MemoirSelf-Editing Sheet

This is a class copy. Please do not write on it.

  • Use this sheet to help you edit and revise your rough draft.
  • Use a color different from your peer editor to mark up the draft.
  • If you have fully completed the task, you will get 10 points.
  • At the end of the hour, turn in this sheet and your marked-up rough draft to Mrs. Keskes.

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Verb Tense Agreement

  • Shifting verb tenses is a common mistake that can become really confusing for your reader.
  • In a memoir, you’re describing your past, so you should be writing in the past tense.
  • Activity: Go back through your story now and correct any verbs you notice are not written in past tense. The only exception is dialogue.

Point of View Agreement

  • A memoir is always from your perspective, so it should be written in 1st person.
  • Activity: Go back through your memoirand correct any section of your memoir where you notice you shift point of view.

Dialogue Formatting (If your memoir doesn’t contain dialogue, you can skip this step).

  • Dialogue can help make a memoir more interesting by revealing how the characters talk and interact with one another. It can be confusing though if not done correctly.
  • Activity: Use the handoutPunctuating Dialogue Correctly (available on the class website). Use it as a guide to make corrections on your rough draft. Feel free to get your rough draft messy!

Character Development/Self-Reflection

  • Seeing a change in the main character (you) is pivotal in a memoir. It is the impetus for writing the entire piece and creates a dynamic character.
  • Activity: Underline every spot in your story where you reflect on the events. Do you tend to reflect at the beginning, throughout, or at the end? Do you see any sections lacking in reflection? Too much? Make notations, as needed.

Diction

  • It’s important to be very clear and deliberate in your word choice so your reader gets a clear visual of what you’re describing.
  • Activity: Put a star by the section you feel has the best sensory detail. Circle another section which you feel needs more.

Plotline

  • It’s important that your story makes sense by following the basic plot structure. You should have used your prewriting chart as a guide.
  • Activity: At the top of your draft, write one sentence explaining the main conflict of the piece. Your entire memoir should focus around it.

Quick Check

  • Make sure you do all of the following for final submission:
  • Have you used Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced?
  • Is your memoir 900-1500 words?
  • Have you shared your memoir on Google Docs with ? A little image of Mrs. Keskes will show up so you know you’ve typed in the correct address.
  • Have you uploaded your memoir on Turnitin to check for plagiarism?
  • Have you uploaded your memoir to the discussion blog on Turnitin?

Memoir Peer-Editing Sheet

This is a class copy. Please do not write on it.

  • Give this sheet to someone you feel comfortable sharing your rough draft with.
  • The person you ask to edit your paper should use a different color to edit your paper than you do.
  • If this person has fully completed the task, you will get 10 points for having your paper peer-edited.
  • At the end of the hour, turn in this sheet and your marked-up rough draft to Mrs. Keskes.

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Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar

  • If you happen to notice any misspelled words, incorrectly used punctuation, or grammatically incorrect phrases, please make these corrections directly on the rough draft.

Creative Title

  • Does the title make sense for the screenplay and is it creative? Write your response at the top of the editing sheet.

Verb Tense Agreement

  • As you read through the memoir, cross out any verbs you notice are not written in past tense and correct them. Dialogue can be written in present tense.

Character Development/Self-Reflection

  • How does the main character change by the end of the memoir? Write it down at the end of the memoir. If it’s unclear, indicate this at the end.

Diction

  • Create a five senses chart and fill it in with detail from the memoir. If you notice any categories are empty or slim, go back through the memoir and star areas where you would want to read more detail.

Plotline

  • Does the memoir make sense? On the back of the memoir, write a sentence which summarizes what happens. What is the climax?

Weak Point

  • What is the weakest part about the memoir (you can’t say it’s perfect)? What suggestions do you have to improve it?

Strong Point

  • What is the strongest part about the memoir? What makes it so strong?