker: Morgan Laketa
Theme: The teachings of nature (or lack thereof)
Style: Ironic; coming-of-age; frequent pausing.
Opinion: I agree that we don’t know what we know until we have to use it.
Score: 11
The Case of the Pencil Case
Speaker: Steve Zimmer
Theme: The comedy found in looking back at your childhood.
Style: Humor; takes the audience into the story; includes dialogue.
Opinion: I thought the story was funny and is true to how we think about ourselves when we think back.
Score: 15
The Encyclopedia Brown Moment
Speaker: Alan Gordon
Theme: The ironic truth about how defense lawyers work and the importance of principle.
Style: Engages audience; humor; emotion.
Opinion: A great story that shows the irony in life.
Score: 14
Sink or Swim
Speaker: Kevin McAuliffe
Theme: How to win a battle with yourself and how loved ones are willing to help.
Style: Slow pace; pathos; humor.
Opinion: A great story of overcoming life’s obstacles.
Score: 15
Fireworks from Above
Speaker: Faye Lane
Theme: Dreams coming true and persevering in that new reality.
Every crowd is made up of individuals, each with their own stories, good or bad.
Being part of something bigger than yourself.
Style: Slow pace; humor; seriousness.
Opinion: An all-encompassing emotional account that delivers many wonderful messages.
Score: 14
This I Believe:
Speaker/ Title: The Essentials of Happiness said by Alexxandra Shuman
“I believe that happiness is love and hope.”
The way it was said was in kind of a boring tone which turned my off in a way. At the same time though it was very informational and was supported by quotes and backed up with her opinion, which then made it very agreeable for me.
My attitude toward the speaker is very agreeable. She hit some very good points and worked through a time that was very tough for her. Her depression for me couldn’t be related too because I’ve never been through that but she obviously has a pretty good mind set to reach her goal of getting to that happiness.
Moth:
Speaker and Title: The Secret Letter said by Paola Ayala
Theme of the story: Sometimes telling someone the truth about something you keep inside and are afraid of their reaction can sometimes lead to relief and a positive reaction.
Style: Calm and collected while also being very honest and open. Delivery: Very calm and also comical making it not boring to listen to. It was kind of suspenseful also which made it interesting to listen too. Structure: She explained the chain of events very clearly in order and with detail.
My attitude toward the Moth was kind of nervous when listening to the story. Obviously I have no relation to the actually story itself but I could only imagine how it could have felt to have to tell your parents and family that you are gay. So many emotions and thoughts would be racing through my head while thinking that someone could have found out something that you were trying to hide.
I would give it a 13-14 on the rubric.
This I Believe:
Speaker/ Title: The Essentials of Happiness said by Alexxandra Shuman
“I believe that happiness is love and hope.”
The way it was said was in kind of a boring tone which turned my off in a way. At the same time though it was very informational and was supported by quotes and backed up with her opinion, which then made it very agreeable for me.
My attitude toward the speaker is very agreeable. She hit some very good points and worked through a time that was very tough for her. Her depression for me couldn’t be related too because I’ve never been through that but she obviously has a pretty good mind set to reach her goal of getting to that happiness.
Moth:
Speaker and Title: The Secret Letter said by Paola Ayala
Theme of the story: Sometimes telling someone the truth about something you keep inside and are afraid of their reaction can sometimes lead to relief and a positive reaction.
Style: Calm and collected while also being very honest and open. Delivery: Very calm and also comical making it not boring to listen to. It was kind of suspenseful also which made it interesting to listen too. Structure: She explained the chain of events very clearly in order and with detail.
My attitude toward the Moth was kind of nervous when listening to the story. Obviously I have no relation to the actually story itself but I could only imagine how it could have felt to have to tell your parents and family that you are gay. So many emotions and thoughts would be racing through my head while thinking that someone could have found out something that you were trying to hide.
I would give it a 13-14 on the rubric.
This I Believe:
First Story:
1. The speaker of this story is Alexander from Farmington, Utah.
2. The main crux of this story is, “I believe in ‘Finding Neverland.’”
3. The most obvious storytelling device I noticed was the allusion to Peter Pan and the subsequent analysis of said allusion and its purpose. Additionally, I noticed the simplistic language, which mimicked the idea of reliving childhood that was mentioned throughout the story. Also, I noted the way in which the author chose to utilize multiple stories in order to accentuate and highlight the existence of one, singular motif.
4. Overall, I agree with the message that the speaker states; individuals should look towards the future, while always recognizing and reminiscing throughout past experiences.
Second Story:
1. The speaker of this story is Lori Vermeulen.
2. The main thesis of this story is, as follows, “I believe that the strength of a person’s faith is inversely proportional to the distance she travels before merging when entering a construction zone.”
