Non-Western Memoirs

1
Non-Western Memoirs

• Using memoirs from Africa, Asia, South Asia, the
  Middle East, and Latin and South America to make
  connections

2
What is style?

• What is a writers style?
• On a scrap sheet of paper, take about a minute to
  brainstorm words or phrases that come to mind
  when someone asks you to examine a works (or a
  specific authors) writing style.

3
Style is

• not what is written, but the way an author puts
  together words, phrases, and ideas.
• the literary element that describes the ways
  that the author uses words the authors word
  choice, sentence structure, figurative language,
  and sentence arrangement all work together to
  establish mood, images, and meaning in a text
  (Gardner).

4
Style includes

• Diction Does the writer use a great deal of
  jargon? Does the piece rely on slang or more
  formal vocabulary?
• Sentence Structure Does the writer rely on
  short, terse sentences? Does the writer string
  together multiple clauses and phrases? Does the
  writer use parallel structure within the text?
• Point of View Does the writer tell the story
  from a first person point of view? Is the
  writers third person point of view biased?
• Narration Style What figurative language
  devices does the writer use? Metaphors? Similes?
  Personification?
• Tone Do the writers words convey sincerity or
  is the writer being sarcastic?
• Sentence Arrangement How does the writer chose
  to organize the elements of the story? Are
  sentences arranged chronologically or is the
  story written as a stream-of-consciousness piece?

5
Applying style

• Keep our descriptive words and definition for
  style in mind as you read the following piece.
  As you read, take note of words, phrases, or
  passages that clue you in to the works style.
• As you read, ask yourself How is this written?

6
What is a memoir?

• A memoir is a non-fiction text that
• Focuses on a specific period in the writers life
• Uses a narrative structure
• Describes events and explains/shows the
  significance, usually of high emotional content
• Reflects on a significant relationship between
  the author and a person, place, or object
• Centers on a problem and resolution
• Remains in first person
• How is a memoir different from an autobiography?

7
Why use memoirs in the classroom?

• learning about someone elses life invites us
  our own self-perspectives but also broadens our
  knowledge and understanding of lives that are
  outside of our narrow experience (Bomer 12).
• Reading memoirs encourages self-reflection
• Reading memoirs exposes students to various
  beliefs, experiences, and events outside of their
  daily lives
• Reading memoirs teaches students about other
  perspectives
• Its how we connect to each other, how we find
  out that other people feel the way we do. It is
  also how we learn about lives that are vastly
  different from our own so that our minds and
  hearts can stretch to understand how life is for
  others (Bomer 2).
• Reading memoirs encourages students to make
  connections
• Writers know that the smaller the moment, the
  tinier the detail, the more it resonates with
  readers and the more it surprises (Bomer 3).
• Reading memoirs encourages students to think
  about how writers engage their readers
• it is the most democratic of all kinds of
  writing (Bomer 12).
• Because memoirs can be written by anyone, they
  demonstrate to students that anyone can be a
  writer

Bomer, Katherine. Writing a Life Teaching Memoir
to Sharpen Insight, Shape Meaning--and Triumph
Over Tests.
8
Advantages of using texts written by non-western
authors

• Broadens students cultural horizons
• Aids in the articulation of shared and differing
  values
• Exposes students to a variety of writing styles
• Exposes students to a variety of themes
• Builds critical thinking skills
• Builds empathy
• In an world growing smaller through technological
  advances, non-western literature helps our
  students become better global citizens

9
How might non-western memoirs be used in the
classroom

• Take a moment to brainstorm how non-western
  memoirs might be used in our classrooms.
• Lets create a list together.

10
Resources

• Bomer, Katherine. Writing a Life Teaching Memoir
  to Sharpen Insight, Shape Meaning--and Triumph
  Over Tests. Portsmouth, NH Heinmann, 2005.
• Dong, Yu Ren. Taking a Culture-Response Approach
  to Teaching Multicultural Texts. English
  Journal. Jan. 2005. 55-60. National Council for
  Teachers of English. 29 July 2008
  lthttp//www.ncte.org/library/files/Publications/Jo
  urnals/ej/0943-jan05/EJ0943Taking.pdfgt.
• Gardner, Traci. Style Defining and Exploring an
  Authors Stylistic Choices. Read Write Think.
  2002-2008. International Reading Association. 29
  July 2008 lthttp//www.readwritethink.org/lessons/l
  esson_view.asp?id209gt.
• Supporting Linguistically and Culturally Diverse
  Learnersin English Education. Conference on
  English Education. 2005. National Council for
  Teachers of English. 29 July 2008
  lthttp//www.ncte.org/groups/cee/positions/122892.h
  tmgt.