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The topics accommodates varying levels of ability and participation and may include, but are not limited to the following:
I. Types of Life Stories
A. Personal experiences (e.g. thoughts, opinions, reflections, observations)
B. Theme (e.g. growing up in the city, life on the farm, jobs, vacations)
C. Feelings (e.g. happiest/saddest day of my life, embarrassment)
D. Events (e.g. wedding, birth of a child)
E. Period of life (e.g. kindergarten, high school, military)
F. Family (e.g. parents, siblings, children)
G. Firsts (e.g. airplane ride, kiss, night away from home)
H. Life changing moments (e.g. fell in love, natural disaster)
I. Historical events (e.g. Kennedy assassination, WWII)
J. Career (e.g. first job, lost job, accomplishment)
K. Journal (e.g. observations, experiences, feelings, descriptions)
II. Elements of a Story
A. Purpose (e.g. autobiography, family history)
B. Audience (e.g. family, friends, publish)
C. Time and place (e.g. specific, not general)
D. Research (e.g. names, dates)
E. Shaping (e.g. organization)
F. Point of view (e.g. through whose eyes the story is told, personal or private)
G. Emphasis on human experience (e.g. gunners rather than guns, sailors rather
than ships)
H. Use of dialog
I. Mood (e.g. emotional atmosphere)
J. Tone (e.g. attitude, distinguish between sentiment and sentimentality, emotion
and feeling)
K. Visuals (e.g. pictures, drawing)
L. Descriptions (e.g. specifics, sounds, tastes, smells)
M. Verbs (e.g. action, tempo)
N. Spelling and grammar
III. Reading Story and Constructive Feedback
A. Effective reading
1. Prepare introduction (e.g. time, setting, people)
2. Practice ahead
3. Delivery (e.g. loudness, diction, emphasis)
B. Offering of feedback
1. Critique of story
i. Clarity (e.g. who, what, where, when)
ii. Element of interest (e.g. how, why)
iii. Simplicity
iv. Brevity
2. Communication of feedback
i. Tactfulness (e.g. safe environment)
ii. Constructive/positive critique (e.g. "I feel it would be clearer if...
I would know your sister better if...I think your story would be more
interesting if... I would like to hear why...")
iii. Encouragement
iv. Confidentiality of classmates
C. Listening to feedback
1. Openness to critique/suggestions
2. Clarification (e.g. summarization, paraphrase)
3. Tolerant/appreciative
4. Acknowledgment of suggestions
IV. Enhancement of Quality of Life
A. Mental stimulation
1. Memories recollected and preserved
2. Enhancement of writing skills
3. Critical self-reflection (e.g. relationship of past experiences to present life)
i. Observation (e.g. new perspective on the past)
ii. Recognition (e.g. new understanding of the past)
iii. Application (e.g. new meaning and value to present life)
B. Social Interactions
1. Community of writers
2. Peer encouragement
3. Diversity of experiences yet amazing similarities
4. Class discussions
5. Connections to generations (e.g. grandchildren)
C. Emotional well-being
1. Identity as a writer (e.g. discovering one's voice)
2. Sense of purpose/value
3. Remembrance of accomplishments
4. Expression of feelings and emotions
5. Experimentation and risk-taking
6. Humor and laughter (e.g. funny memories and experiences)
7. Pleasure and satisfaction
8. Positive self-evaluations (e.g. peer compliments, "I learned...")
9. Self-discovery
10. Legacy to family and friends