Personal Expressive Writing

If you can talk about it, you can write about it!

EVERY child is a story yet to be told.

Critical Vocabulary

Look for these words and their definition as we take notes. What do you think they mean?

Memoir Essay Narrative Significance Traditions Memories

Personal Memoir A memoir shows the significance

between relationships during a specific time of your life.

Need a volunteer for someone to find the definition of significance and paraphrase it on the activboard/whiteboard.

Significance:

Personal Narrative Is a writing that shows a significant event

in your life.

Try to stay away from “My Trip to Disney” and “My First Day of School.” Get creative and think of memories that have really changed your life forever.

Need a volunteer for someone to find the definition of memory and paraphrase it on the activboard/whiteboard.

Memory:

Personal Essay Personal essays are written about

societal topics important to you and your life. You explain how this topic has shaped to the person you are today.

Topics you might write about are: divorce, suicide, cancer, technology, religion, traditions, etc.

Need a volunteer for someone to find the definition of tradition and paraphrase it on the activboard/whiteboard.

Tradition:

The Memory Bag/Box Project

Bring in a bag/container with 5 items (minimum) that have special meaning to you.

You will present your bag and items to the class, explaining why you chose what you did.

You will also turn in a written piece that explains which items you chose and why. Your written piece should include at least three critical vocabulary words.

This project is homework and will be due by Friday of this week.

Examples

Pictures Traditions (Christmas Eve, opening

one present) Mementos (grandmothers necklace) Special Objects (Blankies) Anything related to a significant

person/story (Grandpa’s army badge)

Rubric Rubric on Personal Expressive Presentation Project= 25 points: Your bag and all five

significant items are worth 5 points each. Presentation=15 points: You must present your

items to the class. Written Summary= 25 points: You must write a

paragraph on each item you chose that explains the item and its significance to you. Paragraph=5 sentences. Each paragraph is 5 points.

*You can put your items in any container you wish; it does not have to be a bag. You may also produce a video or PowerPoint that showcases your items instead of having them in a bag.