Memoir and Autobiography

Imagine your whole life distilled to only six words!

That's one of writing's most interesting "challenges".

Click on play to see examples.

​

What do you think of this challenge? Which memoir(s) called your attention in the video?

six word memoirs

What is an explanation?

According to the Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) model, an explanation consists of:

• A claim that answers the question

• Evidence from students’ data

• Reasoning that involves a rule or scientific principle that describes why the evidence supports the claim

Subject | Subject

CER is an abstract model that can be used in many contexts. It is especially helpful to guide young learners into STEM (science, technologies, engineering and math)

Now, get a piece of paper, or a tablet, or whatever device you use to write.

Click on the video and read through. Find a memoir that speaks to you more. Copy it. ​

What do you think of this challenge? Which memoir(s) called your attention in the video?

six word memoirs

First, read out the six word memoir you chose. Try to convey the same tone or emotion that you hear your "inner voice" using in your head.

​Then, digress about the reason(s) why you chose it.

Supporting questions: Why does the person choose this point of view, or piece of their own history? How do you interpret the symbolism of the people or objects in the memoir? What can we infer from the author just by reading the memoir?

Time to talk

Multiple Choice

CER is a STRATEGY for good argumentative writing because it allows you to measure the elements you are using in YOUR arguments and conclusions. What do you think CER means?

• Clear, English, Reason.

• Claim, Evidence, Reasoning.

• Cookie, Egg, Rice.

• Claim, English, Right.

Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) - Model Teaching

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Multiple Choice

What is CER used for?

• To order our ideas and opinions about a topic.

• To debate publicly about a problem.

• To complete an exam.

• To classify all members of a set of objects logically.

Multiple Choice

The longest part of CER should be the ......

• Claim

• Evidence

• Reasoning

• Grammar

Multiple Choice

In my REASONING section, I should include....

• Adjectives

• Adverbs

• Transition words

• Conjunctions

Multiple Choice

What is this ( )

• Colon

• Parentheses

• End Punctuation

• Bracket

Multiple Choice

What is this :

• Parentheses

• Colon

• Comma

• Quotation marks

Multiple Choice

What is this /

• Comma

• Slash

• Colon

• Ellipsis

Multiple Choice

What is this " "

• Colon

• Comma

• Quotation Marks

• Square Bracket

Multiple Choice

What is this .........

• End punctuation

• Ellipsis

• Comma

• Colon

Multiple Choice

What is this [ ]

• Colon

• Square Bracket

• Ellipsis

• Comma

Multiple Choice

What is this ,

• Colon

• End Punctuation

• Comma

• Square bracket

Multiple Choice

What do I use a parentheses ( ) for?

• To finish a sentence.

• To add more information.

• To show an author's name and page number.

• To change some words.

Multiple Choice

What do I use square brackets [ ] for?

• To include a quotation.

• To change a part of a quote into your own words.

• To include authors name.

• To end the sentence.

Multiple Choice

What do I use quotation marks " " for?

• To include a part of a text.

• To show a line break.

• To show author name.

• To end sentence.

Multiple Choice

What do I use a ........ for?

• When you don't want to include all of the quote.

• To finish a sentence.

• To show author and page number.

• Paraphrase.