The Six-Word Memoir -- What's Your Story?

Is the pen really mightier than the sword? In this highly interactive class, students will examine the power of words and how they evoke emotion in the reader.  I will begin the class by engaging students in a discussion about denotation vs. connotation.  We will also discuss the difference between tone and mood and examine their relationship with diction (word choice).  To fully understand how a single word can deliver a powerful punch, we will read and analyze examples of The Six-Word Memoir. (A memoir is a personal account of specific memories or stories from a person's life.)  I will include examples from famous authors as well as students. The class will critique each memoir and discuss the tone and mood created in each one.

I will then challenge the students to write their own Six-Word Memoir. They will begin by brainstorming important facts and experiences in their lives.  This portion of the class will allow students to talk about their lives and to perfect their word choice to communicate the emotions behind their memories.  Our earlier discussion of denotation, connotation, tone, mood, and diction will be valuable in this part of the class.  After crafting their six-word memoirs, students will be able to share their writing with the other students. 

This information-packed class will allow students to write with a teacher as well as their peers.  Writing in the moment is excellent practice for middle-school students. By the end of the class, students should be more knowledgeable about their own writing style and should be more comfortable with developing tone and mood with concise diction.  In addition to being educational, the class is meant to be fun -- my purpose as a teacher is to help students develop their writing skills in a judgement-free zone.