Introduction to Six Word Memoirs
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Ideas are the heart
of the message, the
content of the
piece, the main
theme, together
with the details
that enrich and
develop that theme.
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It all makes sense.
I know this topic well.
I have included the
most important details.
My paper has a
purpose.
Once you start reading,
you will not want to
stop.
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Topic choice
Thesis statement/topic sentence
Supporting details
Focus
Choose an original, insightful, and
complete way to answer the
prompt/question.
 Ex: “insightful” means something that
shows great thought or makes the reader
think.
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Clear
Restates (rewords) the question and
gives a short, to-the-point answer
Helps organize the paper
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A thesis statement often gives a mini-outline
of what will be said in a paper.
The rest of the paragraph/paper should
explain it
Students often have trouble with this…
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Support = Explain
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The supports explain the thesis
statement/topic sentence
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Common amount: three
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Staying on topic
An easy way to make sure it’s focused:
make ALL of the supports explain the
thesis statement/topic sentence.
No thesis statement/topic sentence often
= unfocused answer/paper
POOR EXAMPLE
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I live in a house in Lake
St. Louis. I like the
view from our house.
We have lived there
since November. We
also have a car that I
like very much. We
were in an accident a
few months ago. We
hit a deer that was
crossing the street at
night. I felt sorry for
the deer, but it cost a
lot of money to repair
the car.
GOOD EXAMPLE
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My family bought our first
house last November, and
we love it. It is located in
Lake St. Louis. Although we
cannot see the lake from
our house, we do have a
beautiful view of the
surrounding trees. Our
house has three bedrooms,
two bathrooms, a living
room and a family room,
and a large kitchen and
dining area. We also have a
large backyard and a small
garden. We are very happy
to own our own home, and I
hope that we will live there
for several years.
Baseball game = balls, bats,
bases, umpires, coaches,
pitchers, catchers, hits,
runs, outs. The end.
Organization is the
internal
structure, the
thread of central
meaning, the
logical and
sometimes
intriguing
pattern of the
ideas within a
piece of writing.
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My beginning will
interest the reader.
Everything ties
together.
It builds to the good
parts.
You can follow it
easily.
At the end it feels
finished and makes
you think.
1
. Beginning (Hook the reader)
2. Middle (This can be one of five things and depends on
the content)
a . description
b. cause and effect
c. sequential
d. compare and contrast
e. problem and solution
3. End (Can summarize, restate, or end with a “zinger” to
leave the reader thinking)
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Pacing—spend enough time developing
and explaining the ideas in each
paragraph.
Transitions– lead the reader from one
idea to the next with signal words at the
end or beginning of each paragraph.
(moreover, as well as, together with, of course,
likewise, comparatively, correspondingly,
similarly, furthermore, additionally in spite of,
even so / though, be that as it may, then again,
above all, in reality, after all, etc.)
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Word choice is the
use of rich,
colorful, precise
language that
moves and
enlightens the
reader.
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Thesaurus???
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This is the best way to
say this!
My words create mind
pictures.
I’ve tried new ways to
say everyday things.
Some of the words and
phrases linger in my
mind.
My words are
appropriate for my
content.
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Be concise
Avoid repetition
Use powerful, action verbs
Avoid slang and use clichés sparingly
Use language that is natural and not
overdone
Use words that create a mental picture
for the reader
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English can be interpreted in
different ways; details support your
interpretation.
Details show you have read and
understood literature.
Details can save your grade (and job).
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Learners must be able to draw conclusions (INFER) in order to
fully develop their reading comprehension skills.
Students must be able to utilize specific details within the context
of a work in order to infer.
The learner must be able to connect the details and draw a
conclusion regarding the author’s intent based on what is
presented.
This is a higher order thinking skill that must be developed over
time.
DETAIL
FROM THE
TEXT + WHAT YOU
KNOW =
 A CONCLUSION
 AKA-TO INFER