Grade 6 | Narrative Portfolio Assignment

Community Memory

I am grown old and my memory is not as active as it used to be. When I was younger I could remember anything,

whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so

I cannot remember any but the things that never happened.

[Mark Twain, "Autobiography"]

Purpose

To write a historical record so that our the community will have more memories of its past.

Task

1)     You will write a narrative essay. It will describe one significant moment in the history of the community.

2)     This memory should be associated with your department. Be creative!

For example, if you are in education, your memory will be about the educational system. Perhaps it would describe a class: the lesson, the teacher, and students. 

3)     Your memory should have as many supporting and sensory details as possible.

Continuing with the previous example, you should include supporting/sensory details: the classroom smelled of glue, my teacher wore a long skirt, the girl next to me played Angry Bird on his iPhone and received a demerit, we learned about oil spills in the ocean, we took three pages of notes off a PowerPoint.

Be aware: These are memories, so, just like in The Giver, whatever you write about will no longer exist in our community. This could cause problems for certain departments, but that's okay! Problem-solving is what our community project is all about.

Tips for an A+

¨  An introduction should be engaging. It draws the reader in by presenting the topic in an interesting way, presenting context and leaving clues about what is to come.

¨  Sensory details help the readers recall their own experiences with sight, sound, taste, touch, and smells. Using descriptive words can help the reader better understand the memory.

¨  An effective conclusion DOES NOT leave the reader hanging. Explain the consequences of the memory.

¨  Your final draft should clearly describe the people, places and actions of the event through a balance of action, detail, and (optional) dialogue. Please see how to format dialogue on the blog. You will be marked down for incorrect format.

¨  At least 1 full page with no grammatical, mechanical, or usage errors.

Assignment Timeline

First Draft Due March 18

Revision Checklist

Final Draft Due March 25 (to be included in your portfolio)

I will give you a Revision Checklist back after I look over your first drafts. The completed Revision Checklist MUST be attached to your Final Draft for full credit on this assignment.