8th Grade Final Memoir
Title/Cover Page (100 points): Have an original title. The cover must be made on card stock and
reflect you and your 8th grade year through different colorful genres: words, poems, pictures, graphics, art
work, etc…. Do not glue anything on the cover except for paper. It will be laminated and anything other than
paper will not work. The front cover should show effort and time spent designing it and creating it. It should
‘look’ like you.
Title example: A Snapshot into the 8th grade life of ___________________________
1. ___________ is My Name
Read “When Joe Louis Won the Title” by Belinda Rochelle Illustrated by Larry Johnson
Assignment: Research your name by interviewing your parents for information about how your name was
chosen, any stories that accompany it, and the denotation meaning. Then write a short informational story of
how you received your name, any stories that accompany it and what your name means in two or more
paragraphs. The first paragraph should tell the story of how your name was chosen. The second paragraph
should explain the denotation of your name or if there is not a specified meaning, you may ask your parents
or your loved ones to define what your name means to them, as well as your own reflection of what your
name means to you. End your writing with a clincher.
2. 100 things I love
Assignment: Create a list of one hundred things that you love. The items can be objects, novels, stories,
poems, songs, people, food, restaurants, etc.… This list may be presented creatively, however you want to
present it, as long as it is readable. The list must be numbered. A few format ideas are in a graffiti format, an
artistic interpretation, or a list.
3. Favorite Quote
Assignment: Select a one- to three-sentence quote that makes you stop and think or resonates with you.
Write the quote at the top of the page and with the source credited. Then in a paragraph explain why the
quote appeals to you, explain how it makes you feel, and what it makes you visualize. The second paragraph
will make a connection from the quote to a character, theme, or event in a book that you have read. The last
paragraph will explain how the quote connects to you as a person or to your own life.
4. What Lives Under My Bed
Watch “The Monster Under my Bed “video
Assignment: Describe what lives under your bed. This description can be fictional or realistic. Either
writing choice should be very descriptive. This response should be a minimum of two well-written paragraphs
that focuses on sensory details and descriptions with emphasis on word choice. Use one metaphor and one
simile to paint a vivid description in the reader’s mind.
5. The Giving Tree
Watch The Giving Tree video.
Assignment: Write about someone in your life that you know is a “Giving Tree”; the person that gives to
others, putting others before themselves. This response should be a minimum of two paragraphs. The first
paragraph should describe the giving tree person using imagery so that the reader can truly ‘see’ the giving
tree person. The second paragraph should give examples and explain the actions that he/she demonstrates
that truly make him/her a ‘giving tree’.
6. Making the World “More Awesome”
Watch the Mr. President Video
Assignment: You will answer the prompt: “What are you doing to make the world more awesome?” This
response must be a minimum of one well written paragraph explaining the action/contribution that he/she is
implementing to make the world more awesome. This can be focused on making an impact on someone else
or an impact on the world, whether in your own personal realm or the global world.
7. I Believe…
Watch Martin Luther King speech from YouTube
Assignment: I believe…………. Write two paragraphs of a vision you believe is possible here in America that
would make the world you live in a better place. The first paragraph should describe what the dream is in
great detail and the second paragraph should explain how the dream could actually come to fruition.
8. Carpe Diem – Seize the Day
View the Carpe Diem power point.
Assignment: Using the meaning of Carpe Diem, “Seize the Day”, you will write a fiction piece that
describes what you would do if money was not an option and you had one day “to seize the day”. This
response should explain and describe the different activities you would do, where those actions would take
place, and with whom you would do them. The writing boundaries: the money only lasts 24 hours and
anything purchased with the money is gone at midnight.
9. Best 8th Grade Seconds
Listen to the Broadway song from Rent
Assignment: 31,556, 000 seconds in a year –you will highlight the best seconds of your 8th grade year.
Choose a minimum of two events that are a memory, which you will always remember as a “best seconds”
memory. Describe the five W’s: who, what, where, when, and why of the events in two or three paragraphs.
The two memories can have happened at school or away from school. These are your special memories of this
year, wherever they occurred.
10. My Success Story
Watch the success video of the hip-hop preacher
Assignment: Write your “Success Story”. In paragraph one, describe what success is to you. In paragraph
two, describe a personal life goal you have in the area of a future occupation and then in paragraph three
describe the steps you will need to accomplish to reach that goal. Three paragraphs total will be utilized.
11. My Bucket List
Watch Bucket List Video Trailer
Assignment: Each student will write a “Bucket List” of ten items that you want to see, accomplish, or
experience during and before graduating high school. This list must be presented in number order. The list
does not have to be explained. The list should be formatted with a nice presentation lay out. It can include
graphics.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Final Description: The eleven prompts listed above can be typed or handwritten. Each writing piece must be on 8 ½ by
11 blank paper (can be any color as long as it is easy to read) (not lined paper). I will provide copies of papers that can
be used for each page. The final pages will be bound together for you to take home on the last day of class when you
take your finals. If you would like to insert their own essays that were written this year or personal writing (poems,
stories) that you have written, you may do that also.
Each memoire page must be neatly written or typed. Graphics and art work to support the content of the pages is
required. This can be accomplished with computer graphics, cut and paste pictures, or personal art work of pictures or
design. The presentation is a part of the finished final grade.
On the designated day for the English final in class, you will present one of your writings from the following five choices
for your semester final grade:





#3 Writing – Favorite Quote
#5 Writing – The Giving Tree
#6 Writing – More Awesome
#7 Writing - I Believe………….
#9 Writing – Best 8th Grade Seconds
An oral presentation grade will be scored for the final presentation using a presentaion rubric.
Dear Parents,
Short you tube videos will be used in class to introduce the different writing assignments. The Bucket List movie
trailer is rated PG-13. It does have a cuss word. Please feel free to contact me if this viewing will be unacceptable for
your student at [email protected] and I will make other arrangements.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gatlin
Pre-AP reading and English Teacher