Writing A Memoir

1. Writing A Memoir A Focus on Writing Style, Structure and Organization

2. What Is A Memoir?

3. What Is A Memoir? • A memoir is either a collection of memories, or one specific memory that is related to your own life that only you could reproduce. Other people may have been there, or may have experienced something similar, but that moment for you was special and specific to only you. • The key to writing a successful memoir is to write with feeling. The best way to express feeling in writing is through the use of adjectives. • Remember: this memoir should be written so that the reader gets a glimpse of what you felt, what you saw, what you heard, what you experienced in that particular moment or group of moments.

4. What Is An Adjective? • A word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.

5. The Focus on Creativity and Process • For this assignment I would like you to focus on paragraph structure, sentence structure, and conventions. • Remember that a paragraph is like a hamburger. There needs to be a topic sentence, the body, and a concluding sentence to your paragraphs. • IF you are not sure if you are completing sentences, or if you are unsure about the ending punctuation make sure to ask. • IF you are not sure if you have two paragraphs in one or an incomplete paragraph ask. • If you are trying to use specific grammatical tools such as dialogue, make sure that you double check your grammar.

6. Assessment • You will be assessed on the following: • Conventions • Organization • The Writing Process • Length (minimum of five paragraphs) • Use of adjectives and descriptive language