Happy Prom Day!

Thank you for the extension! My paper is coming along well but to be honest, I haven't had the time to get to the writing center because I haven't been feeling well.

My paper took shape rather nicely. Here is
TOPIC: Truth in Memoirs, the modern genre
INTRO:
- To what degree is somebody allowed to embellish their life experiences and still classify their writing non-fiction? what line indicates where memoir ends and make-believe begins?
POINTS/DEFENSE:
- What is a memoir (Memoirs True and False)
- Memoirs – modern genre (why popular)
o Nowadays, Americans fine themselves forced to care about more things than ever before…
• Impatience – memoir quick, autobiography time
• Brings people together to write about experiences and share
• Maturity
• Relationship between writing and subject – releases inner feelings
• Limit themselves – carving portions of life to portray
• Oprah – fueled fact and fraud, clarifying the standard for acceptable for memoirists,. Frey lies – crusade
• Democratic
• (The Age of Memoir)
- James Frey Scandal
- Augusten Burroughs – Running with Scissors attack
o About the novel
- David Sedaris – Me Talk Pretty One Day
- Where the line should be drawn.
CONCLUSION:

That's pretty much where it went.
That's kind of a rough outline... but it took form from there.

This is where my introduction is currently. This weekend, sunday most likely, I will reevaluate my essay and possibly rework this with the rest of my paper. I will be visiting the writing center Monday.

When navigating the non-fiction section, it is assumed that the present titles are representations of factuality. However, in modern times, the rising popularity of memoir writing as the American genre, commanding the majority of bestseller lists, has led to fraudulent actions and question of truth. After watching Oprah emasculate memoir-swindler James Frey, accusations flew on the disclaimers of other novels. The genre has since debated to what degree is an author allowed to embellish his or her own life experiences while still classifying them non-fiction, what indicates the line where a story crosses from memoir to make-believe?

Letting Information Drive the Paper... EUREKA! Scandal in the Courthouse!

So now I'm getting worried while trying not to panic. You see, the information is more easily found surrounding the recent event stirred by James Frey. I fear that I may have difficulty using my texts as examples. I am seeking a source discussing their writing styles, for they do both exaggerate their stories... However, after much research tonight, intense hours behind the computer I really did find a lot about the scandal of story fabricati on and the various definitions of memoirs, etc.

Also, I was not aware before tonight that following the James Frey scandal, Augusten Burroughs (born Christopher Robinson), was accused of fabricated Running With Scissors, thankfully the very story which I chose to read. (Note: It is not the accusations I am happy about, it is the pleasant coincidence that makes my life slightly simpler for once.) Alas, I shall proceed as always. I fear I now believe I will use David Sedaris, whose story has not been found to be controversial thus far, as a counter to Burroughs whose dark tales seemed too phenomenal and twisted to be possible. Nobody really questions David's light-hearted stories about his adventures in France or fighting the speech impediment correction instructor. Alas, the research has truly become the driving force. Having started off with such a wide array of ideas stirring, I'm happy I caught the one line I could focus in on.

To Tell The Truth... Without Exaggeration

I have bad luck with technology. This is not to say I'm not good with it but more so that it doesn't tend to fair well with me.

The internet gets fixed upon my return from Boston only for Cablevision to drop in the entire area!

So, I'm SO SORRY THIS IS LATE!

Alas, here I am. With my topic more focused on how much exaggeration is allowed in memoirs... There is a lot about this topic. I looked up information about James Frey and there was a lot of criticism about whether he took a step too far about his life experiences. It's really interesting that people are so passionate about it, I mean, a good book is a good book but because he claimed it is a memoir, they really got touchy about it. It reminds me of Mrs. Sheridan and her love for Oprah. I'm trying not to focus there but that's where the information is. We shall see.

I really do need to narrow this down. Let me get on this... bye!

One AP down, two more to go, 48 days till graduation!

I only have one AP test left, Chemistry and with studying, I will be further delving into my English project. I seem to have misplaced my book Running with Scissors but i will borrow it from a library if I can't locate it.

