memoir writing assignment high school

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How to Teach Memoir Writing in High School: 3 Tips for Teaching Memoir Writing

A great way to get students writing in middle school or high school English class is by assigning a memoir project. In this blog post, you will learn how to teach memoir writing to your secondary ELA students.

When thinking about writing a memoir, people get nervous, especially students, as they will have to let down their walls and share a portion of their lives. Also, it is hard to remember fragments of memories because it will be a challenge to recall significant moments in their lives.

Though it is important to remind students that they do not have to share memories that will be uncomfortable to write, they can choose mundane memories like a walk to school. By writing about these small moments, students will learn how to remember and become comfortable writing the critical ones.

But before writing, teachers will need to explain the importance of senses and interviewing skills since students will need to interview various people to help them recall a memory. This post may contain affiliate links.

How to Teach Memoir Writing: 3 Tips for Teaching Memoir Writing

Teaching memoir writing: use a memoir as a mentor text.

Another discussion to bring up to students is about traumatic experiences, and it is best to take a cautious approach. The reason to talk about this is to show students that memoir writing might be tough, especially if a student chooses to write about a traumatic event. However, it is of the utmost importance that students feel safe in your classroom while writing their memoirs.

If a student isn’t comfortable opening up and sharing, it is vitally important not to push for details. Students will write and share about trauma on their own terms. That is why it is essential for teachers also to encourage students to write memoirs that don’t include any trauma.

Students must know that adult writers had difficulty writing about their experiences, like Gerda Weissmann Klein wrote about her survival in the holocaust in her memoir, All But My Life . Also, Reyna Grande wrote about her struggles of immigration in her memoir, The Distance Between Us . Grande and Klein had distinct experiences, and each experienced trauma through their experience. Writing these stories was most likely not an easy and light-hearted task.

Reminding students of that will make them feel better, for they will not feel alone. Also, tell your class that your classroom is a safe space for their writing if students choose to write about a mature theme. Another key element to consider is that students know that teachers are court-mandated reporters.

Teaching Memoir Writing: Interview Relatives

Have your students ask relatives and themselves about events with these questions:

What day was it?
What was the weather?
What was I wearing?
What was I doing, and why?

These questions will help them to make the sight of vague memories and add details about them. Besides asking questions, students can bring photos to recreate whatever happened in that picture since the images can show trips to Europe, to the beach, or parties. However, sketch notes will benefit students more, for they can draw what is in the photograph, and the image will help them recollect other details that were not in a photo. For instance, if a student had a picture of a day at the beach and remembered there was a dolphin in the water, even though it was not in the photograph, they will draw it and other images. After the students finished sketching, tell them to add a title to the top of the page.

Teaching Memoir Writing: One Sentences At A Time!

Now the students will be ready to write since they have answers to their questions, photos, and sketch notes. It is time for them to write one paragraph; however, they will add details to it. For example, one of your students may write, ‘I went to the carnival last night. It was fun even when my friends had a popcorn fight. We went on a lot of rides. My friend Claudia tried to make me eat chocolate ice cream, but I do not like that flavor.’

Then the student would add a description to their paragraphs. It will look like this with details: ‘last night, I went to the carnival, and the moon was our night light. There were many rides, and my favorite was the white one roller coaster with the rainbow lights, it made me dizzy. I never felt the wind rush towards us so fast, and heard kids shriek so loudly before. After, I watched in amusement as my friends tossed the buttery popcorn onto each other. But I had to run away from Susan, who tried to make me eat chocolate ice cream, which she knows I hate.’

Notice how adding details make a difference? Students can capture the reader! Hopefully, your students will enjoy it and will find comfort in writing their memories down.

One Comment

Am just giving my students their personal narrative assignment today. We have been using The Color of Water as a kind of mentor text–it's been great. Perfect text for teaching personal narrative. Has all the hallmarks of good narrative writing and showing vs telling, which is something we've been working on. Thanks for your suggestions; they are helpful. When it comes to memoir, yes, being cautious about trauma is especially important. High schoolers often think everything has to be intense drama, when you're right–a memoir about walking to school could be fantastic. Thanks.

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If you’ve thought about putting your life to the page, you may have wondered how to write a memoir. We start the road to writing a memoir when we realize that a story in our lives demands to be told. As Maya Angelou once wrote, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

How to write a memoir? At first glance, it looks easy enough—easier, in any case, than writing fiction. After all, there is no need to make up a story or characters, and the protagonist is none other than you.

Still, memoir writing carries its own unique challenges, as well as unique possibilities that only come from telling your own true story. Let’s dive into how to write a memoir by looking closely at the craft of memoir writing, starting with a key question: exactly what is a memoir?

How to Write a Memoir: Contents

What is a Memoir?

Memoir vs Autobiography

Memoir Examples

Short memoir examples.

How to Write a Memoir: A Step-by-Step Guide

A memoir is a branch of creative nonfiction , a genre defined by the writer Lee Gutkind as “true stories, well told.” The etymology of the word “memoir,” which comes to us from the French, tells us of the human urge to put experience to paper, to remember. Indeed, a memoir is “ something written to be kept in mind .”

A memoir is defined by Lee Gutkind as “true stories, well told.”

For a piece of writing to be called a memoir, it has to be:

Nonfictional
Based on the raw material of your life and your memories
Written from your personal perspective

At this point, memoirs are beginning to sound an awful lot like autobiographies. However, a quick comparison of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love , and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin , for example, tells us that memoirs and autobiographies could not be more distinct.

Next, let’s look at the characteristics of a memoir and what sets memoirs and autobiographies apart. Discussing memoir vs. autobiography will not only reveal crucial insights into the process of writing a memoir, but also help us to refine our answer to the question, “What is a memoir?”

Memoir vs. Autobiography

While both use personal life as writing material, there are five key differences between memoir and autobiography:

1. Structure

Since autobiographies tell the comprehensive story of one’s life, they are more or less chronological. writing a memoir, however, involves carefully curating a list of personal experiences to serve a larger idea or story, such as grief, coming-of-age, and self-discovery. As such, memoirs do not have to unfold in chronological order.

While autobiographies attempt to provide a comprehensive account, memoirs focus only on specific periods in the writer’s life. The difference between autobiographies and memoirs can be likened to that between a CV and a one-page resume, which includes only select experiences.

The difference between autobiographies and memoirs can be likened to that between a CV and a one-page resume, which includes only select experiences.

Autobiographies prioritize events; memoirs prioritize the writer’s personal experience of those events. Experience includes not just the event you might have undergone, but also your feelings, thoughts, and reflections. Memoir’s insistence on experience allows the writer to go beyond the expectations of formal writing. This means that memoirists can also use fiction-writing techniques , such as scene-setting and dialogue , to capture their stories with flair.

4. Philosophy

Another key difference between the two genres stems from the autobiography’s emphasis on facts and the memoir’s reliance on memory. Due to memory’s unreliability, memoirs ask the reader to focus less on facts and more on emotional truth. In addition, memoir writers often work the fallibility of memory into the narrative itself by directly questioning the accuracy of their own memories.

