Features of Memoirs
What are some common features of memoirs?
First person POV, specific and meaningful time period in someone's life, use of sensory details, etc.
How can we tell if a character has grown throughout the story? Which elements force a character to change?
How to tell: If character's POV changed, if they change their actions, notice something big about life
Which elements force change: Significant change, conflicts, etc.
What is a theme? Give an example.
Theme: Main message or lesson of a story.
Examples: Power and corruption, identity and self-discovery, lover and relationships, etc.
What is a time period? What are some examples of time periods?
Time period: A specific time frame/era marked by specific events or ways of life.
Examples: 1950s, 21st century, 2020s, etc.
What is the difference between common and proper nouns? Give an example of each.
Example: the student, the country, the school
Proper nouns: specific names of people, places, things
Example: Katherine, Germany, Robert F. Munroe Day School
How does the prologue and map in I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai help readers better understand the story?
Map gives global context, where conflict takes place, helps us understand culture of setting.
Prologue gives background information on characters, setting, conflict.
What is the difference between internal and external conflict? Give an example of each.
Internal conflict: conflict that happens within a character's thoughts and emotions.
Example: Choosing between personal dreams and family expectations.
External conflict: conflict that is caused by outside forces.
Example: Person vs. person (Harry Potter vs. Lord Voldemort)
Name three themes present in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
Loss of innocence, growing up, bridging the gap between social classes, importance of loyalty and friendship, identity and belonging, etc.
Give three examples of how time period is portrayed in The Outsiders (which details help us know what era this is taking place)
Pop culture (actors, music, popular figures, books, etc.)
Slang (tuff, etc.)
Societal norms (family dynamics, structures, etc.)
When do we capitalize a word? Give as many instances as possible.
- Beginning of a sentence
- Specific name of person, place, thing
- Titles before names or abbreviations
- The pronoun "I"
What are sensory details? Give an example.
Sensory details are details that appeal the five senses (hear, see, smell, touch, taste)
Ex: I felt the sticky table as I ate my crispy and salty french fries.
What is an 'aha moment'? Give an example (either from a text we read in class or another story you know)
An 'aha moment' is a moment of realization.
Example: John in "First Day of School" realizing that Audrey is more aware of their situation than what he originally thought.How can we determine what the theme is in a text? (Think about what questions we can ask ourselves about the text)
What does the author want readers to remember after finishing the story? How did the characters change for better or worse? What did the characters learn?
How is the theme of 'fitting in' portrayed differently in "First Day of School" and "New Kid"? How are the character's conflicts different despite facing similar challenges? How does time period affect this?
Fitting in - "First Day of School": legal separation of races in schools, external conflict of laws allowing blatant racism and separation of race, characters worried about being in all white school for their safety, etc.
Fitting in - "New Kid": No segregation of schools, character is allowed to have friends of different races, character faced internal conflict of embracing both friendships, etc.
Correct the following sentences:
When i needed knee surgery, i went to tmh in tallahassee, Florida. I needed to talk to dr. Lee after the appointment for a long time.
When I needed knee surgery, I went to TMH in Tallahassee, Florida. I needed to talk to Dr. Lee after the appointment for a long time.
How can sensory details help readers better understand the mood or setting of a story?
Puts readers in the character's shoes, lets readers directly feel the atmosphere, can help readers understand emotions and feelings of characters
What are the five elements on a plot chart? Name them and describe what each of them are.
Exposition: Background information about characters, setting, conflict
Rising action: Building up tension of conflicts
Climax: Most tense of point of story
Falling action: Immediate aftermath following the climax
Resolution: Conclusion of story, final outcome of conflict
What is the difference between a universal theme and a specific theme? Give an example of each.
Universal theme: Applies to everyone regardless of culture, time period, personal situation.
Example: good vs. evil
Specific theme: Applies to specific groups of people, not everyone can relate to these themes.
Example: Poverty and survival
What are some clues we can look for in a text to help determine time period?
Setting (old cars, segregated schools, etc.)
Technology (electricity, video games, phones, etc.)
Conflict (specific wars, etc.)
Characters (clothing, daily routine, etc.)
Correct the following sentence:
I love going to mcdonald's with my Mom every sunday. I usually order a big mac and a large Sprite.
I love going to McDonald's with my mom every Sunday. I usually order a Big Mac and a large Sprite.
Similarities: Memoirs telling true stories, both show challenges of growing up and facing
Differences: Setting (Brown Girl Dreaming takes place in US, I Am Malala takes place in Pakistan), main focus (Brown Girl Dreaming focuses on childhood and becoming a writer, I Am Malala focuses on Malala's fight for girls' right to go to school)
Give a summary of elements of the plot chart (all 5 parts) of "Little Red Riding Hood"
Exposition: Little Red Riding Hood is sent through woods to bring goof to her sick grandmother
Rising action: She meets a wolf and he tricks her into racing to the grandmother's house
Climax: Wolf disguises himself as grandmothers and tries to eat Little Red Riding Hood
Falling action: Lumberjack arrives and saves Little Red Riding Hood from the wolf
Resolution: Little Red Riding Hood learns to be more careful and stay on the path
What themes could be present in the following story (give at least 2):
A new student arrives at a school where everyone already seems to have their own groups and routines. At first, they feel out of place and try to change small things about themselves to fit in. Over time, they meet someone who also feels a bit different, and they start spending time together. The student slowly learns that they don’t have to change who they are to feel comfortable and accepted.
Fitting in, belonging, friendship, self-confidence, growth and self-discovery
How can the theme of 'Healing and Survival' be portrayed differently in these texts?
In 1739: A small village must choose whether to risk using newly discovered but untested healing herbs to save dying villagers, even though it might have dangerous side effects. The villagers are unsure of if the herb will help or make their condition worse.
In 2046: During a sudden virus outbreak, a hospital must decide how to use a small supply of life-saving medicine. There is not enough medicine to save everyone in time.
Time period, technology, and types of choices people face.
1739 text - Medicine is not well researched or understood. They face surviving with limited knowledge.
2046 text - Medicine is advanced and understood. Medicine to heal does exist, but they face deciding who should receive it first when there isn't enough for everyone.
Correct the following sentences:
when I was in sixth-grade at Cobb elementary school, I took a music class with ms. dowell. she was my favorite teacher.
Correct the following sentences:
When I was in sixth-grade at Cobb Elementary School, I took a music class with Ms. Dowell. She was my favorite teacher.