This document provides information about memoirs and personal narratives. It defines a memoir as a short, reflective piece of autobiographical nonfiction focused on a single meaningful event or time period in the author's life. Memoirs have the purpose of revealing something important about the author or their experience, leaving something of themselves behind, bearing witness to an event, or learning something about themselves. The document outlines characteristics of memoirs, such as being written in first person and focusing on truth, feelings, meaning, and a unique experience. It emphasizes showing rather than telling and using vivid language to create a picture for the reader. Students are then assigned to write a partial autobiography focused on a specific period of their own life.