The Glass Castle Lesson Plan

Memoir, Memory, and Authority (Part 1)

Kind of Activity:

Individual Writing

Objective:

Students will be able to consider the position and role of the memoirist

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.3; CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.5

Structure:

Ask a student to read aloud the Acknowledgments at the beginning of the book. Consider what they learn about the family members as older people from simply that brief note: Brian supported Jeannette's writing of the memoir the whole time, Lori "came around" to the idea, Rose Mary supported it even though her portrayal might not be so flattering …

The Glass Castle is Jeannette's memoir, narrated completely from her point of view....