Memoir Transactional English Krystle Robinson

What is a Memoir?

Memoir comes from the Latin word “memoria” meaning memory. A memoir is a type of

autobiography. An autobiography is a full-length story written by yourself about your life,

usually written at the end of a career or lifetime and usually written in chronological order. A

memoir differs in style from the autobiography in that it tends to deal with more specific periods

of themes in your life. The types of memoirs that are published and sold in bookstores are written

by people for their own reasons and for any number of reasons.

What Sort of Events are in a Published Memoir?

Anything and everything can be in a memoir, and they can be in any emotional range; however,

the most popular are inspirational memoirs and the Mis Lit (Misery Literature) memoir, with

memoirs about war survivors and adults who have suffered from addictions, abuse and

depression.

Why Do People Write a Memoir?

Some reasons people write a memoir are:

They feel they have an important story to tell. Maybe they are the sole survivor of a

disaster or have been treated badly by a big company. Maybe they have been

misrepresented in the press or worked for a celebrity. Whatever the story, if they feel that

a particular part of their life is an interesting story they choose to write it in a memoir.

For future generations. Maybe they are struggling through a divorce and want their

children to understand in their adulthood what had happened. Maybe they want their

grandchildren to know them better. Maybe they have emigrated and they want future

generations to know what their heritage is. A memoir can be like a piece of them

reaching out to their descendants long after they have gone.

To document their success, their rags to riches struggle, their journey from crackpot

inventor to innovative millionaire, or their struggles as a freelance writer leading

eventually to that one best seller. Both inspirational and interesting, everyone likes to

read how people triumph in the face of diversity.

To document how they handle an illness. Whether they have an illness which will reduce

their mobility, sight or attention span or have been diagnosed with a degenerative disease

a memoir can be a good way to document their illness and treatment for others in a

similar situation to read or to help their relatives understand how they may be feeling.

As therapy. Writing or talking about their feelings and past events can be an excellent

way to work through them in their head and find some peace and resolution.

To remember. Writing a memoir can help to unlock memories they had forgotten they

had and as a result can help them to understand themselves better.

Writing a Memoir

Memoir Transactional English Krystle Robinson

The Assignment

Value: 10% of Final Grade

During this term you will write a Memoir. It will consist of a series of memories and

thoughts on a predetermined set of topics. It is due on Thursday December 15, 2011. It

is important that you begin working on it NOW and for the remainder of the semester

to complete it on time without rushing.

You will present your final copy of your Memoir in a loose leaf duo-tang or a snap-ring

binder. Whether you need a ½ - inch or a 2 –inch binder will depend on how much you

put into your Memoir.

Part of the mark is presentation, so you need to consider how to decorate the inside and

outside of your Memoir with personal artwork/photographs, etc. Your Memoir will

have a cover/title page and an interesting title.

Your Memoir must include the following 15 chapters and an epilogue. The title and

subject for each chapter have been provided. If you have “issues” with a chapter and

want to propose an alternative, then please discuss it with me ahead of time.

What It Involves

You are going to write 16 chapters. Each chapter must be at least 250 words (one full

page of typing double-spaced). Feel free to write more when you get into the zone.

Choose to share what you want. You do not have to share anything you don’t want to.

Remember, you are writing for a public audience.

Your good copy should be typed (font size 12 and double spaced only). If typing is not

possible for you, please let me know as soon as possible.

Chapter 1 Who Am I

How do you choose to describe yourself? What aspects of your life define

who you are and how you see yourself?

Chapter 2 Before I Was, There Were

Important Tip – Do not write your chapters as a single paragraph. Each chapter

should follow intro-body-conclusion model.

Memoir Transactional English Krystle Robinson

Describe an important relative or ancestor, some who impacted you life.

Or you could write about your family and your heritage.

Chapter 3 Suddenly I Became Me

Share you earliest memories: people, places events, or all those cute things

that you did when you were tiny (or so you’ve heard).

Chapter 4 School Bells

Share your early memories of school – Kindergarten through Grade 6, like

learning to read, special school events, interesting teachers or good

friends.

