Starting With "I" : Personal Essays by Teenagers Paperback – June 1, 1997

The individuals essays are great to share with students as a way of broadening their ideas about writing personal narratives. And, let's face it, they'd rather hear from their peers, no matter how famous or revered the person is whose essay is in the textbook.

As a high school English teacher, I am always pleasantly surprised by how receptive my students are to the essays in "Starting With I." This book is an excellent tool for teachers to demonstrate how powerful writing can be as a form of expression. When students learn that these essays were written by people their age, on issues that they value, they are not only anxious to read/hear more, they are also moved to write personal essays of their own. What's more, this is a powerful tool for encouraging revision and peer editing as the teen authors in the book discuss this process in a positive light. I have used this book with students in grades 9-12 and have always gotten positive results.