1. Creative Writing
Pick a number 1-10.

2. Write about a time when you got less than you hoped/bargained for.
Write about a time when you spent more than you should have.
Write about a time when you took more than you should have.
Write about a time when you gave more than you thought you should have.
Write about a time when you helped more than seems necessary in hindsight.
Write about a time when you gave less than was expected.
Write about a time when you prepared less than you should have.
Write about a time when you loved less than seems necessary in hindsight.
Write about a time when you spent less than you expected.
Write about a time when you got exactly what you deserved.

3. Creative Writing
Have your journals out and ready to go. We will present them during the last 20 minutes of class.
Get out two sheets of paper. Write the following on one of the sheets (leave spaces).
Praise:
Question:
Polish:

4. Choose one to work on for today.
The nicest thing someone has ever said to you
The meanest thing that someone has ever said to you.
The first thing you ever built or made with your hands.
The wisest thing that someone has ever said to you.
Your first crush.
The first time you earned some money.
Your first sports event.
Your first concert.
The first time you performed in front of a group of people.
The first time you got in trouble at school.

5. Examine your chosen topic
Examine your chosen topic. You may exchange it once with someone on your periphery.
Compose a 250 word story addressing your given prompt.
You will turn these in at the end of class.

6. Readings
Using your PQP chart (based on the demonstration in class), listen to one of the entries being read. Write a praise for the story, a question for the story, and something that can be improved for the journal entry.

7. Memoirs
For this first assignment, the only thing you need to do is sit quietly and listen.
I’ll read from you the novel The Thread that Runs So True, a memoir by Jesse Stuart.
When we finish, you will work on your memoirs.

8. Memoir Assignment
Today, we are going to begin our memoirs. This is an open topic assignment. The only guidelines here that apply is that it has to be about you and that it has to be a minimum of 1000 words. I do not expect you to finish in this period, but I expect a class period’s worth of work.
TIPS:
Develop your memoir around one or two significant events.
A memoir is not an autobiography. It is a story. Larger truths and storytelling take precedence over the accuracy of minor details.

9. Memoir Assignment
Examples of Memoirs: