Contemporary Memoir Writing Prompt
Name: ______________________________
Overview:
Period: __________
A memoir is a piece of literary nonfiction, based on truth, in which a writer reflects on an experience in his or her life. What
distinguishes memoir from personal narrative is the experience factor: ideas are purposefully arranged around the result of this
experience rather than a chronology of events. In memoir, there is a distinct emphasis on how the writer remembers the experience
rather than on a play-by-play of what literally happened.
Writers usually communicate their memoirs from the first person point of view. They strategically organize events, details, ideas,
and reflections or observations to influence the audience’s emotions and understanding of an implicit or explicit theme.
The ultimate goal of this unit is to write a memoir that shares an experience from your life with your audience. Your readers should
be able to see the movie version of your experience playing in their imaginations as they read; you must re-create the experience so
your readers see what you saw, hear what you heard, feel what you felt, and even smell what you smelled. By the end, your reader
should understand what the experience means to you.
To get there, we will examine great examples of real-world memoirs from books, essays, magazines and web sites; we will focus our
study around these guiding questions:
 How do I find a personally significant topic, uncover its meaning to me, and present my understanding in ways the readers
of my memoir can appreciate enough to form their own connections?
 How does my choice of words control, color, and expand my communication with a chosen audience?
 How do I compel my audience to visualize and comprehend the place, events, objects, and/or characters I’m unveiling in a
memoir piece?
Prompt: Write a Contemporary Memoir that shares an experience from your life in a way
that reveals for the reader the significance and meaning the experience has for you.
Submission:
This essay will be submitted in class in two different ways on Monday, April 23 rd.
1) Annotated hard copy to teacher
2) Electronic copy to TurnItIn.com
3) OPTIONAL:
 Submit your memoir to a web site or magazine (www.helium.com/channels/223-memoirs)
 Submit your memoir to the Colorado Public Radio series “Here’s What Happened”
(www.cpr.org/article/Series_Heres_What_Happened, and click on “share”).
Grade:
You will be assessed in two different ways:
1) The published essay as evaluated based on the Contemporary Memoir Writing Rubric.
2) Your participation and engagement in the genre study and the writing processes.
Process:
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o
o
o
o
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Brainstorming
Rough draft (ready on time)
Learning Experience Grade: _______ / 100
Rough draft with peer feedback
Significant revision
Proficiency Process Grade: ______ / 5
Final printed essay in MLA format
Turned in to Turnitin.com
Writer’s annotations
 Unifying concept or attention getter
 Description of object, person, or place with vivid word choice and imagery
 Other narrative techniques (dialogue, flashback, suspense, figurative language)
 Intentional manipulation of syntax (sentence structure) for effect
 Impact or meaning of the experience or connection to human experience
Writing Rubric
Contemporary
Memoir
Orientation/
Opening
Ideas and Organization
Score: _________
Development
of Ideas
Development
of Internal
Structure
Closure
Craft and Style
Score: ______
Proficient
(Meets)
4
Partially Proficient
(Approaching)
3
Unsatisfactory
(Does Not Meet)
2
 Opening advances a unifying
concept or metaphor that guides
and sets the direction for the
memoir as a whole.
 Employs flashback and
foreshadowing to identify,
introduce, and develop a
personal voice and the character
of the narrator.
 True meaning of the title is
revealed as the piece unfolds.
 Narrative techniques (e.g.
description, details, characters
and/or dialogue) are purposeful
and directed towards creating a
whole and unified vision of the
author’s experience and its
personal meaning.
 The narrative includes additional
or tertiary characters, events, or
motifs that add historical and
cultural relevance to the story.
 The narrative accomplishes a
personal reflection that ties the
author to issues and concerns
beyond the story—to a broader
context.
 Transitions and organizational
patterns reflect a clear and
logical unity of theme and
purposeful movement from
episode to episode.
 Crafting of paragraph length
lends distinctiveness and clarity
to author’s voice, persona,
attitudes, and message.
