Memoir Writing Assignment

Memoiris a piece of autobiographical writing, usually shorter in nature than a comprehensive autobiography. The memoir, especially as it is being used in publishing today, often tries to capture certain highlights or meaningful moments in one's past, often including a contemplation of the meaning of that event at the time of the writing of the memoir.

While asleep, you have time-traveled back to the Colonial era and find yourself in a Puritan society. When you awaken, you find yourself in period clothing and in a bed in the parish house, a guest of the Puritan minister. You are keeping a journal of what has happened to you, what and who you encounter in the Colony, and how you interact with the Puritans so that you can explain your absence to your family. You meet Goodman Brown and a female cousin of Mary Rowlandson and sit through a Sunday sermon. Describe these encounters, the people and conversations,your reactions, and reflect on what you learn. Keep what you have learned of the Puritans in mind.

You will turn in three neatly typed, double-spaced entriesin the correct memoir format, demonstrating the significance of your encounters, and using narrative elements in the retelling with no grammatical errors.

Memoir Writing Rubric

Criteria

/ 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Memorable Moment / Memoir focuses on three moments that seems significant to the time spent in the Puritan society; contains reflection. / Memoir focuses on three moments that seems kind of to the time spent in the Puritan society; contains reflection. / Memoir focuses on two moments that does not seem significant to the time spent in the Puritan society; / Author does not seem to be aware of the significance of the moments or only has one entry.
Style & Technique / Author consistently “shows” the significance of the events through engaging details, compelling language, and a balance of action, thoughts, and dialogue. / Author sometimes “shows” the significance of the events through details, compelling language, and a balance of action, thoughts, and dialogue. / Author “tells” the significance of the events through direct statements. / No effort is made to reveal the significance of the events to the reader.
Format / Memoir is neatly done and published in an appropriate and attractive format and could be used as a model for others.
Audience and Purpose is apparent in all reflections. / Memoir is neatly done and published in an appropriate format. Purpose and audience apparent at some point in reflections. / Format of memoir may or may not be appropriate. Memoir may or may not be neat. The purpose or the audience is apparent at some point. / Format of memoir is not appropriate and piece is not published neatly. Neither the audience nor the purpose is apparent.
Conventions / Memoir is error-free. / Memoir contains minimal mistakes that do not interfere with meaning. / Numerous minor errors often make memoir difficult to read. / Many errors in spelling, capitalization, and punctuation often interfere with meaning.

Name______Score______

Comments: