Course reading: A story that helps you act.
“In this course, a myth is a story useful to someone.” (Course reading, Week 3)Read the course example
The aimHow do myths work and what is mine?
Foundations · Original course reading
A story that helps you act
Aim evidenceConnections
These are possible notes. A different detail can be useful if you can explain your choice.
A narrative is a story that connects events. In this course, a myth is a story useful to someone.1 It can communicate values and guide choices; the word does not simply mean a lie. In a personal guiding story, you can connect a value to a goal and a choice you make. A useful story leaves room for change.2 Saying “I am a person who keeps practicing” can guide an action, but saying “I can never change” may close a door before you try.
Citation: (Course reading, Week 3). This is an original course explanation; it is not a quotation from the syllabus.
Words for this response
Use one word from each of 3 assigned groups. See the groups and sentence examples →
From a note to a sentence
Words from the course example
“In this course, a myth is a story useful to someone.”
My notebook
Useful story → guides a choice.
See the note become sentences
What it says: A myth can be useful to a person.
What it helps explain: Its usefulness can show up in an action: a story about continuing to learn can encourage another attempt.
Your turn
Use the second highlight. Describe how a guiding story could help after a setback.
One fictional student’s plan
Value + story
Sam values learning: “I am someone who returns after a mistake.”
Choice
Sam asks one question about a difficult passage.
Result to watch for
Sam can explain a detail that was confusing before.
Your notebook → your Aim Response
Build your response
Choose your evidence here. Write your sentences in your notebook.
How a myth works
Explain how a useful story can guide a choice.
My guiding story
Connect a value, a story about yourself, and a real action.
Answer the whole question
A myth works by ___; my guiding story is ___, and I will act on it by ___.
A starting shape, not the only way to write your answer. Replace the spaces with your own thinking.
Evidence 1 + your explanation
The exact quotation, its context, and its citation will appear here.
What it saysIn my own words, this means …
What it showsThis helps answer the question because …
Evidence 2 + your explanation
The exact quotation, its context, and its citation will appear here.
What it saysIn my own words, this means …
What it showsThis helps answer the question because …
Choose two different quotations. Then check that your writing explains every part of the aim.
Connect the two details
The first detail shows … . But / So / Because … . Together, these details help explain … .
Choose the connector that matches your reasoning: but contrasts, so gives a result, because gives a reason.
See the shape in a complete model
This model answers a related question. Notice where the quotes, explanations, words, and appositives go.
Can help with: How a myth works.
Course reading: A story that helps you act.
“It can communicate values and guide choices; the word does not simply mean a lie.” (Course reading, Week 3)Read the course example
Can help with: How a myth works.
Course reading: A story that helps you act.
“In a personal guiding story, you can connect a value to a goal and a choice you make.” (Course reading, Week 3)Read the course example
Can help with: My guiding story.
Course reading: A story that helps you act.
“A useful story leaves room for change.” (Course reading, Week 3)Read the course example
Can help with: My guiding story.
Words of the day 2 points
Use one word from each of these 3 groups. Complete all 3 groups for the vocabulary points. Words separated by “or” are alternatives.
Meaning + one sentence example
etymology (noun) — The history of a word and how its form or meaning developed.
The etymology of a word tells us about its origin; a personal story explains what it means to us now.
Original writing example · More word help
Meaning + one sentence example
symbolize (verb) — To stand for or represent an idea.
I visualize myself returning to a hard task after a mistake.
Original writing example · More word help
Meaning + one sentence example
myth (noun) — A story that helps people explain life and can guide what they believe or do.
A useful narrative connects the person I want to be with a choice I can make today.
Original writing example · More word help
An alternative from a listed root family fills the same group. Review words in a practice model do not replace this list. Connect each word to your point; a made-up event is not evidence.
Introduce two people or ideas 2 appositives · 2 points
The words between the commas give another name for the noun.
My guiding story, another name for this person or idea, …
See one that works
My guiding story, a narrative about the person I am becoming, can help me choose a next step.
“a narrative about the person I am becoming” and “My guiding story” name the same person or idea. Keep both commas; finish with your own point.
Practice, another name for this person or idea, …
See one that works
Practice, a repeated effort to improve a skill, gives that story an action.
“a repeated effort to improve a skill” and “Practice” name the same person or idea. Keep both commas; finish with your own point.
Check the response in your notebook
Point to the evidence in your own paragraph before checking a box.
These boxes are a self-check, not a grade. Development reflects how your argument builds and your growth as a writer. Checks stay in this browser.
More evidence and practice
Evidence from the course reading
These are original course readings. Cite them as (Course reading, Week 3). Use a syllabus citation when quoting your syllabus instead.
Course reading: A story that helps you act.
“In this course, a myth is a story useful to someone.” (Course reading, Week 3)
What it shows: A myth can be examined by asking what it helps someone do.
Read the course exampleCourse reading: A story that helps you act.
“It can communicate values and guide choices; the word does not simply mean a lie.” (Course reading, Week 3)
What it shows: A story can shape a decision by expressing what matters.
Read the course exampleCourse reading: A story that helps you act.
“In a personal guiding story, you can connect a value to a goal and a choice you make.” (Course reading, Week 3)
What it shows: An action makes a personal guiding story visible.
Read the course exampleCourse reading: A story that helps you act.
“A useful story leaves room for change.” (Course reading, Week 3)
What it shows: A story can leave room for a new choice after a mistake.
Read the course examplePractice a smaller question
What action would show that your guiding story is useful?
If my story is that I keep learning, asking for help after a mistake supports it. The action gives the story meaning.
Reading practice helps you prepare. Your Aim Response is the paragraph you write in your notebook. Check that paragraph against the rubric →
Check yourself
Complete the explanation
Use each choice once. These are practice sentences, not quotations.
In this course, a is a story useful to someone. That definition asks us to notice who uses the story and what it helps them do; it does not simply mean a lie. A personal connects experiences into a story about who I am becoming. I can a goal, but imagining it is only a beginning. A picture might that goal, while my choices give the story a practical effect. If a setback appears, I can the story so it leaves room to learn. Its usefulness becomes clearer when I connect it to an action I can actually take.
- Blank 1: The course term for a story useful to someone.
- Blank 2: A connected account of experiences or events.
- Blank 3: Make a picture of something in your mind.
- Blank 4: Stand for or represent an idea.
- Blank 5: Change something after thinking about how to improve it.
Follow this example: turn a guiding story into action
Drag the blocks or use the arrow buttons. Keyboard: focus a block and press Alt + ↑ / ↓.
- I write a guiding story: I am someone who keeps learning.
- When I meet a confusing sentence, I take those steps.
- I notice which step helped and revise my plan for the next passage.
- I picture myself rereading a confusing sentence and asking a specific question.
- I decide that understanding difficult reading matters to me.
Take it into your writing
In your notebook, draw three connected boxes: “A story I tell about myself,” “A challenge,” and “A next action.” Fill them with your own example. Beneath the boxes, explain who the story is useful to and how the action shows its usefulness. Include room to change your plan after you try it.
Practice feedback is for you. These activities do not submit a grade.