Memoirs ask the reader to focus less on facts and more on emotional truth.

5. Audience

While readers pick up autobiographies to learn about prominent individuals, they read memoirs to experience a story built around specific themes . Memoirs, as such, tend to be more relatable, personal, and intimate. Really, what this means is that memoirs can be written by anybody!

Ready to be inspired yet? Let’s now turn to some memoir examples that have received widespread recognition and captured our imaginations!

If you’re looking to lose yourself in a book, the following memoir examples are great places to begin:

The Year of Magical Thinking , which chronicles Joan Didion’s year of mourning her husband’s death, is certainly one of the most powerful books on grief. Written in two short months, Didion’s prose is urgent yet lucid, compelling from the first page to the last. A few years later, the writer would publish Blue Nights , another devastating account of grief, only this time she would be mourning her daughter.
Patti Smith’s Just Kids is a classic coming-of-age memoir that follows the author’s move to New York and her romance and friendship with the artist Robert Maplethorpe. In its pages, Smith captures the energy of downtown New York in the late sixties and seventies effortlessly.
When Breath Becomes Air begins when Paul Kalanithi, a young neurosurgeon, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Exquisite and poignant, this memoir grapples with some of the most difficult human experiences, including fatherhood, mortality, and the search for meaning.
A memoir of relationship abuse, Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House is candid and innovative in form. Machado writes about thorny and turbulent subjects with clarity, even wit. While intensely personal, In the Dream House is also one of most insightful pieces of cultural criticism.
Twenty-five years after leaving for Canada, Michael Ondaatje returns to his native Sri Lanka to sort out his family’s past. The result is Running in the Family , the writer’s dazzling attempt to reconstruct fragments of experiences and family legends into a portrait of his parents’ and grandparents’ lives. (Importantly, Running in the Family was sold to readers as a fictional memoir; its explicit acknowledgement of fictionalization prevented it from encountering the kind of backlash that James Frey would receive for fabricating key facts in A Million Little Pieces , which he had sold as a memoir . )
Of the many memoirs published in recent years, Tara Westover’s Educated is perhaps one of the most internationally-recognized. A story about the struggle for self-determination, Educated recounts the writer’s childhood in a survivalist family and her subsequent attempts to make a life for herself. All in all, powerful, thought-provoking, and near impossible to put down.

While book-length memoirs are engaging reads, the prospect of writing a whole book can be intimidating. Fortunately, there are plenty of short, essay-length memoir examples that are just as compelling.

While memoirists often write book-length works, you might also consider writing a memoir that’s essay-length. Here are some short memoir examples that tell complete, lived stories, in far fewer words:

“ The Book of My Life ” offers a portrait of a professor that the writer, Aleksandar Hemon, once had as a child in communist Sarajevo. This memoir was collected into Hemon’s The Book of My Lives , a collection of essays about the writer’s personal history in wartime Yugoslavia and subsequent move to the US.
“The first time I cheated on my husband, my mother had been dead for exactly one week.” So begins Cheryl Strayed’s “ The Love of My Life ,” an essay that the writer eventually expanded into the best-selling memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail .
In “ What We Hunger For ,” Roxane Gay weaves personal experience and a discussion of The Hunger Games into a powerful meditation on strength, trauma, and hope. “What We Hunger For” can also be found in Gay’s essay collection, Bad Feminist .
A humorous memoir structured around David Sedaris and his family’s memories of pets, “ The Youth in Asia ” is ultimately a story about grief, mortality and loss. This essay is excerpted from the memoir Me Talk Pretty One Day , and a recorded version can be found here .

So far, we’ve 1) answered the question “What is a memoir?” 2) discussed differences between memoirs vs. autobiographies, 3) taken a closer look at book- and essay-length memoir examples. Next, we’ll turn the question of how to write a memoir.

How to Write a Memoir: A-Step-by-Step Guide

1. how to write a memoir: generate memoir ideas.

how to start a memoir? As with anything, starting is the hardest. If you’ve yet to decide what to write about, check out the “ I Remember ” writing prompt. Inspired by Joe Brainard’s memoir I Remember , this prompt is a great way to generate a list of memories. From there, choose one memory that feels the most emotionally charged and begin writing your memoir. It’s that simple! If you’re in need of more prompts, our Facebook group is also a great resource.

2. How to Write a Memoir: Begin drafting

My most effective advice is to resist the urge to start from “the beginning.” Instead, begin with the event that you can’t stop thinking about, or with the detail that, for some reason, just sticks. The key to drafting is gaining momentum . Beginning with an emotionally charged event or detail gives us the drive we need to start writing.

3. How to Write a Memoir: Aim for a “ shitty first draft ”

Now that you have momentum, maintain it. Attempting to perfect your language as you draft makes it difficult to maintain our impulses to write. It can also create self-doubt and writers’ block. Remember that most, if not all, writers, no matter how famous, write shitty first drafts.

Attempting to perfect your language as you draft makes it difficult to maintain our impulses to write.

4. How to Write a Memoir: Set your draft aside

Once you have a first draft, set it aside and fight the urge to read it for at least a week. Stephen King recommends sticking first drafts in your drawer for at least six weeks. This period allows writers to develop the critical distance we need to revise and edit the draft that we’ve worked so hard to write.

5. How to Write a Memoir: Reread your draft

While reading your draft, note what works and what doesn’t, then make a revision plan. While rereading, ask yourself:

What’s underdeveloped, and what’s superfluous.
Does the structure work?
What story are you telling?

6. How to Write a Memoir: Revise your memoir and repeat steps 4 & 5 until satisfied

Every piece of good writing is the product of a series of rigorous revisions. Depending on what kind of writer you are and how you define a draft,” you may need three, seven, or perhaps even ten drafts. There’s no “magic number” of drafts to aim for, so trust your intuition. Many writers say that a story is never, truly done; there only comes a point when they’re finished with it. If you find yourself stuck in the revision process, get a fresh pair of eyes to look at your writing.

7. How to Write a Memoir: Edit, edit, edit!

Once you’re satisfied with the story, begin to edit the finer things (e.g. language, metaphor , and details). Clean up your word choice and omit needless words , and check to make sure you haven’t made any of these common writing mistakes . Be sure to also know the difference between revising and editing —you’ll be doing both. Then, once your memoir is ready, send it out !

Learn How to Write a Memoir at Writers.com

Writing a memoir for the first time can be intimidating. But, keep in mind that anyone can learn how to write a memoir. Trust the value of your own experiences: it’s not about the stories you tell, but how you tell them. Most importantly, don’t give up!

Anyone can learn how to write a memoir.

If you’re looking for additional feedback, as well as additional instruction on how to write a memoir, check out our schedule of nonfiction classes . Now, get started writing your memoir!

