1. Introduce Genre –
Memoir Lecture
Read examples,
class discussion.
Key characteristics
& real-world
connections.
Collect & Assign
Monday Paragraph.
2. Continue Intro.
Characteristics of
Memoir – Person.
Highlight: Making
writing personal.
Examples.
HW: Journal entry
on a special person.
3. Characteristics of
Memoir – Places
Writing Activity w/
pictures. Read
examples. Discuss
good & bad
descriptions. HW:
Journal entry about
a place.
4. Characteristics of
Memoir – Animals
Examples, look for
descriptive words.
Discussion: purpose
HW: Journal entry
about a pet or
favorite animal.
6. Narrowing the
Topic. Discuss final
unit project.
Individually or in
small groups,
narrow topics.
Create list of top
choices for HW.
Collect & Assign
Monday Paragraph.
7. Determine
Focus/Purpose.
Breakdown
previous examples.
Activity: Purpose
Statements. (Exit
Pass – turn in at the
end of the hour.)
8. Providing enough
(quality) info.
Emphasize
importance of
details & making
connections.
Activity: Question
Sheet (guidance)
Pair & Share.
HW: Finish ?’s
9. Figurative
Language &
Imagery
Define (add to
notes)
Look at examples,
underline good
sentences on
SmartBoard*
Continue practicing
quality examples.
11. Sensory
Writing.
Activity: 5 Senses
Assign RD, Peer
Review on Day 14.
Collect/Assign
Monday Paragraph.
12. Mini-lesson on
Framing.
Read examples,
practice with
flashbacks, etc.
HW: Journal entry
of writing a frame
for memoir. Review
aspects of memoir,
writing time.
13. Writing Day!
Allow for
review/questions if
necessary. Students
can spread out. Sit
at desk, offer help
or conferencing. No
extra HW.
14. Writing Day 2
& Peer Review
Spend 1st half
wrapping up
writing. 2nd half =
Peer Review.
(Remind them of
PR process) Provide
handouts for PR.
16. Mini-lesson on
Catchy Titles.
Allow for 20-30
minutes of writing
time. Offer teacher
conferencing for
those who want it.
Collect/Assign
Monday Paragraph.
17. Mini-lesson on
important aspects of
Memoir, review
vocab terms.
Continue writing
day & teacher
conferencing.
HW: Final drat due
Day 20
18. Publishing day
in Computer Lab.
Continue teacher
conferencing if
necessary.
19. Publishing, Day
2. Encourage
students to turn in
Memoir early. Free
reading and/or
writing if done
early. HW: Final
Memoir due Day 20
5. Characteristics of
Memoir – Object
Share personal
example, group
discussion.
Brainstorm object,
illustrations. HW:
Finish drawing,
Journal entry &
Monday Paragraph.
Finish with Free
Write
10. Using Literary
Device. Define,
provide examples.
Group Activity:
Complete worksheet
of make your own
similes &
metaphors. End
with Free Write
Friday.
HW: Rewrite 5
Boring Sentences &
Monday Paragraph
15. Wrap up PR,
Mini-lesson on
Revision, &
(Extended) Free
Write Friday.
Encourage students
to have nearly
complete draft for
Day 17/18. HW:
Draft & Monday
Paragraph
20. Celebrate final
day of unit. Final
Memoir due. Enjoy
snacks, Jeopardy
game & possible
video. Free Write
Friday – End of
Unit Journal Entry
Day 10: Effectively Using Literary Devices (Plus, Free Write Friday)
Materials – Notebook/Journal, Literary Devices Handout
Connection
Teaching Point
Good morning! Today we’re
going to learn about literary
devices and how good writers
use them to make their pieces
more interesting. We’ll begin
defining our key literary devices
in our notes. Then you’ll work
with your table groups to create
strong sentences while using the
devices we’ll learn about.
As we’ve seen in many of our
memoir examples, good writers
include strong, descriptive
sentences. Today we’re going to
talk about three of the most
commonly used literary devices
that make for strong sentences.
Writers often use similes,
metaphors, and personification
to create clear pictures with
their writing.
Similes us “like” or “as” to
compare two objects. An
example would be, her hair was
as dark as the night sky.
Metaphors also compare
objects, but they do so without
using “like” or “as.” For
example, Mr. Smith drove a
cherry red Mercedes to work
yesterday. Finally, writers make
inanimate objects appear to
come to life when they use
personification. A good
example might be, the branches
of the willow tree tapped on my
window during last night’s
storm.
In each of these sentences, I’ve
compared similar objects and
given inanimate objects human
qualities. Right now we’re
0
2
going to read a few more
examples and practice making
some as a whole class. Then
you’ll receive a worksheet to fill
out with your table groups.
Active Engagement
Formative Assessment
Reinforcement
Sending
Students will receive a handout 10
that will require them to
compare objects and practice
personification. This will be
done in groups.
Walk around and read the
examples that the groups make.
Provide assistance or suggestion
to struggling students. After
sufficient time, ask each group
to share their strongest sentence
by writing it on the board. I’ll
go over each sentence for
accuracy.
You guys did a great job using
50
literary devices today! After
looking over a lot of your
sentences, I see that you really
thought hard to create strong
imagery. We’ll keep practicing
using strong imagery for the rest
of the unit.
For tomorrow, be thinking about 52
how you can use the Five Sense
to make create vivid imagery in
your writing!