Day 29 & 30 & 31 32

Please complete THIS course eval before the last class.

Labeling your final essays:
Autobiography Name 3.pdf
Autobiography Name 2.pdf
Autobiography Name 1.pdf
Six Word Name.pdf

Where to upload: http://www.dropitto.me/mcollie
Password: EnglishRocks
Format: double-spaced, PDF, 12 pt font, no AMPERSANDS!

Read a sample from a few years back

6-Word Memoirs

Day 28: Group work & 20 Musts

The homework: Think back to a time when you looked someplace that you shouldn’t have. Maybe you looked in the medicine cabinet while babysitting? Maybe you read someone’s diary? Write about this episode and remember to reveal what  you found.

Review writing with peers:
1. What stands out?
2. How does the writer succeed?
3. Where does the writer fail?

Write: 20 moments that must appear in your memoir

Day 27: Group work & reading

In small groups, review writing with peers:
1. What stands out?
2. How does the writer succeed?
3. Where does the writer fall short?

Groups:
1. Jessie, Will Z, Harry
2. Tai, Lucas, Andreas
3. Hayaka, Sam, Matt
4. Michelle, Zac, Will G
5. Ella, Jose, Rene
6. Alex, Easweh, Brandon


A little reading fun: Bossy Pants & Don Fey

Day 26.2: More autobiography training

Discussion about Glass Castle

• In what way does Walls use of specific description enhance/detract from the narrative?
• How does Walls express her family's social status? Does she use direct or indirect description?
• How does Wall's characterize her mother and father? Do these descriptions have positive or negative connotations?
• You read three chapters, what is the purpose of each chapter? What's the thesis or each (or each small section)?
• Is there a thread, a theme to these chapters?

Writing work: Stories about you!

1. The one thing I know for sure about [           ] is ...

2. The funny thing about ...

3. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith ...

4. We sat in silence for ...

5. Every time I see ...

As time permits:

1. You've just won a free 2-day trip to Paris. There's a catch. You must leave immediately. There's no time to go home and pack. All you can bring is what you are wearing and carrying with you today. Plus, you are given 15 minutes and $25 to spend at an airport store. What do you buy, if anything?

Day 25: The final essay(s)

• What is autobiography? Your entire life. No major thematic link. You cover it all.
• Memoir? Focuses on a smaller part or a specific aspect (athletics, birthdays, major life events, etc).

Set up the goals and assignment: 3-page memoir that encompasses your entire life thus far. Start date: birth. End date: right now. Along with producing a written work, you will recording your stories.

Writing exercises: 3-minute intervals

1. I remember tormenting …
2. I remember walking …
3. I remember diving …
4. I remember begging …
5. I remember bragging …
6. I remember dividing …
7. I remember fighting …
8. I remember eating …
9. I remember sleeping …
10. I remember playing

Day 24: Who's is counting?

Peer review: Swap papers with two other people and address these questions:

1. Clear narrative drive?
2. Clear points of comparison and contrast?
3. Who is the intended audience?
4. What's the tone? Is it consistent?
5. Has the writer taken some risk in this essay?

Groups: TBD

Day 23: Peer review & writing

Before swapping papers, please respond to these questions on the back of your essay.

1. What are three items you'd like help with?
2. What are three items you feel good about?

In small groups
1. Identify the speaker, audience & subject for the rough drafts.
2. Address the areas indicated by the writer
3. Is this essay point-by-point of subject-by-subject?
4. Is there a clear narrative drive?

Day 22: small group work

First round of group work:

1. Rene, Michelle, Will G
2. Jessie, Zac, Jose
3. Brandon, Sam, Lucas
4. Harry, Alex, Will Z
5. Matt, Ella, Easweh
6. Andreas, Tai, Hayaka

Protocol (25 minutes)

1. Presenter speaks for 3 minutes on the idea(s) brought to class. What are you comparing? Point-by-point of subject-by-subject? Who is your audience? What's the point you're making? What's the narrative drive? No interrupting. No questions. Just listening from other group members.

2. Listeners ask questions for 2 minutes. No answers from presenter.

3. Presenter responds to questions for 3 minutes. Asks further questions if necessary.

4. Repeat with each group member.

Writing for 20 minutes

Take what you'e learned from your group and grow some of your ideas. Focus, elaborate, refine. No need to narrow it down to one thing if you're still interested in a few topics.

Second round of group work:

1. Rene, Sam, Ella
2. Michelle, Brandon, Matt
3. Will G, Lucas, Hayaka
4. Jessie, Harry, Andreas
5. Zac, Will Z, Easweh
6. Jose, Alex, Tai

Protocol (25 minutes)

1. Presenter speaks for 3 minutes on the idea(s) brought to class. What are you comparing? Point-by-point of subject-by-subject? Who is your audience? What's the point you're making? What's the narrative drive? No interrupting. No questions. Just listening from other group members.

2. Listeners ask questions for 2 minutes. No answers from presenter.

3. Presenter responds to questions for 3 minutes. Asks further questions if necessary.

4. Repeat with each group member.