25 Comments

Thank you for this website. It’s very engaging. I have been writing a memoir for over three years, somewhat haphazardly, based on the first half of my life and its encounters with ignorance (religious restrictions, alcohol, and inability to reach out for help). Three cities were involved: Boston as a youngster growing up and going to college, then Washington DC and Chicago North Shore as a married woman with four children. I am satisfied with some chapters and not with others. Editing exposes repetition and hopefully discards boring excess. Reaching for something better is always worth the struggle. I am 90, continue to be a recital pianist, a portrait painter, and a writer. Hubby has been dead for nine years. Together we lept a few of life’s chasms and I still miss him. But so far, my occupations keep my brain working fairly well, especially since I don’t smoke or drink (for the past 50 years).

Hi Mary Ellen,

It sounds like a fantastic life for a memoir! Thank you for sharing, and best of luck finishing your book. Let us know when it’s published!

Best, The writers.com Team

Hello Mary Ellen,

I am contacting you because your last name (Lavelle) is my middle name!

Being interested in genealogy I have learned that this was my great grandfathers wife’s name (Mary Lavelle), and that her family emigrated here about 1850 from County Mayo, Ireland. That is also where my fathers family came from.

Is your family background similar?

Hope to hear back from you.

Richard Lavelle Bourke

Hi Mary Ellen: Have you finished your memoir yet? I just came across your post and am seriously impressed that you are still writing. I discovered it again at age 77 and don’t know what I would do with myself if I couldn’t write. All the best to you!! Sharon [email protected]

I am up to my eyeballs with a research project and report for a non-profit. And some paid research for an international organization. But as today is my 90th birthday, it is time to retire and write a memoir.

So I would like to join a list to keep track of future courses related to memoir / creative non-fiction writing.

Hi Frederick,

Happy birthday! And happy retirement as well. I’ve added your name and email to our reminder list for memoir courses–when we post one on our calendar, we’ll send you an email.

We’ll be posting more memoir courses in the near future, likely for the months of January and February 2022. We hope to see you in one!

Very interesting and informative, I am writing memoirs from my long often adventurous and well travelled life, have had one very short story published. Your advice on several topics will be extremely helpful. I write under my schoolboy nickname Barnaby Rudge.

[…] How to Write a Memoir: Examples and a Step-by-Step Guide […]

I am writing my memoir from my memory when I was 5 years old and now having left my birthplace I left after graduation as a doctor I moved to UK where I have been living. In between I have spent 1 year in Canada during my training year as paediatrician. I also spent nearly 2 years with British Army in the hospital as paediatrician in Germany. I moved back to UK to work as specialist paediatrician in a very busy general hospital outside London for the next 22 years. Then I retired from NHS in 2012. I worked another 5 years in Canada until 2018. I am fully retired now

I have the whole convoluted story of my loss and horrid aftermath in my head (and heart) but have no clue WHERE, in my story to begin. In the middle of the tragedy? What led up to it? Where my life is now, post-loss, and then write back and forth? Any suggestions?

My friend Laura who referred me to this site said “Start”! I say to you “Start”!

Hi Dee, that has been a challenge for me.i dont know where to start?

What was the most painful? Embarrassing? Delicious? Unexpected? Who helped you? Who hurt you? Pick one story and let that lead you to others.

I really enjoyed this writing about memoir. I ve just finished my own about my journey out of my city then out of my country to Egypt to study, Never Say Can’t, God Can Do It. Infact memoir writing helps to live the life you are writing about again and to appreciate good people you came across during the journey. Many thanks for sharing what memoir is about.

I am a survivor of gun violence, having witnessed my adult son being shot 13 times by police in 2014. I have struggled with writing my memoir because I have a grandson who was 18-months old at the time of the tragedy and was also present, as was his biological mother and other family members. We all struggle with PTSD because of this atrocity. My grandson’s biological mother was instrumental in what happened and I am struggling to write the story in such a way as to not cast blame – thus my dilemma in writing the memoir. My grandson was later adopted by a local family in an open adoption and is still a big part of my life. I have considered just writing it and waiting until my grandson is old enough to understand all the family dynamics that were involved. Any advice on how I might handle this challenge in writing would be much appreciated.

I decided to use a ghost writer, and I’m only part way in the process and it’s worth every penny!

Hi. I am 44 years old and have had a roller coaster life .. right as a young kid seeing his father struggle to financial hassles, facing legal battles at a young age and then health issues leading to a recent kidney transplant. I have been working on writing a memoir sharing my life story and titled it “A memoir of growth and gratitude” Is it a good idea to write a memoir and share my story with the world?

Thank you… this was very helpful. I’m writing about the troubling issues of my mental health, and how my life was seriously impacted by that. I am 68 years old.

[…] Writers.com: How to Write a Memoir […]

[…] Writers.com: “How to Write a Memoir” […]

I am so grateful that I found this site! I am inspired and encouraged to start my memoir because of the site’s content and the brave people that have posted in the comments.

Finding this site is going into my gratitude journey 🙂

We’re grateful you found us too, Nichol! 🙂

Firstly, I would like to thank you for all the info pertaining to memoirs. I believe am on the right track, am at the editing stage and really have to use an extra pair of eyes. I’m more motivated now to push it out and complete it. Thanks for the tips it was very helpful, I have a little more confidence it seeing the completion.

Well, I’m super excited to begin my memoir. It’s hard trying to rely on memories alone, but I’m going to give it a shot!

Thanks to everyone who posted comments, all of which have inspired me to get on it.

Best of luck to everyone! Jody V.

I was thrilled to find this material on How to Write A Memoir. When I briefly told someone about some of my past experiences and how I came to the United States in the company of my younger brother in a program with a curious name, I was encouraged by that person and others to write my life history.

Based on the name of that curious program through which our parents sent us to the United States so we could leave the place of our birth, and be away from potentially difficult situations in our country.

As I began to write my history I took as much time as possible to describe all the different steps that were taken. At this time – I have been working on this project for 5 years and am still moving ahead. The information I received through your material has further encouraged me to move along. I am very pleased to have found this important material. Thank you!

Exploring Memoirs: Writing a Memoir

Reading Memoirs
Writing a Memoir

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Use the “dramatic arc.”

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Write a script.

This is the single most important thing you can do to save time during filming and editing.

Use background music.

Music can bring your pitch to life.

Narrate your story with personality.

Be dramatic, be funny, be somber, whatever emotion your story is trying to convey.

Find free images and icons.

Look at sites that offer free images to add variety to your pitch, but remember to cite your images.

M ake sure something is happening on the screen every 3-5 seconds.

Use animation, panning and zooming to keep the viewers' attention.

Choose the best tool.

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Writing a Memoir: Creative Writing Assignment for High School, EDITABLE

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Most high schoolers need to write a memoir or personal narrative at some point in their school career, whether for a college admission essay or a creative writing project. This resource outlines the assignment packet for writing a memoir. This is the longer of the two pieces my students write in my Creative Writing class (the Thank You Letter being the shorter of the two). The prompt and guidelines are explained. The rubric is included (with an editable link), as well as an example memoir for the class to read and analyze. Teacher directions and an editable Google Slides link for the packet are included!

