Memoir. Collections of memories that an individual writes about that are touchstone events and turning points from the author’s life.

• Written in first person from author’s point of view

• Narrative nonfiction written in story form

• Can include dialogue even though not precisely every word spoken but recreated by the author as accurately as possible

• Has a particular theme or focus

• Not a recording of every detail, but selected memories relative to the purpose of the essay or book

• Author questions what happened and how came to some kind of new understanding or lesson learned by the experience.

• Author shares how an experience profoundly changed the way she sees the world.