Memoirs

AutobiographyAll About Me (You)

Unit Essential Questions

What constitutes a personal narrative ?

What is the purpose of personal narrative writing?  

When I say “memoir” you say…

• Brainstorm words that pop into your head when you hear the word “memoir”

Memoir is…

• A type of autobiographical nonfiction where a writer takes a reflective stance in looking back on a particular time in his or her life.

• A short text focused on a single incident that is meaningful to the author.

What is the purpose of memoir?

• To reveal something important about yourself or your life.

• To leave something of you behind for others• To bear witness (to say, “I was there when…”)• To learn something about yourself• To celebrate an important person or event in

your life

Characteristics• They are snapshots of a time in your life that is

MEANINGFUL and UNIQUE to YOU

• Written in the FIRST PERSON; told from one person’s point of view

• Based on the TRUTH

• Reveals the FEELINGS of the writer

• Has MEANING; shows what the author LEARNED from the experience

• Focused on ONE EVENT; about one point in the author’s life

• About the AUTHOR’S EXPERIENCE more than about the event itself

Event vs. Experience

• Memoir isn’t the summary of a life; it’s a window into a slice of life.

• Different people may experience the same event in different ways.

Show, Don't Tell

The First Rule of Writing

What is Show, Don’t Tell?

The Show, Don’t Tell method of writing is when the writer is able to create a picture in the reader's mind, to get away from the repetition of such empty words like went, big, or said.

What is Show, Don’t Tell?

Uses Vivid Verbs-Active “Jane shattered the glass”, NOT

“The glass was shattered by Jane.”-Concise “The clock strikes twelve”, NOT

“The clock is striking twelve.”-Action “The water gushed and gurgled

over the rocks”, NOT “The water moved over the rocks.”

Which is better?This . . .

When I left my office that beautiful spring day, I had no idea what was in store for me. To begin with, everything was too perfect for anything unusual to happen. It was one of those days when a man feels good, feels like speaking to his neighbor, is glad to live in a country like ours, and proud of his government. You know what I mean, one of those rare days when everything is right and nothing is wrong.

Or This?

I left work feeling happy. It was a good day. I walked to the store and I was happy.

Which is better?

a. My friend is a very good artist.b. My pleasure grew as I slowly

examined one masterpiece after another. “Why, George, your work could be shown at the Gallery of Fine Arts!”

Unit Essential Questions

What constitutes a personal narrative ?

What is the purpose of personal narrative writing?  

Your Topic

Write a partial autobiography, focusing on a specific period of your life, such as elementary school, early childhood, even infancy (though you may have to be creative for that one).

Before you go

This Assignment will take some time – so don’t fool around and procrastinate.

Tomorrow we will discuss how to outline and brainstorm (if you haven’t started this already)