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63 Best Memoir Writing Prompts To Stoke Your Ideas

You’re writing a memoir. But you’re not sure what questions or life lessons you want to focus on.

Even if only family members and friends will read the finished book, you want to make it worth their time.

This isn’t just a whimsical collection of anecdotes from your life.

You want to convey something to your readers that will stay with them.

And maybe you want your memoir’s impact to serve as your legacy — a testament to how you made a small (or large) difference.

The collection of memoir questions in this post can help you create a legacy worth sharing.

So, if you don’t already have enough ideas for a memoir, read on.

A Strong Theme

Overcoming obstacles, emotional storytelling, satisfying ending, examples of good starting sentences for a memoir , 63 memoir writing prompts , what are the primary parts of a memoir.

Though similar to autobiographies, memoirs are less chronological and more impressionable – less historical and more relatable.

Resultantly, they’re structured differently.

With that in mind, let’s look at five elements that tie a memoir together, rendering it more enjoyable.

Biographies are histories that may not hew to a cohesive theme. But memoirs focus on inspiring and enlightening experiences and events.

As such, books in the genre promote a theme or idea that binds the highlighted happenings to an overarching reflection point or lesson.

Many people are super at sniffing out insincerity, and most folks prefer candidness.

So while exact dates and logistical facts may be off in a memoir, being raw and real with emotions, revelations, and relational impacts is vital. To put it colloquially: The best personal accounts let it all hang out.

People prefer inspiring stories. They want to read about people overcoming obstacles, standing as testaments to the tenacious nature of the human spirit. Why?

Because it engenders hope. If this person was able to achieve “x,” there’s a possibility I could, too. Furthermore, people find it comforting that they’re not the only ones who’ve faced seemingly insurmountable impediments.

Readers crave emotion. And for many of the stoic masses, books, plays, television shows, and films are their primary sources of sentimentality.

Historically, the best-performing memoirs are built on emotional frameworks that resonate with readers. The goal is to touch hearts, not just heads.

In a not-so-small way, memoirs are like romance books: Readers want a “happy” ending. So close strongly. Ensure the finale touches on the book’s central themes and emotional highlights.

End it with a smile and note of encouragement, leaving the audience satisfied and optimistic.

Use the following questions as memoir writing exercises . Choose those that immediately evoke memories that have stayed with you over the years.

Group them by theme — family, career, beliefs, etc. — and address at least one question a day.

For each question, write freely for around 300 to 400 words. You can always edit it later to tighten it up or add more content.

1. What is your earliest memory?

2. What have your parents told you about your birth that was unusual?

3. How well did you get along with your siblings, if you have any?

4. Which parent were you closest to growing up and why?

5. What parent or parental figure had the biggest influence on you growing up?

6. What is your happiest childhood memory?

7. What is your saddest or most painful childhood memory?

8. Did you have good parents? How did they show their love for you?

9. What words of theirs from your childhood do you remember most, and why?

10. What do you remember most about your parents’ relationship?

11. Were your parents together, or did they live apart? Did they get along?

12. How has your relationship with your parents affected your own love relationships?

13. Who or what did you want to be when you grew up?

14. What shows or movies influenced you most during your childhood?

15. What were your favorite books to read, and how did they influence you?

16. If you grew up in a religious household, how did you see “God”?

17. How did you think “God” saw you? Who influenced those beliefs?

18. Describe your spiritual journey from adolescence to the present?

19. Who was your first best friend? How did you become friends?

20. Who was your favorite teacher in elementary school, and why?

21. Did you fit in with any social group or clique in school? Describe your social life?

22. What were your biggest learning challenges in school (academic or social)?

23. Who was your first crush, and what drew you to them? How long did it last?

24. What was your favorite subject in school, and what did you love about it?

25. What do you wish you would have learned more about growing up?

26. What did you learn about yourself in high school? What was your biggest mistake?

27. What seemed normal to you growing up that now strikes you as messed up?

28. How old were you when you first moved away from home?

29. Who gave you your first kiss? And what do you remember most about it?

30. Who was your first love ? What do you remember most about them?

31. Was there ever a time in your life when you realized you weren’t straight?

32. Describe a memorable argument you had with one of your parents? How did it end?

33. Have you lost a parent? How did it happen, and how did their death affect you?

34. What was your first real job? What do you remember most about it?

35. How did you spend the money you earned with that job?

36. At what moment in your life did you feel most loved?

37. At what moment in your life did you feel most alone?

38. What do you remember most about your high school graduation? Did it matter?

39. What’s something you’ve done that you never thought you would do?

40. What has been the greatest challenge of your life up to this point?

41. What did you learn in college that has had a powerful influence on you?

42. How has your family’s financial situation growing up influenced you?

43. How has someone’s harsh criticism of you led you to an important realization?

44. Do you consider yourself a “good person”? Why or why not?

45. Who was the first person who considered you worth standing up for?

46. If you have children, whom did you trust with them when they were babies?

47. Did you have pets growing up? Did you feel close or attached to any of them?

Final Thoughts

These memoir topics should get ideas flooding into your mind. All you have to do, then, is let them out onto the page. The more you write, the easier it will be to choose the primary focus for your memoir. And the more fun you’ll have writing it.

That’s not to say it’ll be easy to create a powerful memoir. It won’t be. But the more clarity you have about its overall mission, the more easily the words will flow.

Enjoy these memoir writing exercises. And apply the same clarity of focus during the editing process. Your readers will thank you.

Exploring the Power of Language with Six-Word Memoirs

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Instructional Plan
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What do the words we write really have to say about us? In this lesson, students examine the power of word choice as they write six-word memoirs of their lives. After manipulating the language of their memoir with an interactive tool, students reflect on synonymous words that they have explored and choose the best one to use to tell the story of their lives.

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From theory to practice.

In "Register and Charge: Using Synonym Maps to Explore Connotation," Darren Crovitz and Jessica A. Miller argue that students' typical understanding of the word synonym as meaning "'a word that means the same as another word'" is "at best an oversimplification and at worst a way to end thinking about what words actually signify" (49). They advocate for investigations into language and word groups to allow students to discover that "the subtlety of just how and to what extent [words are] similar makes all the difference when it comes to choosing the best word for a given purpose" (49). This lesson encourages students to explore the subtleties of shifting connotation and meaning affected by word choice.

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

1. Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
2. Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience.
3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
9. Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.
11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities.
12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

Word Matrix student interactive
Video: Six Word Memoirs by Teens
Video: Six-Word Memoirs, the book
Video: “Six Tips for Writing Six-Word Memoirs”
Computers with Internet access
Choosing the Best Word: Six-Word Memoirs

This site includes six-word memoirs written by a variety of authors on life stories. Also included are videos about the memoirs and information about Six-Word Memoir books.

On this site, students can explore memoirs and join thousands of storytellers to have a chance to be in a future book of Six-Word Memoirs.

This wiki includes six-word memoir films created by students, for students.

