English Language Arts
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  • LIT/COMP 10
    • Unit 1: Narrative Writing with the New York Times
    • Unit 2: Critical Media Literacy
    • Unit 3: Stunt Journalism and Research Writing
    • Unit 4: A Whole Lotta Drama
    • Unit 5: The Hill We Climb/Dear Martin
    • Unit 6: Marginalized People and Of Mice and Men
    • Unit 7: Ethics, Science, and Human Lives
  • Grammar and the English Language
    • Unit 1: The Basics - Words, Usage, and Grammar >
      • Unit 1: Common App and Writers' Craft
    • Unit 2: Rhetoric, Politics, and the English Language
    • Unit 3: Linguistics, Code Switching, and Register Shifting
  • Creative Writing
    • Creative Writing Syllabus
    • Student Publications
    • Teacher Blog
    • Course Readings
    • ISOs (In the Style of)
    • Peer Feedback
    • Unit 1: Mini-Memoir
    • Unit 2: Letters to Myself
    • Unit 3: Restaurant Reviews
    • Unit 4: Creative Short Fiction
    • Unit 5: Conversations
    • Unit 6: Our Voices
    • Final Exam
  • Advanced Creative Writing
  • English 3
    • Course Pack and Beginning of the Year
    • Genius Hour
    • Unit 1: Source Analysis
    • Unit 2: Short Stories About Us
    • Unit 3: 3 Tragedies
    • Unit 4: The Grapes of Wrath
    • Unit 5: Between the World and Me
    • Unit 6: Research Writing >
      • Stunt Journalism Research Project
    • Class Resources >
      • Grading in English 3
      • Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism
  • AP English Literature
    • Virtual AP Lit Unit 1
    • AP Summer Reading Project
    • Common App Essay
    • The Bible Project
    • Women's Studies Project
    • Critical Literary Theory
    • AP Exam Resources
    • AP Grades
  • Junior Seminar
  • Senior Seminar
  • Race in America
    • Race in America Independent Study
    • Race in America: The Course
  • Contemporary Writings
    • Readings
    • Writings
  • Public Speaking
    • Unit 1: Memorization and Recitation
    • Unit 2: Political Speeches
    • Unit 3: Expert Speeches
    • Unit 4: Personal Storytelling
    • Public Speaking Syllabus
  • About the Author

Unit 1: Mini-Memoir

“Writing is the way I ground myself, and it’s what keeps me sane. Writing is the way I try to make sense of my life, try to find meaning in accident, reasons why what happens happens… Truth is what I’m ultimately after; truth or clarity.”    
​- Abigail Thomas

What is a memoir? "They are snapshots from a person’s life that give insight into who they were and how they became the person they are today." Read more...


How to begin?
  1. Make a timeline of your life.
  2. Think about who you are writing for.
  3. Create an outline.
  4. Start writing!
  5. In your story, what did you want? What obstacles were in your way?
  6. Don't be afraid to show your flaws. People relate to flaws.
  7. Find a partner who can help you!
  8. Step away.
  9. Edit.
  10. Share!

Your assignment:
Pick a moment from your life and write that story. Your story should include reflection; memoirs look back on life and show how that moment impacted the writer.
​Your mini-memoir should be between 300-1000 words.


Unit 1 Schedule*
Day 1: Read assigned weekly course reading and write analysis essay.
Day 2: Read assigned weekly course reading and write analysis essay.
Day 3: Upload essay to peergrade.io; Write ISO.
Day 4: Give peer feedback in peergrade to 3 classmates; Work on website or blog.
Day 5: Finalize and post analysis essay and ISO to your website or blog; Work on mini-memoir.

Day 6: Read assigned weekly course reading and create a one-pager.
Day 7: Read assigned weekly course reading and create a one-pager.
Day 8: Write ISO and upload to peergrade.
Day 9: Give peer feedback in peergrade to 3 classmates; work on ISO.
Day 10: Finalize and post one-pager and ISO to your website or blog; Work on mini-memoir.

Day 11: Read assigned weekly course reading and complete critical reading graphic organizer.
Day 12: Read assigned weekly course reading and complete critical reading graphic organizer.
Day 13: Write ISO. Upload mini-memoir to peergrade.
Day 14: Give peer feedback in peergrade to 3 classmates; work on ISO.
Day 15: Finalize and post ISO to your website or blog; Work on mini-memoir editing.

Day 16: Read assigned weekly course reading and complete student choice response.
Day 17: Read assigned weekly course reading and complete student choice response.
Day 18: Write ISO.
Day 19: Finalize and post ISO and mini-memoir to your website or blog. Write reflection over this unit and your growth as a writer.
Day 20: Post reflection to your website or blog; Sharing and celebration day.

*At the end of each week, post a link in Google Classroom to the writings you have posted on your website or blog.
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  • Home
  • LIT/COMP 10
    • Unit 1: Narrative Writing with the New York Times
    • Unit 2: Critical Media Literacy
    • Unit 3: Stunt Journalism and Research Writing
    • Unit 4: A Whole Lotta Drama
    • Unit 5: The Hill We Climb/Dear Martin
    • Unit 6: Marginalized People and Of Mice and Men
    • Unit 7: Ethics, Science, and Human Lives
  • Grammar and the English Language
    • Unit 1: The Basics - Words, Usage, and Grammar >
      • Unit 1: Common App and Writers' Craft
    • Unit 2: Rhetoric, Politics, and the English Language
    • Unit 3: Linguistics, Code Switching, and Register Shifting
  • Creative Writing
    • Creative Writing Syllabus
    • Student Publications
    • Teacher Blog
    • Course Readings
    • ISOs (In the Style of)
    • Peer Feedback
    • Unit 1: Mini-Memoir
    • Unit 2: Letters to Myself
    • Unit 3: Restaurant Reviews
    • Unit 4: Creative Short Fiction
    • Unit 5: Conversations
    • Unit 6: Our Voices
    • Final Exam
  • Advanced Creative Writing
  • English 3
    • Course Pack and Beginning of the Year
    • Genius Hour
    • Unit 1: Source Analysis
    • Unit 2: Short Stories About Us
    • Unit 3: 3 Tragedies
    • Unit 4: The Grapes of Wrath
    • Unit 5: Between the World and Me
    • Unit 6: Research Writing >
      • Stunt Journalism Research Project
    • Class Resources >
      • Grading in English 3
      • Citing Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism
  • AP English Literature
    • Virtual AP Lit Unit 1
    • AP Summer Reading Project
    • Common App Essay
    • The Bible Project
    • Women's Studies Project
    • Critical Literary Theory
    • AP Exam Resources
    • AP Grades
  • Junior Seminar
  • Senior Seminar
  • Race in America
    • Race in America Independent Study
    • Race in America: The Course
  • Contemporary Writings
    • Readings
    • Writings
  • Public Speaking
    • Unit 1: Memorization and Recitation
    • Unit 2: Political Speeches
    • Unit 3: Expert Speeches
    • Unit 4: Personal Storytelling
    • Public Speaking Syllabus
  • About the Author