3. I, firstly, noted the usage of humor throughout the story in order to encompass and maintain the interest of the reader. Additionally, I noted the way in which the author chose to punctuate her reading with personalized, rhetorical questions designed to place the reader in a position similar to her own. Finally, I noticed how the speaker used a simplistic metaphor to exemplify the cause-and-effect relationship of our actions.
4. I feel that the author did an excellent job exemplifying her personalized beliefs of sacrifice and acceptance through a simple, everyday occurrence. I believe that by doing so, she shows the importance of our actions and her prominent idea of helping others.
Third Story:
1. The speaker of this story is Brenda from Springville, Utah.
2. The main crux of this story is, “I believe in waffles.”
3. Initially, I noted the acknowledgement of humor as means of embracing the reader and encompassing his or her mind in the concept being exemplified throughout the story. Additionally, I noted the usage of the metaphorical waffle as means of conveying whole ideologies and conceptual thoughts throughout the story. Finally, I noticed the way in which the author attempted to further explain her ideas by including the audience through the use of a pluralized, first-person perspective towards the latter portion of the essay.
4. I believe that the author was able to clearly display the need to find a form of salvation through a humorous topic. Additionally, she was able to exemplify her ideologies clearly through the use of a simplistic topic that encompasses a wide array of audiences.
Fourth Story:
1. The speaker of this story is Natalia from San Diego, California.
2. The main thesis of this story is “I believe in hula-hooping.”
3. The first element of storytelling that I noticed was the author’s dichotomous employment of the hula-hoop as an object and the act of hula-hooping in order to create multiple perspectives and subsequent interpretations of her words. Additionally, I noted the author’s use of duality by discussing the gaining of physical and metaphysical traits as the story progressed. Finally, I noticed the way in which the speaker discussed the lessons learned from the hula-hoop being both personalized and communal, thereby showing the holistic possibilities of improvement centralized around hula-hooping.
4. Though, initially, I was confused by the thesis of the essay, I feel as though the entirety of the essay encompassed various ideologies and topics that resonate as important throughout society. By creating a simplistic metaphor, the author was able to identify societal issues and draw attention towards their necessary ameliorations.
Fifth Story:
1. The speaker of this story is Judith from San Pierre, Indiana.
2. The main thesis of this essay is “I believe in telling the truth.”
3. The first aspect of this story that I noticed was the extremely vague thesis statement, which allowed the author to simultaneously expand her viewpoint while highlighting different aspects of the societal viewpoints being discussed. Additionally, I noted the personalized connections forged throughout the story as the speaker discusses her mother, who passed away while the speaker was in high school; by forging this connection with the audience, the author is able to draw in the reader’s attention. Furthermore, I noticed the author’s finalized quotation at the end of the work, which forces the audience to consider the personalized meaning behind “To thyne own self be true.”
4. Overall, I felt that the author chose a very generalized topic to discuss, which initially deterred me from divulging in the work; however, upon understanding the entirety of the essay, I feel that the author was able to fully explain her ideas with a fresh perspective.
You told me to only do one of each.
This I Believe
1. Howard White, vice president of Jordan Brand at Nike.
2. Stopping to say hello to someone seems so simple but can mean so much.
3. He brought up a childhood experience with his mother to explain the thesis. He took pauses and stressed certain words to allow the audience to dwell on their meanings. At the end he addresses the audience in second person to show how a hello can be so significant.
4. I agree with him that saying hello can make someone’s day. I feel optimistic of society and admire him for taking the time to talk with people he meets.
The Moth
1. Michaela Murphy
2. A trip to Hyannis to spy on the Kennedy family turns ironically hilarious.
3. She used her hands a lot to show emotion. She mocked the voices of her aunts to give a better picture of them. She repeated important details to emphasize them in her story.
4. I think she is a very funny and outgoing person. This story was almost unbelievable in how insane it was, but that’s how family is sometimes. It made me laugh out loud.
5. 15/15, she was engaging and hilarious.
Part 1.
Connor Lynch
“This I Believe” Statements
1. “The Power of Comedy” is by John Cheadle Rich. His crux is, “I didn’t know the clinical terms, but even as a nine year old, I could tell that laughing made my mother feel better. Not only did it help her, it helped me. When I made her laugh I felt powerful. I realized how important it is for us to have comedy in our lives.” He tells a short story of how laughter helped teach him a lesson as a kid and how he applied that later in his life. He also references other moments where comedy was deployed even in dark times, like in the Bible. Lastly, he proposes his belief as something everyone should consider having. I agree with Rich’s stance in that laughing and trying to keep your head up in unfortunate situations is good for you.
