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Unit Two (Memoir Genre Study)

This curricular calendar outlines a 3-4 week unit on writing memoir. Students will study examples of published memoirs to develop an understanding of the genre. They will analyze touchstone texts to learn techniques for writing memoir, such as envisioning moments from their lives and putting those moments on paper. Students will study memoir structures like narrative and list forms. The unit aims to help students value and write about tiny moments from their own lives. Mini-lessons will address topics that emerge from student work, like using touchstone texts as models.

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352 views

Unit Two (Memoir Genre Study)

This curricular calendar outlines a 3-4 week unit on writing memoir. Students will study examples of published memoirs to develop an understanding of the genre. They will analyze touchstone texts to learn techniques for writing memoir, such as envisioning moments from their lives and putting those moments on paper. Students will study memoir structures like narrative and list forms. The unit aims to help students value and write about tiny moments from their own lives. Mini-lessons will address topics that emerge from student work, like using touchstone texts as models.

Uploaded by

eva.benson
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Writing Workshop Curricular Calendar

Essential Question – “What is a memoir and how do I write one?”

Unit 2 (3-4 weeks) Mini lessons


(Based on assessments)
Memoir
Genre Study
• Examples of published • What is a touchstone text?
Touchstone Texts for memoir (Wilfrid Gordon • Learning from touchstone
Memoir McDonald Partridge-Mem texts
Fox, My Rotten Redheaded • Developing a definition of
Older Brother-Polacco, What memoir from touchstone
You Know First-MacLachlan) texts
• Touchstone texts for memoir • What is a genre study?
Study of Memoir Writing • Examples of published • By reading, students develop
memoir by Cynthia Rylant, an understanding of what a
Patricia MacLachlan, Sandra writer does in order to write
Cisneros, Eloise Greenfield. memoir well.
Libba Moore Grey) • Emphasis on writing well
• Mentor authors (Tomi de • Help students value tiny,
Paolo in Nana Upstairs and ordinary moments in their
Nana Downstairs ) lives.
• Writers hold these moments
in their minds.
• Writers make a movie of
these moments in their minds
(envisioning).
• Writers put what is in their
minds and hearts on to the
page.
• Picture book touchstone texts • Students come to an
Study of Structures for for naming other ways to understanding that memoir
Writing Memoir show time within memoir- can be written as a narrative
Short Cut and Bigmama’s by (with all the elements of
Donald Crews story).
• Touchstone text for memoir • If a narrative, it’s focused
as a list-When I was Young in with sensory detail that
the Mountains by Cynthia creates plot that recreates a
Rylant world and people in world.
• Students come to an
understanding that memoir
can also be written as a list.

Adapted by J. K. and O. K., Whittier School, Long Beach Unified School District, 8/2002
From Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Writing Curricular Calendar 2002-3

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