Ms.

Dawsons Memoir Unit

English 1
Quarter 3
Unit Overview
This Q3 unit seeks to explore themes and understandings surrounding identity in the context of reading and
writing memoirs. The first half of the unit is designed to introduce students to the genre as they learn what
major elements comprise a memoir and how people examine personal experiences to understand who they are
in the context of the society in which they live. Within the first week, students will choose from a list of 7
memoirs to read throughout the month of February in literature circle style book clubs that meet twice a week
for 30 minutes to discuss the major themes, conflicts, style, etc. of their respective memoir. The remaining
weekdays are dedicated to examining poems, short stories, essays, and video clips that shed light on themes of
identity and belonging, as well as continuing a discussion of the role of the memoir in exploring these ideas.
Beginning the second week of March (and running through April), The Wilma Theatre will visit our class
about twice a week to introduce
An Octoroon
(satirical rendition of Dion Boucicault's T
he Octoroon
)
to

students. On the off days, students will spend time writing and workshopping their own memoirs, which will be the
final writing piece for the third quarter.

Essential Questions
1.

What is a memoir and how can writers use

descriptive scenes of memory to create a
narrative that effectively conveys a
profound message?
2. In what ways are memoirs used to explore
themes and conflicts surrounding identity
and belonging in society?
3. How does society create and destroy
feelings of belongings for certain
identities?

Enduring Understandings
Students will understand what major elements comprise a
memoir and how writers can use personal narratives to
explore issues in society.
Students will understand the process of writing a memoir,
reflecting on their own identities and sense of belonging
in the world.
Students will understand the most effective ways to
facilitate discussions of controversial issues.
Students will understand race as a social construction
developed by society to separate groups of people and
perpetuate notions of supremacy within dominant society.

Performance Tasks
Literature Circles (Book Club)

Description
A literature circle is similar to a typical, adult book club, but with more
structure, rigor, and higher expectations. This student centered form of
learning requires students to engage in thoughtful discussion of the plot,
themes, and conflicts of their respective novel, making connections to real
world issues.
Students meet twice a week for 30 minutes to lead their book clubs in
groups of 3-5. Each student has a specific job that they are responsible for
completing in preparation of each meeting. Students switch jobs each
meeting. The jobs are as follows:
Discussion Director
Literary Luminary
Canvas Crusader
Researcher
Illustrator

Memoir Book Club Final Project

For their final projects, students will work in their book club groups to
create either a movie trailer or scene reenactment of an important
moment in the novel. No matter which video options students choose, they
must incorporate the themes and major conflict in their respective novel.

Memoir Vignette Final Project

Students will write their own memoir vignettes as a final writing

assignment (500-750 words) and it must center around an important
memory that has changed them in a significant way.

Writing Workshops

Starting in Week 6, students will partake in writing workshops to develop

ideas for their memoir vignettes. Students are given a M
emoir Intentions
Checklist
, which outlines all of the components necessary to develop an
engaging and completed vignette.

Identity Mapping Activity

On day one, we began by mapping our own identities, depicting how

we see ourselves and how the world sees us. Students then wrote
reflections that answered the following prompt:

Write a reflection of the identity mapping activity from class, explaining the choices
you made to depict who you are and how others may see you. After reflecting on your
map, how much of your identity is shaped by the way people perceive you? In your
opinion, what role does society play in shaping who we are?

Journals

Over the course of this unit, students take the first 15-20 minutes of class to
answer journal prompts related to themes and ideas were preparing to
explore during the lesson. Many of the prompts also helped students
brainstorms memories to expand in their final project.

In-Class Discussions

Under the guidance of our classroom rules (listen patiently, listen actively,
and police your voice), we engage in large group discussions of a variety of
resources to explore our central themes of identity and belonging. The
texts resemble memoirs in that they are from the point of view of a variety
of individuals reflecting on their life experiences.

Resources Used throughout the Unit

Book Club Memoir Novels
When I was Puerto Rican
by Esmeralda Santiago
Its Kind of a Funny Story
by Ned Vizzini
Monster

by Walter Dean Myers

Funny in Farsi
by Firoozeh Dumas
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian b
y Sherman Alexie
Looking for Alaska
by John Green
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky

A House on Mango Street

by Sandra Cisneros
Brown Girl Dreaming

by Jacqueline Woodson
Poetry
Untitled by Jonathan Rodriguez
Somewhere in America Spoken Word
Dreams by Langston Hughes
Hija de Las Americas by Aurora Levins Morales
Films/Videos
The Danger of the Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Power by Kanye
The Lunch Date Adam Davidson Short Film
Sarah Palin Speak American CNN Interview
Genos Steaks Controversy News Interview
Rachel Dolezal Interview on MSNBC
Essays
Excerpts from How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua
How It Feels to be Colored Me by Zora Neale Hurston
A Rainbow Creation by Lori Duron
Whats it Like Being Muslim in America? by
Zehra Naqvi
Stories We Tell Ourselves
by Dalton Conley
Short Stories
Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan
Desirees Baby by Kate Chopin
Excerpts from The Cutting of My Long Hair in
The School Days of an Indian Girl
by Zitkala-Sa (Gertrude
Bonnin)
Excerpts from On Seeing England for the First Time by Jamaica Kincaid
The Birthday Party from
Outside the Magic Circle b
y Virginia Foster Durr
Artwork
The Octoroon Girl Painting by Archibald Motley Jr.
Four Etchings Untitled by Glenn Ligon

