(This is a sample post for the CNHS class of 2013.)
One of the sample student memoirs that caught my attention is entitled "Ten Thousand Steps," written by Emily W, age 16. (Her memoir can be found at http://teacher.scholastic.com/writeit/readpoem.asp?id=635&genre=Memoir&Page=5&sortBy=).
The imagery that she uses in this memoir takes my breath away. I can tell that she didn't stick in fancy phrases just to fill the space, but rather she chose images that fit her beloved grandfather. For example, she describes his wrinkles as, "Deep creases [that] enwrap his eyes, like crevasses filled with unknown secrets." Not only can I easily picture those deep creases, but I also want to know more about her grandfather's secrets. And she does tell!
I also love this memoir because she writes about her grandfather with such dignity and respect. Although she does not write about a personal challenge (as my eleventh graders do), she tells about a time in her life that touched her deeply -- and I can tell from the forshadowing in the conclusion that her personal challenge is coming soon.
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