Preparation

Locate one or more copies of the Six-Word Memoir books . Familiarize yourself with the content within the book(s). You may wish to choose a few memoirs to share with and/or point out to the students.
Six Word Memoirs by Teens
Six-Word Memoirs, the book
“Six Tips for Writing Six-Word Memoirs”
Test the Word Matrix student interactive. You will need computers with internet access for each student to use this interactive. If computer accessibility is a problem, print out paper copies of the interactive and make enough copies for each student.
Photocopy the Choosing the Best Word: Six-Word Memoirs handout for students.
Familiarize yourself with the ideas of synonyms, connotation, register, and sound/rhythm. Additional teacher information on synonyms and language can be found in a variety of articles from English Journal , Vol. 97, No. 4, March 2008 , with the issue theme “Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary in High School.”

Student Objectives

Students will:

define synonym and consider the implications of multiple word meanings for authors attempting to choose the most effective word in a given situation.
investigate the similarities and differences within word groups on the basis of connotation and register.
create, reflect on, and revise a memoir, taking into account word choice and message.

Session One

Begin a class discussion with students about memoirs and their “life stories.” What do students consider to be their “life story”? Would they need to write a novel to explain everything, or could they tell about one event that helped shape them as a person? Explain to students that they are going to be writing memoirs of their lives, but there’s a catch—they only have six words to portray themselves however they wish and to get a message across.
Introduce the idea of six-word memoirs by projecting Six Word Memoirs by Teens or Six-Word Memoirs, the book . You may also wish to have some Six-Word Memoir books available for students to peruse after the video to see more examples.
After reading/seeing some six-word memoirs, what surprises you about this form?
What’s the difference between a story and a memoir? Why do we tell stories? Who knows your story best?
How is it both possible and impossible to distill the essence of who you are into six words? Which author do you think does the best job of it and why?
Again, explain the parameters of the assignment: students must write a personal memoir in only six words. To give students a bit more information about what’s required, show students the “Six Tips for Writing Six-Word Memoirs” video. Allow for students’ questions and then ask that students spend some time brainstorming and writing down different possibilities for their own six-word memoir. Eventually, ask students to choose one memoir that they deem their “favorite” and they would like to use for the remainder of this lesson.
Ask students to write down a definition of the word synonym and provide several examples.
Arrange students in small groups to share their definitions and examples. As they share, ask them to look for similarities and differences in their definitions and examples. Have groups share their findings with the entire class and create a class definition of the word synonym , to be written on the board or chart paper.
Facilitate a discussion on how a poet or author might choose the "best word" for their piece of writing when there may be several words in the English language that express the same, or nearly the same, idea or concept.
Connotation: the emotional or personal associations the word carries, beyond its literal definition.
Register: the level of formality or informality associated with the word.
Sound and rhythm: the way words sound and scan contribute to their appropriateness.
Remind students to keep the memoir that they chose to use for the remainder of this lesson. If they wish, they may continue brainstorming and working on their memoir outside of class, as long as they bring their chosen memoir to the next session.

Session Two

Note to the Instructor : Synonyms can be any part of speech (e.g. nouns , verbs , adjectives , adverbs or prepositions ), as long as both members of the pair are the same part of speech.
Give students a few minutes to make their list of synonymous words (they may use a thesaurus if necessary) and think about how they actually differ in regard to connotation and register. Ask students to share examples and explain the differences they see.
Inform students that they will be using an online tool to explore the ideas of synonyms, connotation, and register further by arranging words that have the same meaning as their focus word but vary according to connotation and/or register.
Direct students to the Word Matrix tool online and ask them to select the option to organize words by connotation and register. Students will need to create a new concept that includes their focus words and the synonymous words in their list. You may wish to model this process before having students work independently.
After creating their concepts, each student should arrange their words according to relative charge in connotation and formality of register. Point out that there are not right or wrong answers to this activity. More important than where the students end up putting words is the explanations they write about what the words mean and how they relate to each other. They should indicate their thinking by double-clicking each word and writing a brief justification for its placement.
Explain to students that they can access online resources and get more information about connotation and register by clicking on the orange question mark within the tool. They should use the back navigation within the tool (not the back arrow in the browser) to get back to their work within the matrix .
Have students print their completed matrices . Review them before the next session to gauge student understanding of connotation and register.
Ask students to rewrite their six-word memoir by substituting each synonym in the place of the focus word that they originally chose. Thus, they should have multiple examples of the same six-word memoir with a different synonym replacing the focus word in each example. Students should complete this activity before the next session.

Session Three

Ask students to take out their list of memoirs within which they substituted different synonyms for their focus word. Have them take a moment to review the different memoirs and how they changed the meaning of the memoir.
Have students take out their Choosing the Best Word: Six-Word Memoirs handout, on which they originally wrote their focus word and their synonyms. Ask them to reflect on how their word choice affected the meaning of their different memoirs. They should write about their thoughts and the memoir they prefer (with reasoning) on the handout under the Reflection Question.
After all students have completed the handout, have students take turns sharing their experience. They should share their original memoir, what their synonyms were, and the final memoir they decided on (along with their reasoning). Allow for other students to ask questions about the students’ word choice if they so choose.
create a class book of memoirs;
produce a video of your students’ memoirs, much like the videos they watched at the beginning of the session; or
have students submit their own six-word memoir at www.SMITHteens.com .
Allow students time to study their classmates’ memoirs and ask questions to get to know each other better and build a stronger classroom community!
Make six-word memoirs a part of your classroom routine. Do warm-ups or exit slips that ask students to write six-word memoirs. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll learn about students based on their memoirs!
Present other short form writing choices for students to experiment with such as Haiku . Have them follow the same steps of substituting different synonyms into their writing to focus on word choice.
Expand on the idea of a six-word memoir while still focusing on word choice and story elements. Have students increase the length of their memoir.
Connect six-word memoirs to a literature activity by having students write literary characters’ six-word memoirs.
Have students produce a video of their memoirs to post to You Tube or another video site. Use the video as an electronic scrapbook of the students in each class.

Student Assessment / Reflections

Provide formative feedback through the completed matrices , synonym lists, and any other student work prior to the project.
Evaluate students’ understanding of the project and completion of all of the steps during and after their oral presentation of their findings.
Student Interactives
Lesson Plans
Professional Library
Calendar Activities

Explore the similarities and differences among words typically considered synonyms with this tool that allows middle- and secondary-level students organize groups of words by connotation on one axis and by register on another.

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Some Good Memoirs For High Schoolers To Read

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Attention high school students, get ready to embark on an adventure through the world of memoirs! But before we dive into the pages of these captivating stories, let me ask you a question: have you ever wondered what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes? Well, that’s exactly what a memoir allows you to do. You can experience life in a different time, place, and perspective through the eyes of the author.

But don’t think for a second that these are your typical boring, dusty, textbook reads. No, no, these memoirs are full of adventure, humor, and heart. They’ll take you on a wild ride through the ups and downs of life, making you laugh, cry, and question everything in between. So, buckle up and get ready to be transported to a whole new world with some of the best memoirs out there.

