1. Turn in your binder or notebook to a new page for notes

2. STANDARD OF FOCUS
What the author is suggesting without directly stating – you have to interpret the big message by reading in between the lines!
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings, and analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone..
The emotional charge of the statement – is it happy? Sarcastic? Sad? Word choice tells us how to interpret!

3. Connotation Look for the hidden meaning attached to the word--positive or negative.
Here are some examples. Which have positive and which have negative connotations?
Cook
Home
Skinny
Affordable
Leisurely
Mother and Father
Chef
House
Slim
Cheap
Lazy
Mom and Dad VS
Calling someone a dog connotes a person who is no good.
A dove implies peace or gentility.
Politician has a negative connotation of dishonesty while statesman connotes sincerity.
Pushy refers to someone loud-mouthed and irritating.

4. Tone Sarcastic Satirical Cheerful Whimsical Optimistic Pessimistic
Playful
Melancholy
Rage
Bitterness
Hatred
Gleeful
Amused
Sorrowful

5. The Original “Six-Word Memoir”:
TONE: Is this a happy or a sad memoir?
CONNOTATION: How do you know?

6. TONE: What tone is the author using here?
CONNOTATION: How do you know?

9. STANDARD OF FOCUS
LAFS.910.W.1.3​ Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

10. UNDERSTAND… Your memoir should say something specific about YOU!
It should tell a story.
If you have seen it on a tee-shirt or bumper sticker, DON’T use it.

11. BRAINSTORM Adjectives that Describe You Things that Make You Happy
Favorite Activities
Strengths and Weaknesses
Fears and/or Dreams
Important Moments

12. Humorous
Caring
Clumsy
Positive
Sarcastic
Creative
My Husband
Everly
Decorating
Coffee
My dogs
Cooking
Yoga
Going to the Beach
Netflix marathons
Patient
Insecure
Trusting
Fear: I’ll run out of money when I retire
Fear: Disappointing my family

13. Everly Humorous When Everly was born
My identity and my life purpose changed. I had to be something inspiring for someone else.
Humorous
yoga
Insecure
Everly
Coffee
clumsy

14. There are many words that can be used to describe me on a given day
There are many words that can be used to describe me on a given day. I’m shy, yet sarcastic. I’m humorous, yet critical. I enjoy being creative, yet I also like to sit at the beach watching my daughter play. The most important day of my life was the day Everly was born. Her name means from the meadow, but she was born in the midst of one of the hardest times of my life. Yet, I felt peace on that day, like sitting alongside a meadow. She gave me a new outlook on my own life; a new purpose for striving to be stronger than I was before she came along. I try to remain positive, but sometimes I want to hide away and just sleep away my worries. I have fears, but they don’t hold me back from enjoying the life I’ve been given. I’m Mrs. Van Nuys to my students; Mama to my child, Rebecca to my husband, friends, and family. I’m a work in progress. Progress is good.

15. STANDARD OF FOCUS
LAFS.910.W.1.3​ Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

16. SIX-WORD MEMOIRS Make every word count! Be creative and original!!!
Try to capture your p e r s o n a l i t y!!!
Consider your best and worst moments.
Think about patterns in your life or behavior.
Pick a specific lifetime area upon which to focus.
Be creative and original!!!
Don’t make the obvious choice!
You can be serious or funny.
Make every word count!

17. SIX-WORD MEMOIR Use your brainstorms to help you
Write three different memoirs
Pick three different subjects from your brainstorm
Choose your favorite one for your final draft
Don’t make the obvious choice!

18. YOU should be the focus of your memoir!

19. Family fell apart; started my own
Why’d I worry what others thought?
I started teaching. I discovered myself.

20. MY EXAMPLE Memoir: Building sandcastles with my best girl.
Choose some ideas from your planning page:
Favorite Activities:
Cooking
Going to the beach
Important moment in My Life:
Everly was born
Combine those ideas to write your memoir:
Memoir: Building sandcastles with my best girl.

21. SIX-WORD MEMOIRS Step 1: Complete the brainstorming charts
Step 2: Write 3 different memoirs (use brainstorming ideas to help you)
Step 3: Choose your favorite one for your mosaic tile and complete your rough draft
Step 4: Show complete planning page to me BEFORE you begin final draft

22. 6 Word Memoir Final Draft
Show the Picture
Tell the Story!

23. YOU should be the focus of your memoir!

24. MEMOIR MAKING: Pick your favorite six-word memoir
Write your chosen memoir on your construction paper (large, neat and clear)
Decorate your paper with designs, images and words that complement your memoir.
Fill your entire space!
Final cards should be creative, original, detailed and neat!

25. Other student examples …

33. MEMOIR Directions:
Write your chosen memoir on your paper (large, neat and clear)
Decorate your card with designs, images and words that complement your memoir
Fill your entire space!
Final papers should be creative, original, detailed and neat!