Writing a Memoir

1. DAY 1: MINI-LESSON-WRITING PROCESS
• What phase of the writing process is shown?
• Plan/Pre-write
• What do you think the topic of the essay is?
• Which is a better pet, a cat or a dog?
• What textual evidence led you to believe that?
• How could this person improve?

2. PRE-WRITING/PLAN
 This is the first stage of the writing process.
 You will brainstorm and organize your ideas using a graphic organizer
of your choice. (t-chart, double bubble, venn diagram, or just write
down what comes to your mind)
 This should be a 10-15 minute process.

3. What is a memoir?
A memoir is a form of autobiographical writing in which the author
tells about personal experiences. Memoirs are often written in the
first person. Authors of memoirs often…
- “talk” to readers, using informal language and sharing personal
feelings.
- recall actual events and emphasize their attitudes and lives.
- show how their experiences changed their attitudes and lives.

4. Informal Language and /or
Personal Feelings:
Actual events and/or attitude: How did the author change as
a result?

5. MEMOIR
 A memory; a description of an event from the past
 Written in the first person; told from one persons 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 authors life
 About the authors experience more than about the event itself

6. Insert:
Place a check
mark next to
each statement
that you
understand and
a ? Next to each
statement that
you do not
understand.

7. INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
 Your introduction paragraph should include a hook (something to get the readers
attention)
 The information from #1 and #2 on your graphic organizer.
 A thesis statement where you state your memory.
 It should be 6-8 sentences in length.