Lesson Title: Reflection—Memoir vs. Personal Narrative

Subject: Writing Workshop / Revision

Audience: 2–5

RATIONALE:

A distinguishing element of memoir is the inclusion of reflection. Revision creates the opportunity to reread drafts and add writing with a reflective stance.

PREPARATION:

Video Clip: “Memoir vs. Personal Narrative” featuring Schoolwide Literacy Consultant Dr. Linda Bausch

Book: Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye
Click here to purchase a copy of Sitti’s Secrets.

Make a chart or transparency of the Appendix: “Questions for Reflection” 

CLICK HERE FOR THE LESSON OF THE WEEK.

WATCH VIDEO: “Memoir vs. Personal Narrative”

INFORM
Revision is an opportunity to look at our drafts anew—to breathe new life into them! Since reflection is a distinguishing element of memoir, today we are going to look again at our drafts and see if we have included the element of reflection.

PRESENT
Reflection is a key feature of memoir. In memoir, writers often answer questions about their lives and how their particular memories affected them. How have I changed since this event or because of this event? What have I learned? What do I want people to know about me as it relates to this event? These are the kinds of questions memoirists answer.

Let’s read a passage from the book Sitti’s Secrets to see how author Naomi Shihab Nye included reflection.

Read the next to last page in Sitti’s Secrets, “Does my grandmother know . . .” The end of this book has the author back at home reflecting on her grandmother. She wonders what her grandmother knows and then goes on to offer how she now thinks of the world in light of her experiences on “the other side of the world.” Note that the author asks questions out loud that she does not have an answer for. That can be reflection, too! You don’t have to know all the answers to your questions. Asking questions is part of reflection.

ENGAGE
Using our chart, let’s go over the reflection questions and talk about how these questions can help you add reflection to your memoir. Show the chart or transparency of the Appendix. Read and discuss the questions.

REITERATE

Use these questions to help you think about what kinds of reflection you can add. Reread your draft as if you were seeing it for the first time. Do you need to add reflection in your draft?