INTRO TO PROJECT 1WRA 150

9.5.2012

TODAY’S GOALS• Discuss literacy

• Introduce project 1

• Discuss memoirs

A FEW WORDS ABOUT BLOGS…

TO SUMMARIZE

You should:

• Blog• Make sure you follow the prompt (2-3 examples means 2-3

examples.• Comment on your classmates blogs (it’s fun!)

WHAT IS LITERACY?

BORING DEFINITION

Literacy: The ability to read and write.

MORE INTERESTING

Competence or knowledge in a specified area.

So what does that mean? Can we be literate in things other than reading and writing?

Yes.

SO WHAT ARE YOU LITERATE IN?

LITERACY MEMOIR

So with a broader defection of literacy let’s look at the first project.

• Information about assignments will always be on the website on the “assignments” tab.

• To the website!

WHAT IS A MEMOIR?

SO WHAT’S A MEMOIR?

Memoirs are structured differently from formal

autobiographies (which tend to encompass the writer's entire life

span), focusing rather on the development of his or her

personality. The chronological scope of a memoir is determined

by the work's context and is therefore more focused and flexible

than the traditional arc of birth to old age as found in an

autobiography.

(source Wikipedia, emphasis mine)

SO WHAT’S A MEMOIR?

A memoir really is an opportunity to reflect -- to look inside

yourself and to say, "It’s not just all these external things that have

happened to me. It’s really, how has something changed me?

Why am I the person I am today? What were the big turning

points in my life? What has caused me to have the outlook I

have?”

(Source, http://www.creative-writing-now.com/what-is-a-memoir.html, Emphasis

Mine)

CLASS ACTIVITY & IN-CLASS BLOG

First we are going to listen to Mike Birbiglia. Think about these questions as you listen.

• How does he tell his story?• How does it start his story?• How does it end?• Is there a theme?

IN-CLASS BLOGLITERACY & MEMOIRSIn a blog I want to reflect on the story that we just heard. Here are some questions that might help with that process:

• What did you like about this example? • What didn't you like? • How is this an example of a literacy memoir? Or maybe

how isn't it? • How does this make you think more broadly about literacy? • Do you better understand memoirs after listening?

You don't have to answer all these questions, but pick a few that make sense to you are write about those. After I want you to think about project 1. Pick some ideas for your memoir and brainstorm. This should require a good deal of writing: 300-400 words.

HOMEWORK

You will have readings. These can be found in the “readings” tab. The password to access them is “wra150readings”.

ELI: You need to get it! The class code is “dales910shout” You need ELI by Monday. Not having it will be bad. Don’t forget.