 The opening is clear and engages
the reader.
 The opening establishes a clear
personal voice.
 Intriguing title that hints at topic.
 Opening is present, but
may not engage the
reader.
 The opening does not
establish a clear personal
voice.
 Title is simply a
restatement of the topic.
 Lacks a clear opening;
beginning may be dull
or uninteresting.
 The opening does not
introduce the narrator
or establish a personal
voice.
 Title is not present.
 The narrative techniques (e.g.
description, details, characters
and/or dialogue) develop
experiences, events, and/or
characters.
 The narrative includes all
necessary information (e.g.
characters, events, details) for
story to be clear and complete.
 The narrative includes reflection
of personal meaning. (e.g. theme
or message).
 The narrative techniques
(e.g. description, details,
characters and/or
dialogue) do not develop
experiences, events,
and/or characters.
 The narrative is missing
necessary information (e.g.
characters, events, details)
for story to be clear and
complete.
 The narrative is personal
and meaningful, but does
not include reflection of
personal meaning (e.g.
theme or message).
 Transitions may be
present, but are obvious,
trite, or occasionally
distracting.
 Organizational patterns
and reflection are present
but contrived or formulaic.
 The narrative
techniques are absent
and leave the reader
disconnected or
confused.
 The narrative feels
unfinished or
unfocused.
 The narrative lacks
meaning or significance.
 Conclusion solidifies the overall
narrative as a real
representation of a personal
experience that develops the
impact and connects to the
human experience.
 Language integrates poetic or
creative license with lucid and
accurate detail that reflects the
workings of memory.
 Language helps to establish a
voice that is distinctive and
engaging.
 Conclusion is clear and reflective,
and the impact of the experience
is suggested.
 Conclusion is present, but
does not include reflection.
 Conclusion may be
absent or confusing.
 Language attempts to
include poetic techniques
or figurative language, but
they are engaging.
 Words may be used
inappropriately or
incorrectly.
 Language does not
consistently maintain an
appropriate tone.
 Language is awkward
and/or distracting and
does not include poetic
techniques or figurative
language.
 Words are frequently
used inappropriately or
incorrectly.
 Language produces no
clear tone.
 Attempts sentence variety,
but with some awkward
constructions that require
revision.
 Syntax construction
impedes readability at
times.
 Errors impede
communication in some
portions of the response;
editing needed.
 Grammar usage and
punctuation are
attempted to be used for
stylistic effect.
 Lacks sentence variety;
structures are overly
simplistic or repetitive
 Uses syntax that causes
confusion or interferes
with message.
 Transitions guide the reader
through narrative.
 Organizational patterns (e.g.
foreshadowing, flashbacks,
reflection, dialogue, pacing, and
description) and reflection are
woven together in a logical
sequence throughout the
narrative.
Sentence
Fluency/
Syntax
 Creates and enhances cohesion
with purposeful syntax.
 Clarifies relationships among
and within ideas with word
phrases and clauses.
 Language includes poetic
techniques (e.g. alliteration, and
onomatopoeia) and figurative
language (e.g. simile, metaphor,
and personification) that engage
the audience.
 Precise and descriptive words
draw the audience to the
“remembered” experience.
 Language helps to establish and
maintain an appropriate tone
 Supports organizational patterns
and creates emphasis with varied
syntax.
 Contributes to readability with
correct constructions.
Conventions
 Errors, if present, are minimal
and do not distract the reader;
little or no editing needed.
 Grammar usage and
punctuation are deliberately
manipulated for stylistic effect.
 Errors do not impede
communication and rarely
distract the reader; minimal
editing needed.
 Grammar usage and punctuation
are used for stylistic effect.
Word Choice
and Tone
Conventions
Score: ______
Advanced
(Exceeds)
5
 Transitions are used
incorrectly or missing
and may create
confusion.
 Organizational patterns
or reflection are not
evident.
 Errors severely impede
communication;
considerable editing
needed.
 Grammar usage and
punctuation are not
used for stylistic effect.