1. Life Lessons in Writing

2. The Basics Who are the main characters? What are their approximate ages? What is the conflict? What is the outcome?

3. Questions 1.What is the lesson? 2.What event taught the author this lesson? 3.Is this lesson major or minor in this person’s life? 4.What is the author’s immediate reaction to the event? 5.What is the author’s long-range reaction to the event?

4. Memoir Autobiography explains how the author learned a life lesson expresses an author’s feelings about a particular experience or event in his or her life Reflective (“looking back I now understand…”

5. Qualities Short --- 1 event Long---- 1 major experience with several events--- Night by Elie Weisal Different tones: humor, sadness, excitement, happiness, nostalgic Major life change or minor explanation of perspective

6. Formula Begins in the present Story is in the past Ends in the present Introduction and conclusion relate to each other directly Very descriptive

7. Author’s reaction Explains reaction in the short-term sense… during or immediately after the event Explains reaction in the long term sense… this is usually different from the initial reaction– thus explaining a lesson