Memoir Writing Assignment (a borrowed writing assignment inspired by Melanie Buckley (HHS))
You are about to commence your final year of mandatory public education. So much has transpired
during these last dozen years. You’ve wanted to write it all down so you don’t forget, but you’ve just
been too busy. Here is your opportunity. You will be creating a memoir of your life with you choosing
your chapter topics. On the day the writing is due, you will share your work with your writing group. The
members of this group will lightly critique and heavily praise your work, so be certain to be cognizant of
all the SOAPSTone elements. You will record their comments.
Required Elements:
 The Forward to your memoir.
 Five Chapters of Your Life (topics of your choosing)
o Each Chapter must have a “six word memoir” title
o http://www.sixwordmemoirs.com/
 Carpe Diem letter
 Writing group feedback recording strips
Forward: Page 1
“Who am I today?” (One/two paragraphs)
10pts
Forward: Page 2
Forward: Page 3
My Heritage (One/two paragraphs)
Timeline: Birth-Today (Bulleted events or
locations that you’ve found to be of significance.
This can be as detailed as you like)
Family Tree: Grandparents, Parents, and You
(this can be as detailed as you like)
10pts
10 pts
Due date:
May 26
May 26
May 26
10 pts
May 26
30 pts
30 pts
30 pts
30 pts
30 pts
30 pts
May 26
May 31
June 2
June 6
June 8
June 10
Forward: Page 4
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Carpe Diem letter
Chapter Options
Elementary
Personal Portrait
School Piece Piece
Funny Piece
Parent Piece
Boundaries or
Map Pieces
Influential
Person
Middle
School Piece
Family Secrets
Piece
Difficult Times
Piece
Mysteries Piece
Teachers or
School Worries
and Woes
Family Lore
Piece
Old Friends
Piece
Holidays and
Celebrations
Ethnicity or
Culture Piece
Eating, Cooking,
Or Favorite Food
High School
Conscious Artist
Piece
Favorite
Transportations
Grandparent
Piece
Hidden Places
and Hidden
Treasures Piece
Family Trip: Car
Behavior, Airport,
Packing Routines
Epiphany or
Turning Point
Piece
Inherited
Behaviors
Piece
Junior Year
On the Day I
was Born
Sibling Piece
Home Piece
Dialect, Dialogue,
or Favorite
Sayings
Place or
Spiritual Home
Piece
Relationships
Questions I
Ponder
Fears
Excitement
(write in my
choice)
…
Grading Rubric
A (30)
Clear organization
Smooth sentence fluency
Voice contains personality
Strong use of elaboration and
rhetorical devices
Strong mechanics
Intentional
Impressive control and
display of vocabulary
Focused Group:
2 Praises recorded from
each member!
2 Suggestions recorded
from each member!
B (26)
Organization exists
Most sentences are fluent
Voice is apparent
D (19)
Missing Organization
Sentences are missing fluency
Voice is missing
Evidence of elaboration and
rhetorical devices
Mechanics exist
Minimal or weak examples without
rhetorical devices
Weak Mechanics
Diction (use of words)
Words
Moderate control and display of
vocabulary
Focused on Group:
Vague praises recorded.
Vague suggestions recorded.
Lacking Focus:
Students were unprepared for
discussion in groups.
“What Lies Behind Us And Lies Before Us Are Tiny Matters Compared To What Lies
Within Us” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Carpe Diem Letter
Directions: Write a letter explaining what your life will be like in 2026. Place this
assignment will be in an envelope; it is submitted with the memoir.
Suggested Format:
Introduction Paragraph: Current Life Situation
Body Paragraph 1: Family Status and Friends
Body Paragraph 2: Job, House, and Car Situation
Body Paragraph 3: Vacation and Hobbies
Conclusion
Rubric (This is included in your portfolio.) 
