1. Narrative Writing

2.  Writing to tell a story

3.  It usually entertains rather than informs.  Events are usually told in chronological order.  It contains the following elements: characters, settings, plots, and themes.  It usually contains some of the following techniques: sensory details, strong verbs, thoughtshots, snapshots, dialogue, imagery, flashbacks/flash forwards.

4.  Anecdotes  Fictional narrative  Narrative nonfiction  Narrative poetry  Myths  Novels  Biography and autobiography

5.  Advertisement  Informative article  Entry in a textbook  Editorial  Speech  Letter  However, all of the above may contain some narrative in them.

6.  A special type of narrative in which the writer uses a series of memories to tell a story about the significance of a person, place or object.

8.  My favorite subject in grade school  The person I went to when I got hurt  My first pet  The chore I hated to do  My first big trip or vacation  My favorite room in the house  The adult who took time to play with me

9.  The fun thing we often did as a family  My favorite thing to do on a summer day  The person who helped me with homework  The first thing I can remember wanting to be when I grew up  My favorite thing to eat  My favorite uncle or aunt

10.  The first person of the opposite sex that I thought was cute  The best Christmas present I ever got  The friend who got me in trouble  My favorite thing to do on a warm summer day  My favorite place to hide during a storm  The center of warmth in my life (a home, time of year, person, etc.)

11.  Select your WARMEST memory and write a one-paragraph reflection.

12.  Focuses and reflects upon the significance of a person, animal, place, or thing in the writer’s life.  Uses memorable incidents or experiences involving the person, animal, place or thing to illustrate characteristics and the significance of the subject.  Shares with the reader insights or wisdom gained by reexamining the person, animal, place or thing’s role in the writer’s life.  Leaves the reader with one overall impression of the subject.  Makes the person, place, animal, or object come alive for the reader  Maintains first person point of view.  Sometimes reveals “a universal nature” of the relationship.

13.  1. Who is the memoir about?  2. What is the relationship between the subject and the writer?  3. What is the writer’s purpose? In other words, what does the writer want you to know about this relationship?  What is the one impression that the writer wants you to have about his or her subject?  Does the writer show you how important his or her subject is by using thoughtshots or by using descriptions or by using both? Explain.  What are three specific memories the writer shares about subject with the reader?  Where is the person now?  What are the thoughts or feelings (insights) about this subject now?