Life lessons beyond the classroom: 10 must-read Memoirs for high school students that will inspire, educate, and empower

Memoirs are a powerful genre of writing that provides a glimpse into the lived experiences of an individual. Through personal anecdotes, reflections, and insights, high school students can explore their own identities and share their unique stories and short stories with others.

1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

This classic memoir is a powerful account of Maya Angelou’s childhood in the South during the 1930s and 1940s. The book explores issues of race, identity, and trauma in a powerful and poetic way. Angelou’s writing is both lyrical and honest, and her story is a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by African Americans during the Jim Crow era.

The book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in exploring themes of social justice and self-discovery and can spark important discussions about race and inequality in America.

2. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

“The Glass Castle” is a coming-of-age memoir that follows the author’s unconventional upbringing with her bohemian parents. Walls’ story is a poignant and often humorous account of resilience and the power of the human spirit.

The book explores themes of family, identity, and the importance of overcoming adversity. It is a great choice for high school students who are trying to navigate their own challenges and find inspiration in the stories of others.

3. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

This graphic novel memoir tells the story of Marjane Satrapi’s childhood in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Satrapi’s story is a unique and powerful perspective on Iranian history and explores the challenges faced by those growing up during a time of political turmoil.

The graphic novel format is a visually engaging way for high school students to engage with the material, and the story is both entertaining and educational. The book is also a great way to introduce students to the medium of graphic novels, which are increasingly recognized as an important form of literature.

4. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

“Born a Crime” is a humorous and insightful account of Trevor Noah’s childhood in South Africa during apartheid. The book explores issues of race, identity, and family in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Noah’s writing is engaging and accessible, making this memoir a great choice for high school students who are looking to learn more about apartheid and its impact on South African society.

5. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance

“Hillbilly Elegy” is a memoir that explores the author’s experiences growing up in a working-class family in Ohio and the challenges faced by many working-class Americans. The book is a timely and important look at the socio-economic issues facing America today and explores themes of poverty, addiction, and the importance of community.

Vance’s writing is honest and insightful, and the book can spark important conversations about social and economic inequality.

6. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

This nonfiction memoir tells the story of a woman whose cancer cells were used without her consent to create the first immortal human cell line. The book explores issues of ethics, scientific progress, and the human cost of medical research.

Skloot’s writing is engaging and accessible, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in science and medical ethics.

7. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl is a classic memoir that is a firsthand account of life in hiding during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The book is a powerful and haunting reminder of the human cost of war and intolerance and explores themes of resilience, hope, and the importance of bearing witness to history.

The book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in history and social justice.

8. Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is a memoir that tells the story of Tara Westover’s journey from a rural Idaho upbringing to earning a Ph.D. from Cambridge University. The book explores themes of education, family, and the power of self-discovery.

Westover’s writing is powerful and evocative, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are grappling with questions about their own future and the role of education in their lives.

9. Night by Elie Wiesel

The night is a memoir that is a firsthand account of the author’s experiences during the Holocaust. The book is a haunting and powerful reminder of the human cost of war and intolerance and explores themes of resilience, hope, and the importance of bearing witness to history.

Wiesel’s writing is spare and powerful, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in history and social justice.

10. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

Angela’s Ashes is a memoir that tells the story of the author’s childhood in poverty-stricken Ireland. The book explores themes of family, identity, and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

McCourt’s writing is engaging and poignant, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in exploring themes of social justice and the power of the human spirit.

What to look out for in a memoir for high schoolers?

When selecting a memoir for high schoolers, it’s important to consider a few key factors to ensure that the book is engaging and appropriate for this age group. Here are some things to look out for:

Relatable and relevant themes: High schoolers will be more likely to connect with a memoir if it covers themes that are relevant to their own lives, such as friendship, family, identity, and coming of age.
Engaging writing style: The memoir should be well-written and engaging, with a narrative that keeps the reader interested from beginning to end. It should also be accessible to high school students in terms of vocabulary and complexity.
Appropriate content: Make sure the memoir doesn’t contain content that may be too mature or graphic for high schoolers.
Cultural or historical significance: A memoir that provides insight into a specific culture or period in history can be a great way to expose high schoolers to new ideas and perspectives.
Diversity: Look for memoirs written by authors from diverse backgrounds and with diverse experiences, as this can broaden high schoolers’ understanding of the world and promote empathy and understanding.

Overall, selecting a memoir that is relevant, engaging, and appropriate for high schoolers can help foster a love of reading and encourage students to explore new ideas and perspectives.

Writing a memoir can be a transformative experience for high school students. Through the process of reflecting on their experiences and sharing their stories, students can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. By developing their writing skills and cultivating their creativity, they can express themselves authentically and leave a lasting impression through their words.

Memoirs offer a valuable opportunity for high school students to connect with others and build empathy, as readers can relate to and learn from their personal anecdotes and insights. Ultimately, memoirs are a powerful genre of writing that can help students discover and share their unique voices.

Having a 10+ years of experience in teaching little budding learners, I am now working as a soft skills and IELTS trainers. Having spent my share of time with high schoolers, I understand their fears about the future. At the same time, my experience has helped me foster plenty of strategies that can make their 4 years of high school blissful. Furthermore, I have worked intensely on helping these young adults bloom into successful adults by training them for their dream colleges. Through my blogs, I intend to help parents, educators and students in making these years joyful and prosperous.

How to Teach Memoir in the Middle Grades

by MiddleWeb · Published 10/13/2015 · Updated 04/14/2020

I stand in front of my eighth grade class, excitement and anticipation washing over me. It is the beginning of the memoir unit, and I know that the next two months will be the most memorable and most meaningful work we do all year.

I tell my students how excited I am. I tell them that by the end of the unit most of them will produce the best piece of writing they have ever produced, and many of them will have come to see themselves and their lives in new ways.

They look at me skeptically. How do I know this will happen? I know it, I say, because it happens every year.

There are many reasons – both academic and social-emotional – why it is so worthwhile to teach memoir writing to adolescents, but here I want to focus on the how. How do I help students who say they don’t remember anything well enough to write about it? How do I get them to dig deep and uncover the themes in their lives? How do I help them elevate the craft of their writing? For teachers embarking on a memoir writing unit, there are three fundamental ideas about the genre that I find myself returning to again and again.

► Memoirs do not need to be factually accurate, but they need to be truthful.

► Every story must have an understory.

► Memoirs should move seamlessly between the sea and the mountain.

1. Sorting Out Fact and Truth

When I was young, maybe five or six, my father took me to play in the park, and a dog bit me. I took this memory and developed it into a memoir for a high school writing assignment. Since I didn’t remember exactly what had happened, I had to make up most of the details – the words that my father and I spoke to each other, the appearance of the dog, what I was feeling at the time. I didn’t purposely lie; instead I recreated the events as I imagined they might have occurred.

