Section 1 (lessons 1-3):

Lesson 1: Summarize Zinsser’s ideas

Students begin to read “How to Write a Memoir” and summarize Zinsser’s ideas in paragraphs 1-36.

Lesson 2: Analyze sentence types and phrases

Students begin studying author’s craft by rereading “How to Write a Memoir” and analyzing how Zinsser uses a variety of sentence types to engage the reader and different phrases to develop characters.

Lesson 3: Begin to develop quality criteria

Students determine main ideas of paragraphs 1-36 of “How to Write a Memoir” and analyze their development. They also begin to develop a quality criteria for memoir writing checklist.

Section 2 (lessons 4-8):

Lesson 4: Begin independent memoir

Students begin the independent reading of a memoir that will be discussed collaboratively and evaluated in the Culminating Writing Task.

Lesson 5: Determine meaning of unknown words

Students determined the meaning of vocabulary in context to support their understanding of an independent reading memoir.

Lesson 6: Prepare for literature circles

Students analyze different aspects of their independently-read memoir in preparation for a literature circles discussion.

Lesson 7: Discuss memoirs in literature circles

Students participate in a collaborative discussion of their independent reading memoir texts.

Lesson 8: Begin evaluating memoir

Students continue reading their memoirs in order to begin evaluating them against Zinsser’s advice.

Section 3 (lessons 9-12):

Lesson 9: Analyze internal and external conflicts in “Eleven”

Students read “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros and analyze how the author develops internal and external conflicts.

Lesson 10: Analyze how author uses language to develop character

Students reread “Eleven” to analyze how the author develops characters through her use of language.

Lesson 11: Analyze voice in “Eleven”

Students reread Zinsser’s advice about “voice” in order to analyze how Cisneros creates Rachel’s voice in “Eleven.”

Lesson 12: Write an analysis of voice in “Eleven”

Students develop thesis statements and write a response analyzing how Cisneros creates Rachel’s voice in “Eleven.”

Section 4 (lessons 13-15):

Lesson 13: Analyze contrasts and contradictions in “Thank You M’am”

Students read “Thank You M’am” and analyze contrast and contradictions to understand character development.

Lesson 14: Analyze how character actions develop theme

Students reread “Thank You M’am” to analyze how the actions of the characters develop the theme.

Lesson 15: Analyze point of view and evaluate text against criteria

Students reread “Thank You M’am” to analyze how the author develops the point of view of different characters. Students then evaluate whether the text exemplifies Zinsser’s advice about perspective.

Section 5 (lessons 16-18):

Lesson 16: Prepare for literature circles

Students analyze different aspects of their independently-read memoir in preparation for a literature circles discussion.

Lesson 17: Discuss memoirs in literature circles

Students participate in a collaborative discussion of their independently-read memoir texts.

Lesson 18: Continue evaluating memoir

Students continue reading their memoirs in order to begin evaluating them against Zinsser’s advice.

Section 6 (lessons 19-21):

Lesson 19: Analyze vivid imagery in “Oranges”

Students read “Oranges” by Gary Soto and analyze how the author uses vivid language to convey a theme.

Lesson 20: Evaluate “Oranges” against criteria

Students reread sections of “How to Write a Memoir” and evaluate whether “Oranges” illustrates Zinsser’s advice.

Lesson 21: Summarize connections in “Short Memoirs: Six Little Words Can Be Revealing”

Students read and summarize connections in “Short Memoirs: Six Little Words Can Be Revealing” and use the examples to write their own six-word memoir.

Section 7 (lessons 22-24):

Lesson 22: Identify the central ideas and structure of “How to Write a Memoir”

Students reread "How to Write a Memoir" and determine how the author conveys his purpose. They will also use this analysis to determine two central ideas and the organizational structure of the text.

Lesson 23: Explain how structure supports central idea

Students explain how the organization of "How to Write a Memoir" supports the central ideas of Zinsser's text and cite evidence from the text to support a written response.

Lesson 24: Apply advice to memoir writing

Students reread paragraphs 43-44 of "How to Write a Memoir" and apply Zinsser's advice to their writing practice.

Section 8 (lessons 25-26):

Lesson 25: Prepare for literature circles

Students analyze different aspects of independent reading memoirs and prepare for a literature circle discussion.

Lesson 26: Discuss memoirs in literature circles

Students engage in literature circle discussion of a shared text and use text evidence to support ideas in a collaborative discussion.

Section 9 (lessons 27-30):

Lesson 27: Begin the writing process

Students begin writing a response to demonstrate understanding of the importance of writer's craft in memoir writing.

Lesson 28: Write the first draft

Students draft an argumentative essay that demonstrates their understanding of the importance of writer's craft in memoir writing.

Lesson 29: Revise the first draft

Students revise their essays that demonstrate their understanding of the importance of writer's craft in memoir writing.

Lesson 30: Complete final draft

Students edit and publish their essays.

Section 10 (lessons 31-36):

Lesson 31: Record writing advice from Rick Riordan

Students read "Advice for Writers" by Rick Riordan and record advice about writing to prepare to write their memoirs.

Lesson 32: Record writing advice from The Elements of Style

Students will read "Chapter V: An Approach to Style" from The Elements of Style and record advice about writing in preparation for writing their memoirs.

Lesson 33: Begin writing a memoir

Students begin writing a memoir to demonstrate understanding of the techniques outlined in the unit.

Lesson 34: Write first draft of a memoir

Students begin the process of writing a memoir based on a real and appropriate personal experience using the techniques outlined in the unit.

Lesson 35: Revise memoir

Students continue the writing process to write a memoir based on a real and appropriate personal experience using the techniques outlined in the unit.

Lesson 36: Complete final draft of memoir

Students complete their final drafts of a memoir based on a real and appropriate personal experience using the techniques outlined in the unit.

Section 11 (lessons 37-38):

Lesson 37: Cold-read task, part 1

Students read a new text to demonstrate their ability to read, understand, and express understanding of that text.

Lesson 38: Cold-read task, part 2

Students read a new text to demonstrate their ability to read, understand, and express understanding of that text.