English Language Arts · 9th Grade · Investigating Informational Texts · Weeks 19-27

Memoir vs. Autobiography

Differentiating between memoir and autobiography and exploring how authors select specific memories to build a cohesive thematic message.

• Common Core State Standards
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.3
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2

About This Topic

Journalism is the 'first draft of history,' and its ethics are the 'rules of the road' for a free press. In this topic, students explore the responsibilities of a journalist: accuracy, independence, impartiality, and humanity. They grapple with difficult questions about 'the public's right to know' vs. 'an individual's right to privacy,' and they analyze the ethical implications of 'clickbait,' 'anonymous sources,' and 'sponsored content.'

This unit aligns with CCSS standards for determining an author's point of view or purpose and analyzing how an author uses rhetoric. In an age of 'instant' news, understanding the 'why' behind the 'what' is essential. This topic is best taught through 'ethical dilemma' simulations and 'editorial' workshops where students must make difficult choices under a deadline.

Key Questions

1. What is the difference between an autobiography and a memoir?
2. How do authors select specific memories to build a cohesive thematic message in a memoir?
3. Is a memoirist obligated to be objective, or is subjective truth more important? Justify your stance.

Learning Objectives

• Compare and contrast the structural elements and narrative focus of autobiographies and memoirs.
• Analyze how memoirists select specific memories to construct a cohesive thematic message.
• Evaluate the role of subjectivity versus objectivity in memoir writing, justifying a personal stance.
• Identify the author's purpose and intended audience for a given memoir excerpt.
• Synthesize information from multiple memoir excerpts to identify common thematic threads.

Before You Start

Identifying Author's Purpose and Audience

Why: Students need to understand why an author writes and for whom to effectively analyze the choices made in memoir and autobiography.

Narrative Structure and Elements

Why: Familiarity with plot, character, setting, and theme is essential for analyzing how authors construct their life stories.

Key Vocabulary

Autobiography	A narrative account of an author's entire life, typically written chronologically and aiming for factual accuracy.
Memoir	A narrative focused on a specific period, theme, or series of events in the author's life, emphasizing emotional truth and reflection.
Thematic Message	The central idea or underlying meaning that the author intends to convey through the selection and arrangement of memories.
Subjectivity	The quality of being based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions, often central to the emotional impact of a memoir.
Objectivity	The quality of being impartial, unbiased, and based on facts rather than personal feelings, often a goal in autobiography.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Journalists are supposed to be 'perfectly' neutral.

What to Teach Instead

While they should be 'impartial' (fair to all sides), they also have a duty to the 'truth.' If one side is lying, a journalist's job is to 'call it out,' not just report the lie. A 'Fairness vs. Truth' discussion helps students see this distinction.

Common Misconception

If it's on a 'news site,' it must be 'journalism.'

What to Teach Instead

Many sites look like news but are actually 'opinion blogs' or 'propaganda.' Use a 'Site Audit' (checking for a 'Corrections' policy and 'By-lines') to help students distinguish between 'professional journalism' and 'content creation.'

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The 'Deadline' Dilemma

Groups act as 'Editorial Boards.' They are given a 'breaking news' story with several 'unverified' details and one 'private' photo. They have 10 minutes to decide: 'What do we publish now?' and 'What do we wait for?' They must justify their choice using a 'Journalism Ethics Code.'

45 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The 'Clickbait' Audit

Students find three 'clickbait' headlines from their own social media feeds. They pair up to 'rewrite' them into 'ethical' and 'accurate' headlines. They discuss: 'Which one would get more clicks?' and 'What is the 'cost' of the clickbait to the reader's trust?'

30 min·Pairs

Role Play: The 'Source' Negotiation

One student acts as a 'Whistleblower' with a big secret; the other acts as a 'Journalist.' They must negotiate: 'Will the source be anonymous?' 'How will the journalist verify the story?' They discuss the 'risks' for both sides.

40 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Authors like Cheryl Strayed, who wrote 'Wild,' select specific experiences, like her solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, to explore themes of grief and self-discovery, influencing readers' understanding of resilience.
• Journalists writing long-form narrative features often employ memoir-like techniques, choosing poignant anecdotes and personal reflections to illustrate broader social issues, as seen in publications like 'The New Yorker'.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with two short excerpts, one from an autobiography and one from a memoir. Ask them to write one sentence explaining which is which and one sentence justifying their choice based on the excerpt's focus or tone.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Is a memoirist obligated to be objective, or is subjective truth more important?' Facilitate a class discussion where students must justify their stance using examples from texts studied or personal reasoning.

Quick Check

Present students with a list of potential memories from a hypothetical life story. Ask them to select three memories that could form the basis of a memoir about overcoming a challenge and briefly explain why each memory is significant to the theme.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an 'anonymous source' and why are they controversial?

It is a person who provides information to a journalist but refuses to be named in the story (often to protect their job or safety). They are controversial because the reader can't 'verify' the source's credibility, so they have to 'trust' the journalist's judgment.

What is the 'Society of Professional Journalists' (SPJ) Code of Ethics?

It is a set of four principles that guide journalists: 1. Seek Truth and Report It. 2. Minimize Harm. 3. Act Independently. 4. Be Accountable and Transparent. It is the 'gold standard' for ethical journalism in the US.

What is 'libel'?

Libel is a published 'false statement' that is damaging to a person's reputation. Journalists can be sued for libel if they publish something they *know* is false or if they are 'reckless' in not checking the facts.

How can active learning help students understand journalism ethics?

Ethics are 'choices' made under pressure. Active learning, like the 'Deadline Dilemma,' forces students to *feel* that pressure. When they have to decide between 'being first' and 'being right,' they realize that journalism is not just 'writing,' but a constant series of moral decisions that affect real people's lives.