1. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
9/17/12
8th Grade Language Arts
Agenda:
1. Warm-up: Share your memoir worthy experiences with
someone in the room
2. Ineffective and Effective Memoirs ts:
men H)
As sign ) ir (T
s (W emo
Ci rcle ur m
-Lit r yo
opi c fo
eat (F)
-C hoos tsid
ers
Th e Ou
inish (F)
-F Wr iting
abu lary
-Voc
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2. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
“Why write a memoir? It means the world becomes yours. If
you don‛t do it, it drifts away and takes a whole piece of
yourself with it, like an amputation. To attack it and attack it
and get it under control- it‛s like taking possession of your life,
isn‛t it?”
-Ted Hughes
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3. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
Movinginwithmymom
The summer between my seventh grade and eighth
grade year I moved out of my dad’s house and into
my mom’s. It was a difficult thing to do, but my mom
and I had been talking about it for some me. She
moved closer to my dad’s house so that I wouldn’t
have to change schools. Then, when it was me to
stay with her for six weeks in the summer, we
decided I would not go back at the end. My mom
hired a lawyer, and I had to see a mediator. The court
appointed mediator told me I might have to stay with
my dad if that’s what the courts decide. But I knew
that I would get to stay with my mom. Eventually the
court made its decision, and I was able to legally be
with my mom. Aer that I only saw my dad at
Christmas.
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4. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
What doesn't work in Mrs. Slavens'
ineffective memoir?
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5. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
Life Always Comes Full Circle
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6. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
“Qualities of a Memoir That Works”
The memoirist invented details that fit with the spirit, intenon, and truth of the story
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7. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
“A memoir is how one remembers one‛s life.”
-Gore Vidal
“The story of your life is not your life. It is
your story.”
-John Barth
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8. ineffective and effective memoirs 9­17­12.notebook September 17, 2012
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