Memoir Project

B days: Your rough draft (half the paper) is due Wed. 15
Final draft due: Fri. 24
Extra credit if you turn it in early!
A days: Rough draft due: Tues. 14
Final draft due: Thurs. 23
Extra credit if you turn it in early!

Memoir Project

In The Giver, Jonas is starting to realize how important memories are to his life and to his community. Jonas and the Giver say, “It’s just that . . . without the memories it’s all meaningless” and “memories need to be shared.” We have talked about these ideas in class. In an effort to not be like the members of the community who “know nothing,” you will be writing down some of your memories.
A memoir is a type of autobiography – the writer writes about his/her own life. Memoirs are usually shorter than an autobiography; it captures highlights or meaningful moments in the author’s past and usually includes some sort of reflection. Memoirs are usually more emotional rather than fact driven; they capture particular scenes. (http://inkspell.homestead.com/memoir.html)
Here is a list of things you need to DO and HAND IN:
1. Make a list of 5 good memories you have and 5 bad memories you have. Most of you have already done this in class. You might want to add to the list.
2. Choose one good memory. This memory should be one that you love. This memory should be one that you never want to forget, one that you always want to keep.
3. Choose one bad memory. This memory will probably be painful. This memory may have had a huge impact on your life.
4. Follow the instructions for writing a memoir.
5. Complete a rough draft. Edit for mistakes. Treat every sentence like a GUM sentence. Hand in only one memory for your rough draft.
Rough draft DUE: ____________________
6. Complete a finished draft.
Finished draft AND all of the above DUE: ___________
Extra credit if you hand it in early (finished draft).

HOW TO WRITE YOUR MEMOIR:
1. Choose what memory you are going to write about.
2. Decide who you are to (audience) and why you are writing (purpose).
3. Write down your memory as if you were explaining it to someone. Write down the events in a clear sequence (make sure it has a beginning, middle, and end) in chronological order.
4. Your memoir should show your reflection of the event. It should convey a theme or idea. It should demonstrate emotion.
5. Use description to make your memoir interesting. Use sensory details (how did it look? Smell? Taste? Sound? What did it feel like?). Use dialogue (a quotation). When we describe things well, we create imagery, and the reader is able to visualize the situation.
6. Read over your memoir and edit it checking for any mistakes.

HOW TO EDIT:
1. Read over your writing slowly, one sentence, one word at a time. Treat it like a long GUM assignment – you need to check for Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics. Questions you want to ask yourself include:
• Is everything spelled correctly?
• Do I use commas properly?
• Do I have correct capitalization and punctuation?
• Does it make sense?
• Is each sentence a complete sentence?
• Does my story have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
• Do I have both short sentences and long sentences?

After your two memories:
You need to reflect on your memories and how they relate to The Giver. This needs to be at least 10 sentences long. Are memories important? Why do memories need to be shared? Why is it important to have both good and bad memories? How do your memories, how does this assignment, relate to Jonas, the community, and The Giver? How are your memories similar to The Giver? How are they different? What are your feelings about memories? You need to support your thoughts with specific facts from The Giver.

Format requirements:
This project needs to be typed, double-spaced, and have Times New Roman font, 12 point font, standard margins.
Each memory should be one page long. Your entire project should be about 2 ½ to 3 pages long.
This should have a cover page with: your name, the date, your class period, and a title you give to the project.

RUBRIC:
Total:
List of memories (5 good, 5 bad) /5
Rough draft attached with corrections /10
Final draft: 1 good memory
(description, quotation, emotion, sensory details, chronological, does it make sense?) /15
Final draft: 1 bad memory
(description, quotation, emotion, sensory details, chronological, does it make sense?) /15
Reflection on The Giver /15
GUM (grammar, usage, mechanics) /5
Presentation /5
Format (including title) /5
Total: /75

THIS IS WORTH 75 POINTS!!! IT CANNOT BE TURNED IN LATE FOR ANY REASON!!!