3. WHEN I SAY “MEMOIR” YOU SAY…
Brainstorm words that pop into your head when you hear the
word “memoir”
4. MEMOIR IS…
A type of autobiographical nonfiction where
a writer takes a reflective stance in looking
back on a particular time in his or her life.
A short text focused on a single incident that
is meaningful to the author.
5. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MEMOIR?
To reveal something important about yourself or
your life.
To leave something of you behind for others
To bear witness (to say, “I was there when…”)
To learn something about yourself
To celebrate an important person or event in your
life
6. Characteristics
• They are snapshots of a time in your life that is MEANINGFUL and UNIQUE to
YOU
• Written in the FIRST PERSON; told from one person’s point of view
• Based on the TRUTH
• Reveals the FEELINGS of the writer
• Has MEANING; shows what the author LEARNED from the experience
• Focused on ONE EVENT; about one point in the author’s life
• About the AUTHOR’S EXPERIENCE more than about the event itself
7. EVENT VS. EXPERIENCE
Memoir isn’t the summary of a life; it’s a
window into a slice of life.
Different people may experience the same event in different ways.
9. WHAT IS SHOW, DON’T TELL?
The Show, Don’t Tell method of writing is when the writer is
able to create a picture in the reader's mind, to get away from
the repetition of such empty words like went, big, or said.
10. WHAT IS SHOW, DON’T TELL?
Uses Vivid Verbs
-Active “Jane shattered the glass”, NOT
“The glass was shattered by Jane.”
-Concise “The clock strikes twelve”, NOT
“The clock is striking twelve.”
-Action “The water gushed and gurgled
over the rocks”, NOT “The water moved
over the rocks.”
11. WHICH IS BETTER?
THIS . . .
When I left my office that beautiful
spring day, I had no idea what was in
store for me. To begin with, everything
was too perfect for anything unusual to
happen. It was one of those days when
a man feels good, feels like speaking to
his neighbor, is glad to live in a country
like ours, and proud of his government.
You know what I mean, one of those
rare days when everything is right and
nothing is wrong.
12. OR THIS?
I left work feeling happy. It was a good day. I walked to the store
and I was happy.
13. WHICH IS BETTER?
a. My friend is a very good artist.
b. My pleasure grew as I slowly examined one masterpiece
after another. “Why, George, your work could be shown at
the Gallery of Fine Arts!”
15. YOUR TOPIC
Write a partial autobiography, focusing on a
specific period of your life, such as elementary
school, early childhood, even infancy (though you
may have to be creative for that one).
16. BEFORE YOU GO
This Assignment will take some time – so don’t fool
around and procrastinate.
Tomorrow we will discuss how to outline and
brainstorm (if you haven’t started this already)