2. “Discomfort” is by Daniel Libman. His crux is, “I wear ties, not because it matters to me how I look, but because when the day is over, I go home and take the tie off. I slip on gym shoes and a sweatshirt and revel in comfort earned from a full day of wearing constricting clothing.” He mentions how he applies his belief to his everyday situations. He also tells a story of when he was on a bicycle trip in the mountains. Lastly, he looks back on a single moment of discomfort that he could only appreciate then because he was living in the moment at that time. I agree with Libman in that doing things that are uncomfortable are ultimately beneficial for us when we look back on them.
3. “The Perfect Merge” is by Lori Vermuelen. Her crux is, “I am a human being and therefore I have a choice. I can choose to be selfish and to step ahead of everyone else, or I can choose to be generous and accept the risk of being left behind.” She creates a scenario of people merging into one lane as an analogy of being either selfish and hasty or generous and patient. She also talks about the benefits and drawbacks to each decision. Lastly, she explains how she teaches these beliefs to her students. I agree with being the generous person who merges early in the hopes that everyone will do the same and keep the situation smooth and efficient for everyone.
4. “Never Give Up” is by Mary Curran Hackett. Her crux is, “‘You just can’t. You can’t ever give up,’ he said. ‘No matter how hard it gets, no matter how it hurts.’” She reminisces about her father giving her and her siblings speeches about not giving up. She also recalls the memory of her father standing by those words many years later when she was in need. Lastly, she talks about how she now follows this philosophy today and how it helps her get by. I agree with the message of dedication and perseverance that Hackett’s father always talked about and have similar beliefs on the matter.
5. “Accomplishing Big Things in Small Pieces” is by William Wissemann. His crux is, “Solving the Rubik’s Cube has made me believe that sometimes you have to take a few steps back to move forward.” He uses the Rubik’s Cube as an analogy for overcoming his dyslexia little by little. He teaches himself that frustrating tasks can be solved by looking at the big picture and completing then one step at a time. Lastly, he talks about the steps he took as a kid to be able to learn how to read and write like everyone else. I agree with his belief and also take things one step at a time to overcome the problems I face.
Part 2
Connor Lynch
“The Moth” Stories
1. “My First Day at the Yankees” is told by Matthew McGough. The theme of his story is that if you are determined enough and have enough common sense, your dreams can be willed into being realized even if they are a little nonsensical. He was very detailed about the whole situation and did not leave anything out. He used humor to keep the audience entertained and engaged. Lastly, he concluded with the lesson that it taught him as a kid. I agree with his message that with perseverance comes happiness and success, and I follow that message today as well. S1: _3_ S2: _2_ S3: _3_ S4: _2_ S5: _3_
2. “The Best of Times, The Worst of Times” is told by Anthony Griffith. The theme of his story is that while things are the best of times for some people, it is the worst of times for others and that you should acknowledge that you are not the only one in pain when it is the worst of times for you. He delivered his story referencing iconic figures and entertainment. He also used a lot of emotional dialogue about his cancer-infected daughter and other hardships he struggled through. He also used his job as a comedian to foil his tragic, real world situation. S1: _3_ S2: _3_ S3: _3_ S4: _3_ S5: _2_
3. “Golf Clubbing” is told by Ed Gavagan. The theme of his story is about how the tough demeanor some people display can easily be broken. He starts off by talking about how his head got ripped open by a golf club. He also makes references to other things like Smoky the Bear and Full Metal Jacket. Lastly, he makes the whole story rather humorous after looking back on it in hindsight. I liked his story because I can sort of relate to it. While his friend accidently hit him in the head with a golf club, I accidently did the same thing to a friend of mine. S1: _3_ S2: _2_ S3: _3_ S4: _3_ S5: _1_
4. “Where’d That Apple Go?” is told by Kemp Powers. The theme of his story is that “being kind and decent is nothing to be ashamed of.” He first talks about what his life in Brooklyn, New York in the 80’s was like and how hostile and unforgiving it was. He then later talks about how different and unprepared his son would be if he were put in the same situations because of his sensitivity. Lastly, he compares how he would have got along with his son if they were both the same age. I agree with the messages he made about his son, but I think that someday that boy is going to need to toughen up a little bit when things get hard for him if they way he was described is true. S1: _3_ S2: _3_ S3: _3_ S4: _2_ S5: _2_
5. “The Ascent” is told by Joby Ogwyn. The theme of his story is that you should not do the things that you want to do for the wrong reasons. He is very detailed in his story of going up and back down Mt. Everest and what he was thinking every step of the way. He also surprised the audience by revealing the twist that a guy he was talking to on the mountain was dead. Finally, he was able to find a lesson to be learned out of his friend dying in a similar situation he was in. I liked how he took the lesson that he learned above and was able to have the willpower to follow through with it. S1: _3_ S2: _3_ S3: _3_ S4: _2_ S5: _2_
Post a Comment