MODULE 1
2nd Quarter
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
Identify and define the
different Differentiate the
autobiographical autobiographical
narratives. narratives.
Write a journal entry
based on one’s
experience.
Autobiogra-
Biographical
phical
Narrative
Narrative
It is a life experience written from It is a story of a person’s life or
the perspective of the writer. experiences written by another
author.
Autobiographical Narrative
◦ It is an “ account of one’s
own life, generally a
continuous narrative of major
events.”
Autobiographical Narrative
◦ As a literary form, it is greater than a mere
reminiscence of the important episodes in the
life of its author, for it must also be a coherent
chronicle of a particular kind of existence.
Autobiographical Narrative
◦ Biography
◦ Autobiography
◦ Memoir
◦ Journal
◦ Dairy
◦ Letter
◦ Biographies
VS.
◦ Autobiographies
VS.
◦ Memoirs
Biography
◦Bio-the story of someone’s life written by
another person.
◦Often tells about the lives of well-known,
important people such as world leaders,
scientist, movies star and athletes.
Biography
◦ Can be written about minor public figures
well, those among us who had a less
obvious but still weighty influence on the
world.
◦ Biographer ( who write the biography )
Autobiography
◦
The writer composes his/her life story from
birth to the present using the first person “ I.
“
◦It tells the writer’s feelings and thoughts
about the people, place and things that are
important in his or her own life.
Memoir
◦
Popular form of autobiography
◦Written in story form like a a novel and
uses many of the techniques common to
fiction.
Memoir
◦ The major difference between memoir
and autobiography is that a memoir is
more centralized and more specific term.
Memoir
◦ While an autobiography spans the entire life of a
person with intricate details such as the childhood,
education and profession, family history.
◦ memoir is specified and focused that tell the story of
somebody’s life or focuses on an important event
occurred on a specific time and place.
Memoir
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir
a. The Desire Line
The first step in drawing an arc is to answer this
question: What did you (as the narrator/protagonist)
want in the story you’re telling?
◦You should be able to state the desire line in a sentence:
Ex.
◦I wanted to be a psychiatrist.
◦I wanted to stay in the police department.
The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir
b. Actions and Obstacles
Once you have the desire line, you can lay out the
events of your book. What did you do to get what
you wanted? What got in your way?
◦Begin planning your story arc by jotting down a
list of actions and obstacles:
◦I wanted ______________(the desire line).
◦To get it, I ______________(action).
The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir
c. Emotional Beats
A memoir is an emotional journey. The events in
the story are there not because they happened,
but to show the shifts in emotion the narrator
(you) goes through, event by event, over the
course of the book. These shifts are called
“beats.”
The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir
d. The Initiating Incident
Notice that some beats will be major
turning points, others more minor. The
most important event/beat comes near
the beginning. This is the day the trouble
started
The Key Elements of Writing a Good Memoir
e. The Ending Incident
◦The desire line defines the ending: When
the narrator gets what he wants, or
doesn’t, or stops wanting it, or whatever,
the story has reached the end of its arc.
QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE MEMOIR
The voice is first person singular: I, not we,
one, or you.
The memoirist is the main character,
someone for readers to be within the story.
The writer’s thoughts and feelings, reactions
and reflections, are revealed.
QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE MEMOIR
There’s enough context - background information
- to understand the events of the story. The
context is woven into the story.
A reader can envision the action - can see what is
happening.
A reader can image the setting - where and when
the memoir is unfolding.
Characteristic of the MEMOIR
It focuses and reflects on the relationship
between the writer and a particular person,
place, animal, or object.
It explains the significance of the
relationship.
It leaves the reader with one impression of
the subject of the memoir.
Characteristic of the MEMOIR
It is limited to a particular phase, time period,
place, or recurring behavior in order to develop
the focus fully.
It makes the subject of the memoir come alive.
It maintains a first person point of view.
Memoirs have an introduction with an attention
grabbing opening.
. They include details that set the scene
Remember
Memoir is an aspect of your life, not your entire life.
It is not about you, but about how that aspect of your
life transformed you.
It is based on recalled events that may not be
accurate because memory is imperfect
Invites the readers to reflect with you as you reveal
the significance of facts or recalled events in your life
Activity Time: Fix Me !
Guess the Jumbled Words !
[Link]
A life story of a person
Autobiography
2. PHYARGIOB
-a story of someone’s life
written by another person.
Biography
3. IRMOEM
-popular form of
autobiography.
memoir
Assignment:
◦In a short bond paper:
◦1. Write a Biography of a one famous
personality.
◦2. Why did you choose his or her ?( To be
pass on tomorrow)