Eighth Grade Memory Book
“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you
are, the things you never want to lose.”
Assignment: During this year you will write a memory book. It will consist of memories and thoughts
from your whole life. You will be leaving Horace Mann at the end of this school year and entering the high
school. This memory book will be a project you can look back to, to see where you came from and where
you thought you were going.
Due Date: May 2016
Grading:
 The more thorough and more creative you are in your writing and decorating (drawings, pictures,
cutouts from magazines, newspapers, or brochures) the higher the grade will be.
 Any book not containing all 11 chapters, a Table of Contents, and a Dedication Page, will receive a
lower grade, regardless of how fancy it is.
 Books will be evaluated on mechanics, creative writing and style.
Format:
 Book form (bounded, not stapled)
 TYPED
 Each chapter has pictures and memorabilia
Chapter 1: “Before I Was, There Were…”
(5 paragraph essay)
 Your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anybody who may not be a relative but
who has helped to pave the way for you and your family
Chapter 2: “And Then I Came Along”
(5 paragraph essay)
 Earliest memories of people, places, events, and all those cute things that you did when you were
tiny, that your mother, father, grandparents or guardians tells you about
Chapter 3: “I Grew Up Here”
(5 paragraph descriptive essay)
 Describe your town(s), neighborhoods(s), community
Chapter 3: “School Bells”
(5 paragraph descriptive essay)
 Your earliest years in school – learning to read, special programs, trips, teachers, subject
Chapter 4: “I Wish I Could See ______ Again”
(5 paragraph essay)
 Tell about a childhood friend that you have no contact with anymore, but would like to see again
Eighth Grade Memory Book
Chapter 5: “The Most Influential Person in My Life Has Been…”
(5 paragraph essay-biography)
 Who do you admire most? What have they done to earn this high level of respect?
Chapter 5: “My Favorite Teacher Was/Is…”
(5 paragraph essay-biography)
 Who was your favorite teacher and why? What made that person so special?
Chapter 6: “My Goals for the Future”
(5 paragraph essay-letter to self)
 What do you want to accomplish after Horace Mann? High School? College? Career? Travel?
Chapter 7: “I Am Proudest Of…”
(5 paragraph essay-narrative news story)
 What have you accomplished that makes you proud? What are your greatest achievements?
Chapter 8: “My Closest and Most Memorable Friends”
(5 paragraph essay)
 Who were your best friends? Who are your best friends? What makes them so important in your
life? What have you done together?
Chapter 9: “My Favorites”
(5 paragraph essay)
 Describe your favorite kind of music, band, movie, shows, video game, internet activity
Chapter 10: “High School Expectations”
(5 paragraph essay)
 What do you expect high school to be like? What are your fears? What do you look forward to?
Chapter 11: “Middle School Memories”
(5 paragraph essay)
 What are your best memories of grades 6-8? Teachers? Class trips? Dances? Friends?
Heartbreaks? Crushes?
Dedication Page:
 To whom would you like to dedicate your memory book. Why?
 This should be written as if you are speaking directly to the person.
(1 paragraph with a photo)
Table of Contents:
 This should be done last after you have typed your entire memory book
 Include Dedication Page, Chapter names, and page numbers