Memoir: Definition and Characteristics • Memoir: a piece of writing that tells a story from your

life. It is a narrative, and provides a specific snapshot of a single time in your life. It includes a reflection at the end of how this experience has influenced or changed you.– Characteristics:

• Told in first person…uses I, me, we, us, etc.• The time in the memoir follows a sequence of events over a

short period of time. – When does the memory begin and end?

• The memory is a ‘slice of life’ focusing on a specific memory. – What is the main memory in the story?

• The details show strong emotions that give the memory a ‘heartbeat.’– What is the heartbeat?

• The memoir includes the lesson that author learned or the impact it had.– How does the author reflect?

Turning in pieces to Ackerman• Typed, double spaced• MLA heading • Spell checked• At the end of your piece (either handwritten on

the back or typed as a separate piece of paper)—– What you tried (crafting moves that you’ve noticed

from memoirs above or from quick writes that we’ve tried and discussed)

– What questions or concerns you’d like help/feedback on

– What you’re really proud of

Crafting moves you might try• Play with punctuation:

– Example: “It was the best experience. Of. My. Life” (“Owen” snapshot by Penny Kittle)

• Use of metaphor or simile: – Example: “There’s a scum clinging to her like a fine layer of dust

after sanding: the taunts that she endured in elementary school” (“Whitney” snapshot by Penny Kittle).

• Onomatopoeia: – Example: “‘Shhhh heee, shhh heee,’” Momma’s unconscious

humming creates the music of my childhood” (“Momma” snapshot by Kendra Ackerman).

• Use of Humor • Variety of Sentence Lengths• Hyperbole (Exaggeration for humor or effect)

– “After the first hill, we were dead” (Rios “Secret Lion” 184).• Oxymoron

Crafting Moves from “Secret Lion”

• Playing with dialogue structure to communicate tone– “GuyGodthis is perfect, thisisthis is perfect, it’s round, it’sit’s the

best thing we’veeverseen. Whatisit?” Variety of sentence structure; short sentences do what?– “We dug up that whole bank, and we never found it again. We

tried.”• Figurative language:

– metaphor of golf course to Heaven—• thinking about the place you felt was heavenly as a child?

– Extended metaphor of the SECRET LION—making a connection to audience: losing something important as a child=growing up, becoming an adult.

• Use of humor• Importance of concrete details and use of onomatopoeia

– “When I wanted a drink, I lifted my neck a little, put out my lips, and tipped my Coke a little with the crook of my elbow. Ah.”

• Value of being specific and concise—what’s the heartbeat? Focus there. Cut out all the deadwood.

“Barrio Boy” crafting moves• Concrete details: “Even in the alleys, where people

knew each other, the houses were fenced apart, without central courts to wash clothes, talk, and play with other children”– Lends to his first impression—separation, clinical feel of

place, alien• Use of Spanish in the text– Italics

• Add flavor• Tone• Sensory imagery—sounds, smells, sights– “imitating the calls of the meadowlark, the water ouzel,

the oriole, the and the killdeer” – “La Lee-con”

• Using phonetic spelling• Gives us an understanding of his age and his feeling of being

outside of a place

“Kaffir Boy” pp. 223+– As you read, please notice and respond to in your

Writer’s Notebook:• Specific things that you notice about how this text is written

—what structures or literary devices seem important? • Sticky note repeating phrases or repeating ideas or images.• Notice where there are details that enhance the bigger

message of the piece? How are those details communicated?• Where does the writer show us, use imagery or figurative

language? Is it effective?• Why do you think the author chose to organize the piece this

way?• What’s the point of view? How does this POV influence us as

readers?• How does the piece open? Why might he have chosen this

way? • What do you think the writer left out of this piece—or cut in

revision?• What did you notice that you might try in your writing?

– Try it out.