1. Real-World Writing Purposes

2. 6 Different Purposes Express and Reflect Inform and Explain
Evaluate and Judge
Inquire and Explore
Analyze and Interpret
Take a Stand/ Propose a Solution

3. Express and Reflect The writer ….
…. expresses or reflects on his or her own life and experience.
…. often looks backward in order to look forward.

4. 6 Word Memoir Write your memoir in exactly six words.
Here are some examples:
All things considered, I am doing well.
The past is forgiven, but not forgotten.
You’re never the same person again.
Eat. School. Cheerleading. Work. Sleep. Repeat.

5. Ms. Johnson’s Work: 6 Word Memoir
Teaching isn’t easy, but it’s rewarding.
Eat. Teach. Yell. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
Life is a blessing in disguise.

6. Tweet About It
Using the social media site, Twitter, as a model. Write a memoir of 140 characters or less (the maximum length of a tweet). Express or reflect on your life through a tweet.
Example:
What will I be when I grow up? Thought I wanted to be a firefighter; ended up a teacher. Sometimes when one door closes, another opens. Funny how things work out.

7. Ms. Johnson’s Work: Tweet About It
Day in and day out; never stopping. Trying to keep our heads above water. It’s like building the boat while you’re already in the ocean.
I wish there were more hours in each day. I start each day with a to-do list, and go to bed each night with more and more things left to do. Will I ever catch up?

8. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life
Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life is a book in which Rosenthal chronicles her life in the form of an alphabetized list. Here is an excerpt from the book.
Amy Rosenthal
My father-in-law informed me that me married name could produce two anagrams: Hearty Salmon. Nasty Armhole. I cannot tell you how much I love that.
Anxious, Things That Make Me
Vending machines. I have to double-, triple-check. Okay, it’s A5 for the Bugles, right? Is that right? A5? I don’t want to read the codes wrong end up with the Flaming Hot Cheetos. But then, what a relief when the bugles come tumbling down. Yes! I knew it was A5. (pg.37) characteristics

9. Encyclopedia of an Ordinary 6th Grader
Using Rosenthal’s books as a model, develop a list of 5 things in alphabetical order. We will expand from here. This will turn into our first portfolio piece.

10. Favorite Mistake
Everyone has a favorite mistake in their lives. Even though you might look at it as a mistake, it might turn out to be something more.
Have you ever done anything in your life that you have regretted? Did it end up changing you for the better?
Let’s take a look at one man’s biggest mistake …