1. Reading & Writing Narratives
How can we write a Memoir?

2. Warm Up
Notebook Set Up
Number each page- front only- like at the beginning of the year.
Pages 1-3- Table of Contents- write Table of Contents in the heading
Page 4- heading-Memoir- The Jacket 1/24/13

3. Homework Grammar Sheet- complete the grammar sheet.
Write the sentences correctly on the line. Like we do for warm ups some days.

4. What are the characteristics of a memoir?
Memoirs focus and reflect on the relationship between the writer and a particular person, place, animal, time or object.
It explains the importance of the relationship.
It is like an autobiography but, is limited to a only one time period, place, or object. An autobiography is about the writers entire life.
It maintains a first person point of view (me, my, we and I).

5. “The Jacket” By Gary Soto
What makes “The Jacket” memoir?
A significant event in the author’s life.
Told in the first person point of view. (This means the author speaks about himself and uses the pronouns “I” ”my” “me” and “we”
A Narrative (beginning; middle and end)
Uses descriptive language

6. “The Jacket” By Gary Soto
As we read the memoir “The Jacket”, try to find as many examples of figurative language as you can.
List them in the chart on your notes sheet.

7. Notebook Heading: The Elements of a Personal Narrative 1/25/13
Warm Up: Describe, in detail, the worst gift you ever received.

8. Homework
Think about your favorite childhood toy or game. List 10 words to describe it.
BE CREATIVE

9. Descriptive Language It adds purpose and emotion to a text
Makes use of metaphors, similes, adjectives and adverbs
Conveys feeling as well as action.
The girl drank juice. VS The girl hurriedly drank the juice.

10. “I described something like bikers wear: black leather & silver studs…I discovered draped on my bedpost a jacket the color of day-old guacamole.”
Descriptive Words

11. “But when I returned to class I slipped the jacket on & shivered until I was warm. I sat on my hands, heating them up, while my teeth chattered like a cup of crooked dice.”
Sensory Details
sight
sound
taste
smell
feel

12. Descriptive Language Scavenger Hunt
List 10 descriptive adjectives used in “The Jacket”.
3 examples of Figurative Language (Personification, metaphor, simile)
5 sensory details – 1 descriptive phrase for each of the five senses. Write the sentence.
Visualization – Draw a picture of something that was clearly described.

13. To write a good memoir you should:
Have a narrow topic and focus
Brainstorm, visualize, free write, web, cluster
Use your own voice
Develop characters through thoughts, characters and words
Use sensory details
Write a good lead in
Place ideas and details in meaningful order

14. Ticket Out “The Jacket”
“My clothes have failed me.”
Can clothes fail you?
Explain this quote.