Outline of Week/Themes
Week 1- Introduction to Memoir as a Genre
Week 2- Intro to Themes of Identity and Belonging
Week 3- Stereotype Threat
Week 4- The Immigration Experience & Assimilation
Week 5- Race as a Social Construct in preparation for
An Octoroon
Week 6- Writing Workshop towards Memoir Vignettes
Week 7- Writing Workshop towards Memoir Vignettes

Sample Student Work from Book Club Final Projects

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeRGCBabtD8&app=desktop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbQbc-PyIUg
Monster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Ckz7icJ2I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2h_joxjA-M&app=desktop
When I Was Puerto Rican
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6esBtUx9nt8
Looking for Alaska
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7KZwipWdOA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArLGRZ3frZQ&feature=youtu.be
Funny in Farsi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP1wFu0atsw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfjb6aEPEjQ
Its Kind of a Funny Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnW0TVJlDmw&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt5WbK8xaFM
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0EIjS_K-Lk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc-WB2-xyDQ&feature=em-upload_owner#action=share

Sample Memoir Vignette

ARuthlessFriend
HemovedclosertomeasIbegantopuckermytiny,fragilelips.Bang!Isprungupoutofmysoftbed
asIfeltmyheartjumpoutofmychest.Iwasawakenedfrommyeverlastingdreambyaloudbangingsound
comingfromdownstairs.Iwonderedwhatitwas.ThenIhearditagain,butthistime,itwasevenmoresturdy
anddemandingthanthefirstone.
Whereisshe?astrangevoicequestioned.
MyheartcloggedmylungsasIbegantoletoutanunpleasantscream.Theyweretakingherawayfrom
me,again.
Ilivedwithmymom,dad,andlittlesisteratthetime.Lifewasntgoingsogreatforme.Ihadgood
grades,allthetoysIcouldeverwantandofcourse,bothofmyparentslivingwithme,but,theywerentreally
there.Mydadworkedasatruckdriversohehadcrazy,unpredictableworkhours.Mymomusedtobeanurse,
thatisuntilshefoundanewhobby,anewfriend,PCP.PCPbecamehernewlife,shegothighallthetimeno
matterwhattimeofthedayornight.Thedrugcausedhertohallucinatefrequently,wanderingoffintodifferent
galaxies.Shewouldusuallynotgethighinfrontofmylittlesisterandme,butwhenshedid,myworld
shatteredintoabillionpieces,asIwatchedherspinelessbodyfalltotheground.
Youcantblameherforbecomingaddicted,Doniesha,mydadalwaysremindedme.
ButIcanblameherfornottakingthehelpwhenitwasbluntlythrowninherfaceseveraltimes.
Overtheweeks,shebegangettingslimmerandherneutralfacialexpressionbecameverybland.She
gotintomanycaraccidentsandphysicalaltercationswhileundertheinfluenceofthisevil,corruptingdrug.
Thiscausedhertobecomeafrequentinmate,bothinthecountyjailsystemandapsychologicalprison.The
worstpartabouttheentiresituationisthatmymotherwassupposedtobesomeoneIcouldlookupto.Ino
longerhadthatuniformfemaleinmylifetotalktomeaboutloveormenstruation.

Beingraisedinanenvironmentwheremyfemalerolemodel,modelednothingbutblackandwhite
stripedjumpsuitsandmyfathersbrokenheartcausedhimtoentirelyboxhimselfoutfromtherealworld,I
begantobecomedepressed.SotocopewithmydepressionandanxietyIbegantowriteallthetime.Somehow,
Imanagedtobuildanewlifeandstartfreshbywriting,atleast,thatswhatIthought.
OneSaturdaymorningchangedeverything.Irecallhavingthebestdreamofmylife.Iwasaboutto
havemyfirstkisswithJadenSmith.ThatallwasruinedwhenIwasrudelyawakenedbyaknockingonthe
door.AsIquerulouslycreptdownstairstoinvestigate,Iheardanunfamiliarvoiceatthedoor.Whoeverthe
mysteriousvoicewas,itwasaskingforthewhereaboutsofmymother.Mydadletoutanangrysighand
openedthedoorcompletelytoletthisstrangerinsideoursafehome.Whentheguysteppedinsidethedoor,I
heardaraspydispatcher'svoiceonasmallwalkytalkyandIrealizedthatthestrangerwas,infact,apolice
officerlookingformymother.Isatonthelaststepofthestaircaseandbegantocry.Iknewthathewashereto
takeherbacktojail.Itwasntanythingnew.
Abbigail?Theofficerprojected.Whereareyou?
Mymotherwalkeddownthestepswithalargechefsknifeinherhand.
Droptheweapon,Abbigail!Theofficerdemanded.
Theytoldmetocomewiththem,it'sbetterintheunderworld,mymomstatedtediously.
Ihoppedupfromthestepandgazedatherblack,soullesseyeswithtrepidation.Iwillneverforgetthe
soundofthatstainlesssteelhittingthestep,tipfirst.Theofficerhandcuffedher,tookhertohiscaranddrove
off.IstillremembercryingloudlyasIheardthesirensfadeoffintothedistance.Mydadslidhissore,slender
backagainstthewallandsighedagain.Butthistime,itwasagoodsigh.Asighofrelief.
Lookingbackonthistragicevent,Irealizehowmyroughupbringingcreatedabrave,openminded
warrior,readytoovercomeanythinginmypathwaytogreatness.