To help you plan for writing a memoir, you will construct a roadmap of the high and low points of your life.

You will create a graphic representation of important events, people and places in your life.

 

Follow this procedure:

1. In your groups of 3 to 4, start brainstorming significant

events in your life. These can be happy memories, sad memories,

scary memories, important places, important people, life changing

events – your choice.

 

2. Choose your individual memories and draw a graphic representation or

symbol for each memory.

 

3. Narrow your choices to the 8 to 10 most important memories and

arrange them in chronological order (by the years in which they

occurred).

 

4. On a piece of tag board or colored construction paper, mark these

memories – happy memories above the center of the paper and sad

memories below the center of the paper. Connect the dots with a

two-lane road or highway.

 

5. In your groups brainstorm more symbols for the events on your

map.

 

6. Using markers or crayons, draw your graphic or other

symbol for each event. (Example – symbol of birth could be a stork or

baby, Divorce in family could be a drawing of stick people with a

lightning strike down the middle. You may use cut-out computer graphics.

 

**NO ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHS**

 

7. Write a brief caption for each symbol so that people viewing your

map will understand the event.

 

8. Complete map, going over drawings and words and highway until it is

clear and easy to read.