Mini Memoirs

Homework Assignments: Week 2 English 9 Tuesday 9/4 Finish your “My Name” memoir piece. See the link and Cisneros’ version for ideas. Due tomorrow. Wednesday 9/5 Work on revising all three of your memoir pieces—compilation due Friday. Thursday 9/6 Finish revising your Mini Memoir and compile it. See the link for details. Due tomorrow. Friday 9/7 Read in your IR book – start now and prevent an end of the quarter crisis. Work on your Cisneros presentation. Make sure you have the following pieces of writing to hand in on Monday. 1) 2 quotation reflections on your Cisneros story, 2) Notes on the story and what is significant about it. What makes it effective, why you like it, what does it mean, etc. Homework Assignments: Week 1   Tuesday 8/28 Think and talk to your parents about ideas for your childhood memory and early memory stories. Write down several ideas with some details. The details are important because you don’t want to write about something you don’t know much about. For the early memory, however, you can make up any necessary details to make your writing more descriptive. If you can’t think of any early memories, choose one memory from your early childhood (8 and under) and one teen memory. I will check what you’ve written down on Wednesday. Wednesday 8/29 Finish writing the first draft of your childhood memory. Make sure you write at least one and a half pages (typed) and that you provide lots of detail. Focus on one very specific event so that you don’t have to write 10 pages in order to have enough detail. See the Mini Memoir assignment sheet for more detail. Thursday 8/30 Finish your early memory story if you have not done so already and work on polishing your childhood memory. Bring both in to class on Friday. Friday 8/31 1. Talk to your parents about how they chose your name and take some notes. Look up the meaning of your name in a baby book or online and write down definitions. Look at the prompt and see if you need any more information. 2. Set up your notebook and have it ready for a notebook check on Tuesday. 3. Choose an Independent reading book. Please bring the book you have selected to class Tuesday in order to receive credit. Check the course information sheet to see page requirements. Plan on reading at least 10 pages a night or at least 50 pages every weekend and then you won’t have to cram at the end of the quarter to finish your Independent Reading.

Details and Due Dates Childhood Memory: Due Thursday 8/30 If you're stuck, look at the student model. Early Memory: Due Friday 8/31 My Name: Due Wednesday 9/5 Complete Memoir: Due Friday 9/7 Quotation Reflection: Due What's in a Name?   Read Sandra Cisneros' "My Name" and answer the following questions: 1) Choose your favorite line from the story and reflect on what it means and why it is important. 2) How does Esperanza feel about her name? 3) What does she think of her Grandmother and her life? 4) Why does she want a new name? What difference would it make? 5) Do names matter? Why or why not?