Activity One: Read "The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara

Activity Two: Introduction (Class Discussion): Discuss "The War of the Wall." 

Activity Three: Draw a symbolic map of your life. What places have been significant to you? Why? What places have been significant to your family? Your neighborhood? Share your map in small groups.

Activity Four: Develop a tribute for one of your sites. Keep in mind that the most effective sites will be those that hold significance for many people for a similar reason, rather than a site that is significant to you alone. The tribute might be a plaque, and poem, a song, a poster, or??? This is an opportunity for you to be creative. Imagine that your tribute will be posted to tell others of the significance of the site. 

Activity Five: Write an essay in which you describe your historical place to your readers and explain its significance to you and to others.  Work toward SHOWING your readers why this site is important rather than just telling them. 

Your memoir will need to be a MINIMUM of TWO FULL pages.  When you turn in your final draft you will need to include the following items (in this order):  

1. The final draft of the essay (I will grade whatever is on the top of the pile).  Your essay must following the format outlined.  Essays that are not typed in the prescribed format will be returned unread and ungraded.  

2. A LETTER to me in which you discuss what interested you about this topic.  Describe any difficulties you had with the assignment and how you attempted to overcome those difficulties.  Discuss the responses you received from your peers.  Did you find their feedback useful?  If yes, what information did you find particularly helpful?  If no, what information do you wish you had received and what do you plan to do during future peer reviews to get the kind of feedback you desire?  And finally, what do you think the strengths of your essay are, and what would you still like to work on?  Keep in mind that this last question is not simply an opportunity for you to “sell” your work.  I want your honest assessment.  Your letter should be one page hand-written.  Don’t try to write the letter in the five minutes before class.  I want to see that you have put some thought into these questions.

3. Peer Review Forms  

4. All rough drafts (including the draft that has been reviewed and stamped by the Writing Center)  and prewriting  

When you come to class the day your memoir is due, your packet should be ready to go.  I will not have a stapler or paper clips with me.  You need to take care of all of this before you come to class.