Personal Memoire Story Elements Characters Setting Problem Details

Personal Memoire • Story Elements: – Characters, Setting, Problem, Details of Events, Turning Point, Conflict, Conclusion or Resolution to the Problem, the Conflict is not always resolved • Organize the Elements: Exposition: characters, setting, problem Rising Action: Details of Events, Suspense, Conflict Climax: reveals or answers the epiphany Falling Action: Starts gathering details that lead to the resolution or conclusion of the ideas – Denouement: The problem must be solved; explanation of what lesson or personal changed occurred because of the event; explains the personal epiphany – –

Brain Storming Ideas for a Personal Memoire • Events: – These are positive or negative events that happen to YOU. – There needs to be a problem and conflict. – The problem must be solved. – YOU must have an epiphany. – YOU must have learned a lesson which creates personal change (change in attitude toward LIFE). • Do not worry about organizing your thoughts or events. • Just write down pieces of the events – don’t worry about writing down all the details (TRIGGER THOUGHTS)

Selecting an Event for a Personal Memoire • Read over each event and ask the following questions: – Am I okay with sharing this event with my peers? • If the answer is NO, then cross it out. – Did I really have an attitude toward life change? • If the answer is NO, then cross it out. • If the answer is YES, decide if it is worth sharing with others. Another words, will it create a change in others?

Planning for Personal Memoire (horizontally on your paper) Exposition Characters: Setting: Problem: Rising Action (list of major events) Climax Falling Action (list of major events leading to the resolution) Denouement (explain the epiphany – lesson learned and what changed occurred)

• • First Draft Set-up Skip lines – write on every other line Write on 26 lines total – no more Writing on the FRONT SIDES ONLY Thesis Statement: introduction statement – ONE SENTENCE ONLY – Ex. When I was four years old, I experienced a traumatic event that I have never forgotten. • Body Paragraphs: only happen when you begin a new topic • Conclusion Statement: ONE SENTENCE – Explain the lesson or personal changed occurred or explain how the epiphany changed you

Help with Revision for a Personal Memoire • Cross-out unnecessary details – ones that are not related to the event – These distract the reader from the real event • Word Choice: changing repetition: words, details (phrases, etc. ) • Adding suspense, humor, or dramatic (positive or negative) tone • Sentence Variety: make sure the sentence styles vary – use simple, compound, AND complex. • Fill in the GAPS of your event: do not skip around or leave out IMPORTANT details

Paired-Share Revision Activity • With a partner: – Read your paper TWICE to your partner • Read slowly and clearly • Do not stop and correct yourself or try to make verbal or written changes while you are reading – While LISTENING: • Write notes to your partner on the given post-it note Is there a clear thesis statement? Did you recognize the tone? Fluency – is it choppy or do the sentences seem breathless? Distracting details – are there any that do not enhance the memoire? – Lesson Learned or Attitude Change – did you hear it or is it missing? (this should be the conclusion statement) – –

Revision Part 2 • Look at the highlighted sentences and make sure you do not have all of one kind of sentence. There should be a variety of simple, compound, and complex sentences. • Revise the beginning of your sentences to make sure they begin differently. Do not use the same word more than 2 times. • Revise your PRONOUNS (I, me, my, mine, myself, we, us, our) – you may not use these personal pronouns more than 10 times. Reword your sentences to take out the over used pronouns.