I've been researching on the EBSCO Library Database about modern memoirs and have found multiple sources on the topic.

http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/detail?vid=3&hid=114&sid=2ce38586-c1d8-43e6-8d64-e2d74ef852e0%40sessionmgr103
This link is one of many who believe memoirs are the modern genre and speculates as to why shaping experiences through writing became so popular.

http://web.ebscohost.com/lrc/detail?vid=6&hid=120&sid=1f8be0b9-a54e-4322-9c46-022423ba951f%40sessionmgr104
This article is about multiple voices in one memoir to portray complexity in one's life. I don't believe either of my memoirists have an issue with staying to their own voices and effectively doing so, but this article strikes interesting points.

This weekend I will forge forward on an epic journey through my English project, while studying for AP Chemistry. Nevertheless, I will push on bit by bit. I am further along than I thought I would be considering AP testing, but I used free moments of my spring break to read. Downtime before bed helps a little go a long way.

Renting the movie this weekend... and having a creepy viewing party with friends!

sinxcosx = redox reaction = 95% CI... 3 AP Tests = as dangerous as Running with Scissors?

My brain is fried... However, I finally got a loaner laptop! This was a rough week without a loaner... especially because the computers in my house don't seem to be working. Bad timing =[

I'm not going to lie and say my project is done... I've purchased those books by William Zinsser and they're interesting... I'm going to incorporate everything into a final piece of something. I still don't understand writing about writing. Currently, my brain is too fried from AP tests. This really isn't an excuse for me to have slowed down my efforts... but consequently, I have.

I am also going to obtain the movie so I can watch it a few times over.

I'm not feeling well... and I'll just probably add to this tomorrow.

Signing off for now...

"FIRST is like the WWF, but for Smart People." - Ex-President George Herbert Walker Bush

The weirdest thing in the world is to have your thought process split by homework and robotics. Meanwhile, losing your laptop which is irrelevant in Atlanta because you had no internet anyway. Now, however... with my home internet... well the computer connections being shaky, I could really use that guarenteed wireless.

While in Atlanta I read Me Talk Pretty One Day by Dave Sedaris. His life is full of ups and downs, and even in times of hardship, I couldn't help but smile at his form of narrative. He begins with the discussion of his lisp as if he's a criminal being taken by the FBI...


The book goes from childhood through college to his adult years. He openly discusses his sexuality in stories about his boyfriend, Hugh. He also discusses the relationship he has with his family, as well as within his family. His sister had talent, so he dreamed of being an artist and suffered through art schools to pursue this.

Although he can take creative liberty on his own life, I did research on him and memoirs in general... and he stuck pretty true to fact.

Memoirs can be written about anything.
- Coming of age
- Wartime (such as The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien)
And tons more... Dave Sedaris' story contains struggles, coming of age, and tons more, in a humorous portrayal.

Sorry this is late, internet... or lack thereof caused the delay. Furthermore, I did lose my school laptop in Atlanta. The books were so good... I'm going to report on Running with Scissors next!

I SAW Running with Scissors the movie on TV yesterday. SO GOOD! I had no idea what was coming... though I was almost done with the book.

Senior Year - English Final Project...

The years should basically be over and we should all get A's for our final projects... but alas, we're still working!

For my project, I was originally planning to do Dystopia... but then isn't everyone? So I changed my mind... I looked into authors I've wanted to read and books my sister has suggested I read, and Ms. Recine and I spawned a topic from there.

Modern Memoirs

Me Talk Pretty One Day by Dave Sedaris
with: Naked and Dress Your Family in Corderoy and Denim as support.
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
with: Dry as support.

My sister suggested Sedaris to me... his memoirs are written in a light-hearted, almost joking manner, even when he's experiencing a hardship. I've been wanting to read his books for a while because my sister owns them all and I've seen her reread them.

Ms. Recine told me about Augusten Burroughs as if he is Dave's counterpoint. He displays what is evil as evil... having a darker tone to my understanding.

My essay will most likely contain general information about modern memoirs vs. old-fashioned black-and-white ones, with a bit about these two men and their personal writing styles as an example.

I never really considered portraying anything at more than it was... That something sad could be portrayed merely by the silver lining or something happy could have alterior motives, but I suspect these guys will successfully show me more to an event than the obvious.

For my presentation, the first half will be bits and pieces from the essay... interesting or important points about memoirs, types of memoirs, and these two men. The interactive part may be acting class. I will give everybody a part... a character and they can portray what is currently going on in the life of this character as they want... to demonstrate the obviousness of their actions. Followed by clips of these two men and somewhere I will fit the movie in I think.

This however is prospective, depending on what particular situations I find well describe in either book, surprising, etc...