A Christmas Memory Academic English 9

“A Christmas Memory” Academic English 9

A Pair of Kites Memoir Project

“That is why, walking a across a school campus on this particular December morning, I keep searching the sky, as if I expected to see, rather like hearts, a lost pair of kites, hurrying toward heaven.” Because of the close connection he shared with his friend, Buddy feels as if a part of himself has died after he learns of her death.

People need people. We learn through our friendships and family relationships how to perceive the world around us. When we develop relationships that are fulfilling and safe, our experiences and reflections surrounding that relationship are usually positive. Whether the relationship is temporary or permanent, the impression can last a lifetime.

Think of a friend or family member with whom you have or have had a really close connection. What do you and this person have in common? What do you enjoy? What is it that makes you “click?”

This project comes in two parts. There is a collage and a written piece.

Collage

Use whatever materials you think are necessary to make 2 kites, one to represent you, and one to represent your friend. On these kites, include pictures (actual photos, magazine pictures, drawings, etc), quotes, headlines, or any creative representation that can be glued. Use string to tie the kites together, and attach the written piece any way you like. Your grade will depend on your organization, the quality of the images and design, spelling, and effort. It is not acceptable to simply paste a picture from a magazine on a diamond shaped piece of paper and call it a day.

Writing

You must include a short narrative that tells a story of how you and this friend connect. This can be simple—write about how you met, how you watch Twilight every Friday, how you giggle in math class together—the memory can be from childhood or it can be current. This can be a friend you no longer see, or someone who you see all the time! And, of course, your friend, like Buddy’s, can be a family member. Your grade will depend on several factors: You need to write a 1st person narrative (not informational or persuasive), and you need to incorporate imagery somehow (this is related to description: you can use similes, metaphors, personification, and other writing tricks to “show” what your scene looks like, as opposed to simply “telling” your reader). You will also be graded on spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Due: Friday, November 30th

_____ 2 separate kites—one for each friend

_____ organized—it’s a collage, but it should be easy to understand

_____ images are meaningful and carefully selected

_____ no spelling or punctuation errors

_____ evidence of effort—this does not look like it took 5 minutes to put together

Writing

_____ minimum of 1 paragraph

_____ 1st person point of view, written in narrative mode

_____ tells story (or shows “snapshot”) of the friendship

_____ contains imagery (reader can “see” what’s happening). Underline the imagery, please.

_____ no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors