1. What is a Memoir?
6th Grade LA

2. What is a Memoir?
An account of an author’s personal experiences/memories.
Memoir writing is a collection of snapshot memories, like Jack (The Thief and the Beanstalk) shares in his paintings, or Rob (Seventh Grade Weirdo) shares in his flashbacks.
Snapshot memories are short and very specific. They tell who, what, when and where.

3. Memoirs are written in 1st person point of view
1st person pronouns: I, me, we, us, my, mine
Memoirs share the author’s thoughts and emotions.
Based on the author’s true memory; not a made-up story! Real-life experience!

4. Writing a Memoir Memoirs differ from a biography.
1. Biographies are written about someone
by another person.
2. They are written in 3rd person.
(he, she, they, them, etc.)
3. They are more about facts than
thoughts and feelings.

5. Writing a Memoir
Writing a memoir differs from writing an autobiography, in which you start with the day you were born and tell everything that has happened since then; it’s your entire life story!

6. Memoir vs Biography
In August of 1984, at the insistence of his mother and father, Michael Jordan boarded a plane to Portland, Oregon. That day he met Phil Knight for the first time.
“In August of 1984, at the insistence of my mother and father, I boarded a plane to Portland, Oregon. That day I met Phil Knight for the first time.”

7. Leads and Closings
Good memoirs begin with an interesting, catchy beginning.
Use a lead/hook sentence that entices the reader to read on.
Good memoirs have great closing sentences that give an ending to the story.

8. Theme in Memoir
An important part of memoir writing is the theme; the author’s message about why a memory is important enough to share.
Memoirs make an observation about life and teach a life lesson (theme).

9. Memoirs include rich, descriptive language
Figurative language: simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification, etc.
Vivid verbs
Sensory language
Good leads and clinchers
Show, not “tell”

10. Memoirs show relationships to the world:
It focuses and reflects on the relationship between the writer and a particular person/animal
place,
object,
event/experience.

11. Memory of People/Animals

12. Memory of an Object

13. Memory of a place/event

14. Memory of generosity/ happy times

15. Memory of overcoming a challenge or difficult time

17. Characteristics of a Memoir
A memory; a description of an event from the past. Written in past tense.
It focuses and reflects on the relationship between the writer and a particular person/animal, place, object, or event/experience.
Based on the truth. Tells who, where, and when.
Reveals the emotions/thoughts of the writer
Has meaning; tells what the author learned from the experience. This is the theme!
Focused on one event; about one point in the author’s life
About the author’s experience more than about the event itself.
It maintains a first person point of view.
Includes rich description and details.
Begins with an interesting lead and ends with a strong closing that ends the story.

18. Writer’s Notebook (at least 3)
Create a list of places that are important to you
Brief description of the place
Why the place is important to you
Put a star next to your favorite.

19. Writer’s Notebook (at least 3)
Create a list of objects that are important to you
Brief description of the object
Why the object is important to you
Soccer trophy
gold statue of soccer player
I had never played soccer before and worked really hard to learn the game
Put a star next to your favorite.

20. Writer’s Notebook (at least 3)
Create a list of times you were generous
Brief description of the time
Why that time is important to you
Put a star next to your favorite.

21. Writer’s Journal (at least 3)
Create a list of people important to you.
What is his/her relationship to you?
Why is this person important to you?
My mom
parent
She loves and takes care of me
Put a star next to your favorite.

22. Being Generous
Write a brief summary of a memory you have about a time you were generous
Write about how you felt.
Tell what you learned from this experience.

23. Learning from mistakes

24. Writer’s Notebook (at least 3)
Create a list of events that are important to you
Brief description of the event
Why the event is important to you
10th birthday party
Surprise birthday party at my house
I thought everyone had forgotten my birthday, but really my family had planned a surprise party for me.
Put a star next to your favorite.

25. Realizing a dream

26. Embarrassing time