A
C
D
Central Idea
Vague Main Idea
General Main Idea
Three detailed
examples
Three transitions
Two detailed
examples
Two transition
One detailed
example
One transition
F
Missing Main Idea
Minimal example
No transitions
Name: ______________________Writer’s Studio Reflection (my notes on
my writing group buddies)
Chapter 1 Topic: ______________
Chapter 2 Topic: _______________
Chapter 3 Topic: _____________
1.Six-Word Memoir Title:
1.Six-Word Memoir Title:
1.Six-Word Memoir Title:
2.My Writer’s Studio Reflection:
(Prepared, Focused, Interactive)
2.My Writer’s Studio Reflection:
(Prepared, Focused, Interactive)
2.My Writer’s Studio Reflection:
(Prepared, Focused, Interactive)
3.My writing group praised my
memoir for the following:
4.My writing group suggested my
memoir include the following:
3.My writing group praised my
memoir for the following:
4.My writing group suggested my
memoir include the following:
-
-
3.My writing group praised my
memoir for the following:
4.My writing group suggested
my memoir include the
following:
Chapter 4 Topic: __________
Chapter 5 Topic: __________
1.Six-Word Memoir Title:
1.Six-Word Memoir Title:
2.My Writer’s Studio Reflection:
(Prepared, Focused, Interactive)
2.My Writer’s Studio Reflection:
(Prepared, Focused, Interactive)
3.My writing group praised my
memoir for the following:
-
3.My writing group praised my
memoir for the following:
-
4.My writing group suggested my
memoir include the following:
4.My writing group suggested my
memoir include the following:
-
-
-
Name: ______________________
Buckley
AP Language & Composition
Date: _______________________
Memoir/Writing Evaluation
The objective of the memoir project is to identify the power of voice, craft, and
style in your own writing and the writing of your peers. (In real life, we write using
a plethora of writing styles which move beyond the five-paragraph composition.
Shocker, I know! )
Did you observe different styles in the writing of your peers? Yes or No
Did you use different styles in your own writing? Yes or No
Look through your memoir chapters. What rhetorical strategy did you utilize the
most? (For my chapters, for instance, I noticed that I mixed methods—utilizing narrative, description, and
cause & effect.)
1. Describe one benefit of the writing group activity.
2. Describe one concern with the writing group activity.
3. Record the names of your writing group members. Circle the grade he/she deserves for
participation in the writing group. Provide one concrete detail emphasizing why this
person garnered this score.
Writing Group Participation Analysis
Name
Circle Participation
Concrete Explanation
Score
1= Low Score 4=High
Score
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
4. What suggestion do you have to modify the memoir assignment for future
students?
5. In previous years, students have relished creating a class memoir. Each
student selects one memoir piece to include in the class memoir, and the
class creates a Six Word Title. I will compile the pieces for this
assignment. Do you want to create a class memoir that is a compilation of
everyone’s work? Yes or No
(Please email me an electronic Word document version of one of your chapters. I will compile all of them into one Word
document which we will place on my HHS Website.) 
Your Name______________________
In an attempt to make this assignment a positive and successful experience, you must feel
comfortable in your writing group. Here is the opportunity for you to create a “safe and
comfortable” group of writing fellows.
List 7-8 names of people you would feel comfortable having in your group:
Without explaining why, list the names of two people whose presence in your group would
absolutely freeze your ability to be productive in your group:
Other comments?
Your Name______________________
In an attempt to make this assignment a positive and successful experience, you must feel
comfortable in your writing group. Here is the opportunity for you to create a “safe and
comfortable” group of writing fellows.
List 7-8 names of people you would feel comfortable having in your group:
Without explaining why, list the names of two people whose presence in your group would
absolutely freeze your ability to be productive in your group:
Other comments?
Your Name______________________
In an attempt to make this assignment a positive and successful experience, you must feel
comfortable in your writing group. Here is the opportunity for you to create a “safe and
comfortable” group of writing fellows.
List 7-8 names of people you would feel comfortable having in your group:
Without explaining why, list the names of two people whose presence in your group would
absolutely freeze your ability to be productive in your group:
Other comments?