Memoir+work

“Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.” --Aldous Huxley
 * The Fall Memoir ** ** English 11S **   Ms Herlihy

It comes from the French “memoire” and also from the Latin “memoria”, meaning memory. It is the story of a significant moment in your life told from a more mature, reflective standpoint. Such a moment may center around a person, event, or object that is important to you.
 * What is a memoir? **

** Assignment ** : For the next two weeks, you will be working on writing a short memoir about an important experience from your life. You may choose any experience to explore. As you work to select a topic, consider your life’s “turning points,” the people and things that you are passionate about and that inspire you, and the things that challenge you. ** What makes a “good” memoir? ** A memoir usually contains many of the elements of story, along with some reflective writing. __ To be successful, your piece of writing should include the following: __ **__ DEADLINES: __** Full rough draft due block day, September 22 (period 3) or September 23 (period 7) FINAL DRAFT due at the beginning of class, block day, September 29th (period 3) or September 30th (period 7)
 * Setting – a clear time and place.
 * Plenty of relevant sensory detail, so the reader can imagine your story – use sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
 * Dialogue – let us “hear” the conversations in your story.
 * Reflection – the reader should hear your reflections on the events you describe – what did all of this mean to you? How has it effected you in the long term?
 * At least 2-3 typed, double spaced pages, as free as possible from grammar and spelling errors.

**__ DEADLINES: __** Full rough draft due Monday, September 21 FINAL DRAFT due at the beginning of class, Monday, September 28
 * Reflection – the reader should hear your reflections on the events you describe – what did all of this mean to you? How has it effected you in the long term?
 * At least 2-3 typed, double spaced pages, as free as possible from grammar and spelling errors.

Please download a copy of the memoir rubric here:

To begin, please download the memory chart and brainstorm at least three memories which have shaped who you are: