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.

1. Memoirs
Autobiography
All About Me (You)

2. Unit Essential Questions
What constitutes a personal
narrative ?
What is the purpose of
personal narrative
writing?

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 ofmemoir?
• 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.

8. Show, Don't Tell
The First Rule of Writing

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!”

14. Unit Essential Questions
What constitutes a personal
narrative ?
What is the purpose of
personal narrative
writing?

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)