We need to approach memoir with the understanding and with the acceptance that memory is imperfect. That’s okay, because when we tell our stories, our goal is not to get everything exactly “right,” but rather to recreate our past experiences in a way that reveals larger truths about our lives and about who we are. In the case of my story, what mattered most was being able to convey how I viewed my father at the time, and how this incident made me realize that he would not always be able to keep me safe.

When students come to understand that the inadequacy of memory is not so much a limitation as it is an opportunity to shape their stories as they see fit, they begin to feel liberated and are able to move forward in their work of looking back.

2. Telling the Understory

My first year of teaching memoir writing, I had a student who wrote about a day he spent at Coney Island with his mother when he was five. He described the rides and attractions in great detail. He talked about eating Nathan’s hot dogs. He did an excellent job providing a play-by-play account of what happened that day. What he did not do was convey why this day was worth writing about.

“It just stands out in my memory,” he said, during our conference.

I continued to ask questions and to listen, and soon this student was speaking about his relationship with his mother, about how she worked all the time and he rarely saw her, how this was a day when he saw another side of her that he rarely saw growing up. By the time he turned in his final draft, the memoir had become something much more than just the recounting of a day at Coney Island. It had become a moving and powerful story of the relationship between a boy and his mother.

Every memoir – every good memoir – needs to be about more than just the events it recounts. I call this added layer the “understory” because it signifies that there is something lurking beneath a story’s surface, a deeper significance, and it is our job as writers to bring it forth.

A memoir’s understory will dictate which details to emphasize when we tell our story, and which details to leave out. When I wrote about being bitten by a dog, I included many details about my relationship with my father because that was what my memoir was really about. If my understory had been something different – for example, how growing up is about taking risks – then I would have made different choices.

When I discuss what it means to have an understory in memoir, it is really the same thing as discussing theme in literature. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is much more than just an adventure story about a boy and a runaway slave rafting down the Mississippi River. Much of the book’s brilliance comes from the way in which the author uses the story to comment on questions of freedom, racial prejudice, the collision of law and conscience, and other issues society was grappling with at the time.

When we effectively weave together story and understory in our memoirs, we open a window into the our lives and illuminate something deep and meaningful about who we are.

3. Atop the Mountain, Into the Sea

On the board, I draw a picture of a mountain overlooking the sea. A lone figure stands perched atop the mountain’s summit and another swims among the waves below.

“What does this picture have to do with writing memoir?” I ask my students.

Vector night landscape with mountains, lake and forest on a starry sky background

What I want to convey is the different ways the two people view the ocean, how the swimmer is assaulted by his immediate surroundings – the cresting waves, the floating seaweed– while the person on the mountain sees the big picture, the water stretching endlessly toward the horizon.

When we write memoir, we want to move back and forth between the sea and the mountain. That is, we want to zero in on the sights and smells and sounds and feelings of past moments in such detail that our readers can fully experience these moments for themselves. At the same time, we want to zoom out from these moments and reflect on how and where they fit into the grand scheme of who we are and the lives we’ve lived.

Two divers looking to the big shark and coral reef on a blue sea background

Before I ask students to integrate these perspectives, I spend time teaching them to write from each one individually.

Writing from the sea involves re-creating past incidents as scenes, using dialogue, descriptive action, access to the character’s thoughts and feelings, and sensory detail to bring the reader into the middle of what is unfolding.

Writing from the mountain means asking ourselves: What do I understand now about this story and about myself that I did not understand when I was living through it? Sometimes we can express these more mature understandings explicitly, with sentence starters like, “I now realize…” or “What I have come to understand…” More often, mountaintop writing is just observations and insights woven into the story that the character was probably not consciously aware of at the time or would not have been able to articulate.

Teachers of writing should live writerly lives

Fact and truth, story and understory, sea and mountain – over the years, I have returned to these three ideas again and again to help my students write deeply and meaningfully about their lives. I have also returned to these ideas again and again in my own memoir writing.

Because as much as we focus on how best to teach our students, we should never lose sight of the fact that one of our most powerful tools is to live writerly lives ourselves. When we do the work we’re asking our students to do, when we try out the prompts, and share our drafts, and recognize the challenges, we become both better writers and better teachers of writing.

Perhaps most important, when we open windows into our own lives and share our stories of who we are, we inspire our students to do the same.

Read a MiddleWeb review of Worth Writing About

3 Responses

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Loved this book! Best book on teaching memoir to young people I’ve ever read.

Thanks so much! I love these key concepts–what a clear way to get across important ideas!

Constantly have to practice our craft. Great reminders and guidelines. I like the mountain and the sea analogy. Wonderful way to explain details vs. theme or big picture.

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News from non-English countries

"They fell to the ground with screams": Russian Guards fired at children single near Moscow - there is a casualty

2023-08-20T20:58:57.477Z

Highlights: In Russia, in the city of Elektrostal (Moscow region), during demonstrations, Rosgvardia soldiers began shooting at spectators with children from machine guns with blank cartridges. One child received serious damage from a rebounded cartridge case. In the video, a child can be heard crying and screaming violently. It is also interesting that Russia recently arranged a solemn farewell to Vladimir Shestakov, convicted for the murder of a child, who became a mercenary of PMC "Wagner" and was liquidated in the war in Ukraine.

In Russia, in the city of Elektrostal (Moscow region), during demonstrations, Rosgvardia soldiers began shooting at spectators with children from machine guns with blank cartridges.

So far, one injured child is known.

This was reported by the local Telegram channel of the Cheka-OGPU.

"Small children were clutching their heads screaming and falling to the ground. Not without injuries. The child received serious damage from a rebounded cartridge case," the report said.

One of the witnesses to the incident posted a video. It was her child who was shot by the Russian Guards. In the video, a child can be heard crying and screaming violently.

After the woman realized that her child had been wounded, she called her husband and doctor.

Meanwhile, Russian occupier Ivan Alekseev in the war in Ukraine after a drunken quarrel killed his colleague and tried to cover up the crime, saying it was the work of "Ukrainian saboteurs."

It is also interesting that Russia recently arranged a solemn farewell to Vladimir Shestakov, convicted for the murder of a child, who became a mercenary of PMC "Wagner" and was liquidated in the war in Ukraine.

The suspect in the murder of a military volunteer was released from custody
They will teach "patriotism": Russians in the occupied territories launch cadet classes
Russia has created another training ground near Mariupol: how many soldiers are in the city

Source: tsn

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IMAGES

How to Teach Memoir Writing in High School
Memoir Outline Worksheet
Memoir examples for students
Memoir Rubric
Writing a Memoir: Creative Writing Assignment for High School, EDITABLE
Memoir Writing Assignment by Everyone's Wheelhouse

VIDEO

6 Worded memoir assignment
Lesson plan
Memoir Writing Assignment || Abdul Majid
4 bestselling memoir themes
Opening paragraphs are important to your Memoir's success
What sells memoir?

