Senior Memoirs Project

Senior Memoirs are a way for you to recall the adventures, triumphs, and mishaps of being a high school student. It is a keepsake of your high school years that you will be able to keep forever. Include items that are meaningful and personal. Above all, have fun and enjoy your final year!

GUIDELINES:

  • Students will complete two entries/assignmentsa month(1 writing and 1 project entry) during the course of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters, a total of 12 entries. (October, November, December, January, April, and May)

Note: No entries will be due in Februaryand March because of Sr.

Project.

  • Students can only complete one type of entry for the memoir. For example only one collage, one top ten list, one freshman year memoir, one memoir about an important person.
  • Final copies should be printed on stationary or nice paper and include related graphics and/or pictures.
  • If you choose to do a memoir that is not writing based for one assignment (collage, pictures, pictorial essay), the next memoir MUST have a writing component. In short, each month you can do two writing entries or one writing and one project entry. See list below for types of (P) project entries.

RANGE OF ENTRIES (WHAT MAY BE INCLUDED):

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* ESSAY/NARRATIVE* POETRY

* PICTORIAL ESSAY (written and visual portrayals of a topic)* COLLAGE

* SONG LYRICS (what they mean to you)* MOMENTOS

* ADDITIONAL IDEAS W/ APPROVAL

REQUIRED ELEMENTS:

1.TITLE PAGE

2.TABLE OF CONTENTS

3.INTRODUCTION: Introduces your memoirs. A preface for your book that evaluates your progress throughout high school. ¾-1 page typed, single-spaced. DO NOT DO THIS UNTIL ASSIGNED AT END OF YEAR.

4.PROLOGUE: Where I’m From Poem (Information to followDO NOT DO THIS UNTIL ASSIGNED AT END OF YEAR.

5.ENTRIES: 12 total entries; a maximum of 6 entries can be project entries. Entries must include a title.

6.CONCLUSION: Must be ½ page in length, single-spacedDO NOT DO THIS UNTIL ASSIGNED AT THE END OF YEAR.

MONTHLY TOPICS (select two per month):

  1. ____ IT’S ALL ABOUT ME: Write about yourself. It should include descriptions and explanations of your physical, mental, social, and educational development.
  1. _____ WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.
  1. _____ NEGATIVE LIFE LESSON: Essay, topic should be an event that happened to you or that you witnessed in which a person, adult or younger child taught you a negative life lesson; something not to do in your life. Explain the situation, what happened, and what you learned.
  1. _____ REMEMBER WHEN CONVERSATION: Make an appointment with one or two of your good friends. Meet someplace where you won’t have any interruptions or distractions. Talk for a minimum of one hour about "Remember when…" or "Remember that time…" Keep notes of what you talked about. Create two visually appealing pages compiling the memories. Can include poetry, pictures, songs, mementos, and graphics. Some component must be written.
  1. _____ LETTER TO GRANDCHILDREN (2 Options) Either write your memories about a significant historical event that has occurred during your lifetime and your experience/thoughts/reaction, or write a letter with words of wisdom and advice for your future grandchildren. What would you want to tell them 50 years from now?
  1. _____ FRESHMAN MEMORY (good, bad, humorous, pivotal).
  1. _____ SOPHOMORE MEMORY (good, bad, humorous, pivotal).
  1. _____ JUNIOR MEMORY (good, bad, humorous, pivotal).
  1. _____ YOUR SENIOR YEAR: What it meant to you coming back to school in September and how you feel now that it is almost over.
  1. _____ MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT DURING HIGH SCHOOL.
  1. _____ MOST FUN THING YOU DID DURING HIGH SCHOOL.
  1. _____ WORST THING THAT HAPPENED DURING HIGH SCHOOL/WORST MEMORY.
  1. _____ MOST TROUBLE YOU GOT IN DURING HIGH SCHOOL/STUPIDEST THING YOU DID.
  1. _____ PERSON THAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU DURING HIGH SCHOOL.
  1. _____ (P) TOP TEN LIST.
  1. _____ (P) OBJECT THAT HOLDS A SPECIAL MEMORY: Find an object that holds a special memory of a significant event that occurred during your high school years (i.e. photograph, event ticket, program, newspaper clipping, wrapper, note, letter, etc...) Recapture the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, thoughts and feelings surrounding the event. Include a picture of the object.
  1. _____ WHERE YOU CAME FROM: Describe what it is like to be a part of your family. Include information such as who is in your family and the relationships you have with those family members. Discuss how they have influenced the person you are today.
  1. _____ TOMORROW: What are your lifetime goals? Think about your life twenty of thirty years from now. Where will you be in terms of family, career, leisure time, etc…? Describe your future existence the way you perceive it will be.
  1. _____ (P) FAVORITE SONG LYRICS: Write a few paragraphs about your favorite artist and/or song lyrics and why you like it/them so much. What does it mean to you? How does it make you feel? When did you first hear it? What memories does it invoke?
  1. _____ HANGING WITH FRIENDS: Favorite friends and experiences
  1. _____ CLASSES: What was your favorite class and why? What was your least favorite class and why?
  1. _____ (P) QUOTES: Create a visually appealing page with quotes that mean something to you. Minimum6-8 quotes.
  1. _____ LETTERS: Write two letters to significant people you admire or that have made a difference in your life. Thank the person for what he/she has done and describe the impact they had on you.
  1. _____ (P) WHAT’S COOL: Create a two page layout with favorite movies, TV, shows, books, fads, movie stars, sports figures, fads, clothing, etc…
  1. _____ (P) PHOTO ESSAY: Create a photo essay around ONE theme. The theme could be family, friends, a trip, school, etc… or any of the topics not indicated as a (P) project entry.
  1. _____ BIOGRAPHY’S: Ask at least two people to write about you. One must be a parent or guardian. The second can be anyone. Ask them to think about your personality, strengths, moods, emotions, looks, goals, and special moments you have shared. It can also be a letter to you- what would they want to say to you if they never had the chance to speak to you again.
  1. _____ 1St CRUSH or time you got your heart broken.
  1. _____ THE TIME YOU WERE THE MOST ______(insert an emotion).
  1. _____ FAMILY: write about your family, the good, the bad, and the comedic. What do they mean to you?
  1. _____ TRADITIONS: Write about a family tradition that means a lot to you.
  1. _____ (P) THE 12 COMMANDMENTS: focus on the 12 rules to live by in your family, or the twelve lessons your family has tried to instill in you. This can also be about other topics- the 12 commandments of football, of being a girl, etc…
  1. _____ The Secret of ______. Fill in the blank with whatever you want, and then give advice.
  1. _____ (P) 6 WORD MEMOIR. Create a poster to display your 6 word memoir. Include photos or art (8.5 x 11)
  1. _____NO REGRETS: Write about something you did and as a result you have no regrets.
  1. _____NEWS: What news event/s made an impact on you? How did the event effect you (happy, sad, mad)?
  1. _____LOSS. What have you lost in your life? What effect did this loss have on you? Write about something or someone you have lost.
  1. _____PIVOTAL MOMENT.
  1. _____ (P) COLLAGE: Create a collage about someone important or influential in your life. Or create a collage about any of the above topics, including those not indicated as a (P) project entry.

Aside from the required pieces, you may add anything else you want to your senior memoir. Ultimately, this project should be more than just a grade- it will represent your memories. Remember, as years go by, your mind becomes mushy, so get the memories out NOW! Have fun and make this project your own.

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