Tuesday, 1.19: Firsts

Our first unit will be a memoir. We'll look at some examples, then write one at the end of the unit.

 Click here to read My First Conk by Malcolm X. (A conk is derived from congolene, a hair straightener gel made from lye) was a hairstyle popular among African-Americanmen from the 1920s to the 1960s. This hairstyle called for a man with naturally "kinky" hair to have it chemically straightened using a relaxer (sometimes the pure corrosive chemical lye), so that the newly straightened hair could be styled in specific ways) 

Take 15 minutes to read the article and identify key things that make this a good memoir, then we'll talk about it briefly.

After reading, take some time to answer these FIRST questions. Not all of them will apply to you, so skip those ones. Pick 10-15 to jot down a couple sentences/thoughts explaining the first. POST THESE TO YOUR BLOG WITH THE HEADING "FIRSTS"

First Kiss

First crush

First broken bone

First broken ego

First fight

First time I stood up for something in, even though I stood alone...

First time I experienced loneliness

First time I was outnumbered

First time I lost trust in someone or something

First regret

First thank you that you really meant

First jaw dropping moment

First time you felt like a grown up

First physical makeover (glasses, braces, etc.)

First proud moment

First embarrassing moment

First big purchase

First job

First pet

First funeral

First thrill seeking experience (skydiving, etc.)

First movie

First visit to the hospital

First “ah ha” moment/awakening moment

First time in trouble (as a child)

First time you let someone down

First time you were let down

First experience with spirituality

First experience with death

First experience with life

First time you overcame a fear

First time you experienced an injustice