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Memoir & Personal Narrative Unit Logs
Reminder for all logs: each must be either written neatly in dark blue or black ink on a neat sheet of notebook paper or be typed using standard typing format. It must be at least 1 full page handwritten or 3/4 page typed. You will be graded on thoughtfulness, understanding of the literature (if relevant) and apparent effort.
Log 1: Letter to Ms. Kurtz. Typed is strongly preferred for this assignment. I will be keeping this one and referring back to it. Use the required heading and then write it in a letter format. Remember your audience and purpose; use appropriate content and tone for a letter to your teacher. In your letter, answer ALL the following questions.
- Introduce yourself: what would you like me to know about you?
- What are your hobbies and interests? Tell me a little about them and how you got into them.
- What is your favorite book you read in class last year? Why?
- What do you like to read on your own? Why?
- What do you like to write? Why?
- What is your goal for English this year?
- How will you work towards achieving that goal?
- How can I help you best?
- What else would you like me to know about you?
Log 2: Describe a time you were embarrassed by or proud of your family or culture OR describe an incident revolving around a meal. Use Amy Tan’s non-fiction piece "Fish Cheeks" as a model. Tell the whole story; use concrete details and vivid images. How do you look back on this event differently now?
Log 3: Describe a true story from you own experience involving an animal. Be descriptive and detailed. For inspiration, look at Herriot’s style of bringing the story to life.
Log 4: "Getting a Job." Complete both A and B:
A. Write a detailed account of your experience involving one of the following: your first job, working, your dream job, or something you achieved through your determination.B. Compare your experience to the excerpt in the text "Getting a Job" by Maya Angelou. Include concrete details from the text.
Challenge: Try telling the story in a humorous way. Use appropriate word choices to highlight the humor.
Log 6: "You can't always get what you want." Describe time you didn't get what you wanted or thought you deserved. In a paragraph, compare your experience to "The Watch."
Log 7 Extra Credit: Based on your freewrite and "The Teacher Who Changed My Life." Write about a person who changed your life in a positive way. Describe an important moment with this person. Then describe how this person changed your life. What did the person do or say? How was your life different afterward? Have you ever thanked this person properly? Why/why not? What would you like to say to this person now?