COMMENTS

PDF Writing a Memoir
Writing a Memoir . SOL 7.8 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and paragraphing. SOL 7.7 The student will write in a variety of forms with an emphasis on exposition, narration, and persuasion. Overview: For this writing assignment, you will be the author of a highly ...
How to Teach Memoir Writing in High School: 3 Tips for Teaching Memoir
A great way to get students writing in middle school or high school English class is by assigning a memoir project. In this blog post, you will learn how to teach memoir writing to your secondary ELA students. When thinking about writing a memoir, people get nervous, especially students, as they will have to let down their walls and share a portion of their lives. Also, it is hard to remember ...
Memoir Unit Plan for High School
Memoir Unit Plan Summary. This memoir unit plan can serve as your guide as you teach high school students about the art of memoir writing. The unit begins by framing the memoir in its larger ...
How to Write a Memoir: Examples and a Step-by-Step Guide
7. How to Write a Memoir: Edit, edit, edit! Once you're satisfied with the story, begin to edit the finer things (e.g. language, metaphor, and details). Clean up your word choice and omit needless words, and check to make sure you haven't made any of these common writing mistakes.
Memoir Unit
Read "Dirk the Protector" - Memoir by Gary Paulsen "Dirk the Protector" Writing Journal Entry: (2nd Section - List characteristics of memoir that are present in the story. What connections can you make to the story? (Text-to-Text, Text to-Self, Text-to-World). Task Four: After Reading Questions. Recall: What does Paulsen do to take care of Dirk?
How to Teach Memoir Writing
Before asking students to write or even think about writing, build their confidence. They have a story to share! 1. Provide mentor texts. Before your students even start writing, be sure they understand what a memoir is. Provide examples to your students. A good way to start class is to simply read a few pages from a memoir.
PDF UNIT: "HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR"
importance of memoirs while considering personal exploration of transition and hope • •Text Use: Read, comprehend, evaluate, and write memoirs This task assesses: • Comprehending memoirs • Evaluating memoirs by applying the recommendations of other authors Read and understand text: • Lesson 1 (sample tasks included)
29 Memoir Writing Exercises and Prompts for Your First Draft
Here are some memoir writing exercises that can help stimulate your creativity and provide insight into your life. 1. Set yourself a memoir writing goal and timeline. This is the first step to memoir writing success and will help you stay on track as you move through the memoir-writing process. Whether it's writing for 30 minutes a day, or ...
Writing Memoirs In High School Teaching Resources
Reading and Writing with Miss Winther. 4.8. (59) $6.99. Zip. Recently Updated in August 2020-- New & Improved!This Memoir Unit is always a huge hit in my high school English classes! Many of my students consistently say it is their favorite unit in the class This bundle includes 3 different PowerPoint presentations focusing on memoir writing.
Writing a Memoir Assignment for a Short Reconstructed Memoir for High
This 4-Week Creative Writing Unit plan for high school students will inspire your students! A series of creative assignments are tied together with lesson plans as students create more and more developed pieces. ... Details for this Reconstructed Memoir Assignment: ⭐ Students Develop a Memory With The Perspective of Experience . ⭐ Lesson ...
Memoir: Writing about What Matters
Memoir writing, specifically, induces students to write more, write better, and write more willingly and meaningfully. Affectively, memoir writing compels writers to reflect. The difference between memoir and autobiography is that memoir includes reflection. I tell my writers that the "R" in memoir stands for reflection.
Writing a Memoir
Ramsey High School; LibGuides; Exploring Memoirs; Writing a Memoir; ... Writing a Memoir. English Grade 12 Unit 1. Reading Memoirs; Writing a Memoir; Generate Ideas. 8 Techniques for Classic Storytelling. 25 Narrative Techniques for Writers ... edit, share videos, and create video assignments in seconds << Previous: Reading Memoirs; Last ...
Writing a Memoir: Creative Writing Assignment for High School ...
This resource outlines the assignment packet for writing a memoir. This is the longer of the two pieces my students write in my Creative Writing class (the Thank You Letter being the shorter of the two). The prompt and guidelines are explained. The rubric is included, as well as an example memoir for the class to read and analyze.
63 Memoir Writing Prompts With Examples
Let's jump in. 1. "They called him Moishe the Beadle, as if his entire life he had never had a surname.". From Night, a first-hand account of the WWII Holocaust by Elie Wiesel. 2. "My mother is scraping a piece of burned toast out of the kitchen window, a crease of annoyance across her forehead.". From Toast: The Story of a Boy's ...
DOC Memoir Writing Assignment
Memoir Writing Assignment, 2010 -2011 Total Points: 100 Points. Directions: You will be creating a memoir of your life stages. Each chapter will chronicle a different stage in your life. There will not be a length requirement; however, your chapters should paint a clear image of that time period. ... High School. Memoir Writing Assignment ...
Exploring the Power of Language with Six-Word Memoirs
Again, explain the parameters of the assignment: students must write a personal memoir in only six words. To give students a bit more information about what's required, show students the "Six Tips for Writing Six-Word Memoirs" video. Allow for students' questions and then ask that students spend some time brainstorming and writing down ...
Some Good Memoirs For High Schoolers To Read
Wiesel's writing is spare and powerful, and the book is a great choice for high school students who are interested in history and social justice. 10. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. Angela's Ashes is a memoir that tells the story of the author's childhood in poverty-stricken Ireland.
Teaching Adolescents to Write Personal Memoirs
Memoirs should move seamlessly between the sea and the mountain. 1. Sorting Out Fact and Truth. When I was young, maybe five or six, my father took me to play in the park, and a dog bit me. I took this memory and developed it into a memoir for a high school writing assignment.
How to Write a Memoir: Personal Narrative Writing
Getting started — hooking your reader. Drafting. Bringing the story to life — adding description, part I. Bringing the memoir to life — adding description, part II. The ebb & flow of the story — using sentence variety. Who is telling the story — finding your voice. Let them speak: adding dialogue to your memoir. Crafting a conclusion.
Elektrostal
Pool «Kristall» - school of the Olympic reserve: diving, synchronized swimming, swimming. Home arena hockey team Kristall Elektrostal - Ledovyi Dvorets Sporta «Kristall» in 1995 year. The city ice hockey team Kristall Elektrostal was established in 1949 and plays in the Junior Hockey League Division B. Notable people Nikolay Vtorov Street
Elektrostal
Elektrostal, city, Moscow oblast (province), western Russia.It lies 36 miles (58 km) east of Moscow city. The name, meaning "electric steel," derives from the high-quality-steel industry established there soon after the October Revolution in 1917. During World War II, parts of the heavy-machine-building industry were relocated there from Ukraine, and Elektrostal is now a centre for the ...
Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Geographic coordinate systems. WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).
"They fell to the ground with screams": Russian Guards fired at
In Russia, in the city of Elektrostal (Moscow region), during demonstrations, Rosgvardia soldiers began shooting at spectators with children from machine guns with blank cartridges. One child received serious damage from a rebounded cartridge case. In the video, a child can be heard crying and screaming violently. It is also interesting that Russia recently arranged a solemn farewell to ...