Memoir Reading and Reflection Assignment (Ongoing)- Assigned Jan 13/21

Dear Current Occupant is a creative non-fiction memoir about home and belonging set in the 80s
and 90s of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. 

Using a variety of forms, mainly PROSE Knight reflects on her childhood through a series of letters addressed to all of the current occupants now living in the twenty different houses she moved in and out of with her mother and brother.

What is Prose?

  • Most everyday writing is in prose form.
  • The language of prose is typically straightforward without much decoration.
  • Ideas are contained in sentences that are arranged into paragraphs.
  • There are no line breaks.
  •   Sentences run to the right margin.
  • The first word of each sentence is capitalized.
  • Prose looks like large blocks of words.

INSTRUCTIONS

Students you will be responsible for reading the different sections of her memoir INDEPENDENTLY and finish writing tasks connected to “big idea” questions. They will be posted in order of text.

Independent reading is a time in the school day when students read text with little or no assistance from the teacher. You will be at your seats or in comfortable places around the classroom/ home.

You will be responsible for reading different sections of her memoir. I have outlined how many prose passages I expect you to read and connect to “big idea” questions from each section of her memoir. Each passage reflection is worth 5 marks. 

Section                                                                             Number of Prose/ Passages to Write on

 Prologue  (Part 1)                                                           3 prose/ passages

 Dear Current Occupant- Part 1 (Part 2)                        5 prose/passages 

Witness Statements    (Part 3)                                        3 prose/ passages

*Cracks in the Sidewalk* (Part 4)                                 * 5 images- review questions attached to post*

Dear Current Current Occupant- Part 2 (Part 5)            5 prose/ passages

Mirror Talk  (Part 6)                                                      2  prose/ passages

Notices of Termination (Part 7)                                    3 prose/ passages

Epilogue  (Part 8)                                                         1 prose/ passages

End Notes  (Part 8)                                                       2 prose/ passages