Creative Non-Fiction
 Compose a Snapshot Memoir
 All snapshots should relate to one Universal Truth
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you’ve learned in your life so far
Aim for three “snapshots” in your memoir
One snapshot may be in poem format (it must be
YOUR poem—not someone else’s)
The others must be narrative
Snapshots should be written in present tense
By the conclusion, the reader should be aware of the
Universal Truth that you wish to share
Pre-Writing
Step
Use the Memoir
Organizer to
help you
organize and
test your ideas
before you begin
your rough
draft.
 A picture presents one moment in time
 Your snapshots should describe one moment in
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time
Snapshots should be very focused!
Tell just what the reader needs to know to
understand the snapshot (they may infer!)
Include some dialogue
Include descriptive passages
Let the snapshot event tell why the experience was
memorable
 Use only one side of the paper!
 Remember to write in present tense (as if it were
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happening right now)
Paragraph as you draft—don’t wait for your final
Include sensory imagery
Start on a new page for each snapshot
Go back and read over your words periodically as you
write
Revise as needed as you write
 Revise each snapshot separately
 Look for~
 Does the snapshot story make sense?
 Is it told in present tense (as if it were
happening now)?
 Is it told in first person point of view (I, me, my,
we)?
 Is there purposeful dialogue?
 Does the snapshot story tie into the universal
truth?
 Read the paper with a careful eye
 Mark any conventions errors you find with a red pen
 Look for~
 Capitalization
 Punctuation
 Spelling (esp. homophones)
 Verb Tense
 Dialogue Punctuation
 Type your paper using proper MLA format (get a
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sample from the teacher)
Double space
Indent new paragraphs—don’t leave extra space
between paragraphs
Use a size 12 font, Arial or Times New Roman
Title centered, same size and font as the rest of the
paper
Capitalize main words in the title
Include your name, teacher’s name, date, and name of
assignment as shown in proper MLA format
 Staple together, in this order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Rubric
Final Copy
Rough Draft
Memoir Organizer
Daily Progress Sheet