Chapter 5 Furry Friends

Describe what your childhood would have been like without your favorite

pet, or what it could have been like if only your parents let you get the

cute little puppy or kitten. Share memories of your special pet.

Chapter 6 Home is Where the Heart Is? Or is it?

Describe your impressions of your childhood town/city/reserve,

neighborhood or house – whichever you want to focus on.

Chapter 7 Hide and Seek

Give a detailed description of a favorite childhood game you played, or

talk about a specific memory when you had a lot of fun playing.

Chapter 8 My First Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Crush

Reminisce about those painfully sweet memories of discovering love.

Chapter 9 I Wish I Could See ____________________ Again

Tell about a childhood friend that you have no contact with any longer,

but would like to see again.

Chapter 10 Middle School / High School

The dreaded junior high and high school years. We all had to get

accustomed to the kids school, teachers, friends, activities, successes,

Memoir Transactional English Krystle Robinson

heartbreak and manage puberty at the same time. Choose an aspect or

incident from this period that you would like to share.

Chapter 11 Favorite Flicks

Write about your all time favorite movie(s) and experiences around

watching them.

Chapter 12 An Important Milestone

Pick an event in your life that was a milestone for you. This may be

getting your license, going hunting for the first time, your first trip alone

away from home, buying your own place, or having your first child.

Chapter 13 Let’s Take A Vacation

A memorable trip you took with your family and/or friend(s), or a trip

you would like to take.

Chapter 14 What I Believe

Share one or some serious beliefs that you were raised with, or share some

silly superstition (s) or belief (s) you held (and maybe still hold).

Chapter 15 Nobody’s Perfect

We can not change our past, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t like to.

Write about one thing you would like to change from your past.

Chapter 16 Epilogue

Your epilogue is a reflection on the memories you have written about in

your Memoir (your past) and how the process of writing your Memoir

(your present) connect with where you hope your life leads to (your

future). Did you notice a theme that came through in the various chapters

of your Memoir?

Memoir Transactional English Krystle Robinson

Assessment

Your memoir is marked using a rubric, which is based on expectations of grade 12

outcomes.

Memoir Checklist

Here is what you need to include in your final package:

Original title page (in binder or duo-tang)

Good copy of 16 completed chapters (in binder or duo-tang)

Brief brainstorm and rough copy of each chapter (submitted separately)

Schedule

I have set up the schedule below to help you finish your Memoir. On the weeks

indicated, I’ll ask to check to see your progress. These checks will count for marks. I will

be looking to see brainstorming or rough drafts. If they are completed you will receive

marks for that week.

WK Week Chapters Due

1 Mon. Sept. 12 Ch. 1 : Who I am

2 Thur. Sept. 15 Ch. 2 : Before I Was, There Were

3 Thur. Sept. 22 Ch. 3 : Suddenly I Became Me

4 Thur. Sept. 29 Ch. 4 : School Bells

5 Thur. Oct. 6 Ch. 5 : Furry Friends

6 Thur. Oct. 13 Ch. 6 : Home is Where the Heart Is? Or is it?

7 Mon. Oct. 24 Ch. 7 : Hide and Seek

8 Thur. Oct. 27 Ch.8 : My First Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Crush

9 Thur. Nov. 3 Ch. 9:I Wish I Could See ____________________ Again

10 Thur. Nov. 10 Ch.10 Middle School / High School

11 Thur. Nov. 17 Ch. 11 Favorite Flicks

12 Thur. Nov. 24 Ch. 12 An Important Milestone

13 Thur. Dec. 1 Ch. 13 Let’s Take A Vacation

14 Thur. Dec. 8 Ch. 14 What I Believe

15 Mon. Dec. 12 Ch. 15 Nobody’s Perfect

16 Wed. Dec. 14 Ch. 16 Epilogue

Thurs. Dec 15 MEMOIRS ARE DUE – NO LATES ACCEPTED

Memoir Transactional English Krystle Robinson

Evaluation Rubric