The Happiest Refugee

Use these activities to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity. 

Write Your Own Memoir

A memoir is a narrative written from a first-person perspective. Unlike an autobiography, which covers the entirety of the writer’s life, a memoir usually centers on several key moments in their lifetime. These memories, which are often styled as “vignettes,” provide small insights into an encompassing theme; for example, most of Do’s memoir consists of short, anecdotal memories that contribute to the larger theme of his life as a refugee in Australia.

Using a similar structure to Do’s account, write a memoir on your life thus far.

• First, select an important theme. This theme can relate to your family, friends, interests, or an important event in your life.
• Then, select three moments that relate to your theme. Write about these moments in the style of “vignettes,” or small snapshots that relate directly to your larger theme.
• Now, you are ready to write! Be sure to introduce your theme at the beginning of the memoir, as well as to clearly link your three moments to the overarching theme.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity combines creative, exploratory writing with the introduction of memoir. Students should write their memoirs in the first-person narrative. Although Do’s memoir uses humor to convey his story, students don't need to use this approach. If some students are uncomfortable writing about themselves, they can write from the first-person perspective of a fictitious character. If appropriate, incorporate a five-minute brainstorming session for students to consider possible themes. This activity may be tied in with the first Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay question, which focuses on Do’s use of anecdotes in his memoir.