analyzing a belief

Length: Minimum 3 full WRITTEN pages; maximum 5 full WRITTEN pages

Format: MLA Format | Double-spaced | 12-pt font in Arial

Purpose: To analyze how a belief formed, why it seemed true, and what caused it to change

Assignment Overview

People form beliefs about the world based on personal experience, family influence, culture, media, education, and social expectations. Some of these beliefs feel logical and reliable at the time, but later experiences, new information, or changing perspectives may reveal that a belief was incomplete, inaccurate, or incorrect.

In this essay, you will analyze:

• A belief you once held that turned out to be wrong
• OR
• A belief someone else held that turned out to be wrong (this is the more difficult option)

Your goal is to examine:

• How the belief developed
• Why it seemed reasonable at the time
• What challenged or changed it
• How the new understanding affected thinking or behavior

This essay should be more formal than the Audience & Identity essay, but it should still include personal insight and reflection.

Essay Structure & Requirements

1. Overview of the Belief (Introduction)

Your essay should begin with a formal overview of the belief.

In this section, you should:

• Clearly explain what the belief was
• Describe how common or accepted the belief is
• Briefly explain why people (including you or the person youre writing about) might believe it

This section sets up the topic before moving into personal experience.

Your introduction should end with a thesis statement that explains:

• Why the belief was incorrect
• What ultimately changed that belief

Example Thesis:

Many people believe that success in life is guaranteed through hard work alone. However, personal experience has shown that mental health, opportunity, and support systems play a much greater role than effort by itself.

2. Background: How the Belief Formed

In this section, explain:

• Where the belief came from
• Who or what reinforced it (family, school, media, culture, etc.)
• Why it seemed logical or trustworthy at the time

This shows how beliefs are shaped by external influences.

3. Limited Research Component

You must include a small amount of research that provides background on the belief.

This research should:

• Be easy to find (general articles, credible websites, news sources, or educational resources)
• Explain the belief, common misconceptions, or what experts say
• Support your analysis, not replace it

Your essay should still focus mainly on personal experience and reflection, not heavy academic research.

Examples of acceptable research topics:

• Common myths about success
• Misconceptions about mental health
• Stereotypes about certain groups
• Popular beliefs about education, relationships, or careers

4. The Turning Point

Describe the moment (or series of events) that challenged the belief.

This may include:

• A personal experience
• A conversation
• New information
• A failure or unexpected outcome
• Exposure to a different perspective

Use specific details to show what caused the belief to change.

5. The New Understanding

Analyze:

• What was learned
• How the belief changed
• What replaced the original belief
• How thinking or behavior shifted

Focus on growth and awareness, not just the event itself.

6. Reflection

Your conclusion should reflect on:

• Why this belief change matters
• What it reveals about learning and perspective
• How beliefs influence decisions
• How this experience will shape future thinking

This section should connect personal experience to broader understanding.

Topic Ideas & Examples

Students may write about beliefs such as:

Personal Beliefs

• Hard work always guarantees success
• Mental health issues are just attention-seeking
• Being busy means being productive
• Failure means youre not capable
• Social media shows real life

Beliefs Held by Others

• A parents belief about career success
• A coachs belief about discipline
• A teachers belief about learning styles
• A cultural belief about gender roles
• A public figures changed opinion

What This Essay Is NOT

A casual journal entry

A rant or complaint

A list of opinions

A research paper

A simple story

This is a formal analytical reflection.