This year, you will write a book, a Senior Memory Book. It will consist of your memories and thoughts from your life. It is recommended that you begin to work on it now and for the remainder of the semester in order to complete it on time without rushing the project. The rough drafts may be checked at checkpoints. It is not necessary to have the papers typed with pictures at that time. The majority of this project will be done on your own time at home. I am available after school for revisions of rough drafts at any point throughout the semester.
The final project will be presented in a loose-leaf binder, scrapbook, or folder. Whether you need a ½ inch or two inch binder will depend on how much you put into this memory book. Your binder should use pictures for each chapter to enhance your memory book.
Your Senior Memory Book will contain 5 chapters. You can also include pictures, drawings, newspaper clippings, certificates, etc… which will enhance your book. If you choose to include any extra chapters you must have them approved.
NOTE:- Include “Table of Contents”with ‘own titles’ of chapters
Ex.) Ch. 1- Meet the Mendez Family
Ex.) Ch. 3-At Last I Am a Senior
-Four picture minimum for each chapter (If you have difficulty finding pictures- you can include a “hobby” page-- magazine clip outs, internet pictures, drawings, etc...)
-Be descriptive and creative!
-Include “Quotes”, figurative language, rhetorical questions**
-No cliché openings. Grab reader’s interest from the beginning of the memoir.
Your Senior Memory Book must include the following 5 chapters:
*Chapter 1: A Family Tree (dating back at least 4 generations in the form of a drawing or comp. template)
AND Family Description
-Family description (Written, 1-1 ½ pages, single spaced, 12 font)
-Nuclear family, grandparents, close relatives, memories, lessons, etc…
*Chapter 2: Greatest memory or collaboration of memories from anytime in your life, except for senior year (1- 1 1/2 page, single spaced, 12 font)
*Chapter 3: Senior Year Memoir (this chapter will be 2 pages, single spaced, 12 font)
*Chapter 4: Goals for the future (1 page, single spaced, 12 font)
*Chapter 5: Greatest lesson learned thus far & who or/and how you learned that lesson.
(1 page, single spaced, 12 font)
****Extra Credit Chapter (optional)
Have a parent/ guardian write a chapter to you or about you. This chapter can be hand written, in letter style, their dreams for you, etc… (You are only permitted one extra credit chapter)
OR
Prom Chapter (pictures &memoir- 1 page/ single spaced. 12 font)
*SMB-Additional Notes:
Memoirs are the highlights of your life. They include stories of when you were going to school, when you were a teenager, when you got a job, etc. Memoirs also include stories about other people that were meaningful or influential to you.
The lead of your memoir is the most important part of your memoir. You must make sure you focus on a single event and it is something that is meaningful to you.
You will want the beginning of your memoir to be very interesting and to lead the reader into the rest of the piece of writing. Here are some examples of good leads:
I was not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time in the morning.
“You must not tell anyone what I am about to tell you,” my mother said.
The name my family calls me is ‘Sunshine’ because I am the only person who does not wake up grumpy in my house.
Suddenly, time just felt like it had stopped.
“I was six years old when my mother taught me the art of invisible strength.” -Amy Tan
Grade Layout(see rubric)
Two Major Assessments-
Overall book with writing requirements of ALL chapters (length, grammar, content, pictures, etc…
- Each Chapter is worth 20 points
Minor Assessment
Creativity, effort, organization, extras
Due:
SMB is NOT accepted late. If it is not submitted on the date it is due or beforehand, you will receive two zeroes. Arrange to have memory book dropped off if you are absent.