Top 5 Best Essays on "Writing a Story About a Personal Memory" (Literature 6 - Cánh Diều Textbook)

Guidance

• Answer the question (page 64 Literature 6, Volume 1)
• Memories are stories that remain in each person's mind. Writing an essay about a personal memory means recounting interesting and deeply impactful events from the past that you have witnessed and experienced. The story is written in the first person, using "I".
• Practice
• Answer the question (page 66 Literature 6, Volume 1)

Assignment: Recount a meaningful memory with your teachers and friends during your primary school years.

Solution:

Follow the steps carefully:

Detailed solution:

For each person, their student years are the most wonderful, pure, and beautiful. These precious years are connected with many beloved schools. For me, above all, I love my primary school because it is here that I have stored the most sacred emotions from my first days at school.

My school is a new, modern, and beautiful one with tall buildings painted in yellow and red tiled roofs. Every classroom is filled with the caring voice of the teachers, clear speeches in front of the class, and the innocent, joyful sounds of my classmates. The schoolyard is spacious and airy, with the rustling of the trees and the gentle breeze. This is truly an ideal place for us to play. I love my school so much. Every piece of land, every stone bench is filled with my beautiful memories of school days and playing with friends. The trees still stand there, their leaves still cheerfully rustling, just like when I first entered grade one, amazed by the beautiful yard. Yes, everything remains the same, only we are growing up. Four years have passed quickly, and now I am in grade nine. Time, please stop so I can remain a high school student and forever live under this roof!

And this place also keeps countless beautiful memories of my teachers and dear friends. My teachers are gentle yet strict, always passing on valuable lessons to us. To me, teachers are like second parents, guiding us to become better people. My friends are wonderful companions, always standing by me on this journey of learning. They are like my siblings, connected in a big family. Whenever I feel sad or disappointed, just thinking of my teachers' caring eyes or my friends' smiles warms my heart. My school will forever be etched in my mind because of those unforgettable, cheerful days: the first day of school, November 20th... those wonderful days that pass by, leaving me with a sense of longing. In just two months, I will have to leave this school. I will attend new schools with new teachers and friends... but how long will these beautiful days last?

Time flows like waves drifting out to sea, never to return. But one thing will always stay with me: the image of my beloved primary school.

1. Guidance

Important notes:

• Identify the memory you are going to tell
• Create an outline for your oral presentation
• Distinguish between oral storytelling (spoken language) and written storytelling (written language)

2. Practice

Assignment: Share a meaningful memory you have with teachers or friends during your primary school years.

Answer:

You can refer to the following text and then tell your own version of the story:

Sample Essay

In life, everyone has unforgettable memories. I am no exception. After nearly six years of going to school, I have had many happy and sad memories. But the one memory I will never forget is from my first year in school, when I was learning to write, and my teacher patiently held my hand to guide me.

At six years old, I eagerly entered grade one. I learned to read quickly; after hearing the teacher read once, I could read along fluently. But writing was a challenging journey for me. I am left-handed, but my mother always encouraged me to write with my right hand. However, whenever no one was watching, I would switch back to my left hand. My first teacher, Ms. Ngoc, was as lovely as her name suggests—bright, kind, and gentle. She knew I was left-handed, so she often observed me as I wrote. In the second semester, we began practicing small letters and writing longer dictation exercises. My handwriting became messy. During one dictation class, the teacher wrote neat letters on the board, and we copied them into our notebooks. Seeing the teacher distracted, I switched hands to write.

At the end of the class, Ms. Ngoc returned our dictation notebooks. She began commenting. Suddenly, she mentioned me: "Gia Bao, you’ve made progress today. However, I think you’ve forgotten something." I nervously lowered my head. In her graceful áo dài, she walked over to my desk and continued, "Do you remember what I told the class about how to hold the pen while writing?" The whole class repeated her words. Then she said, "However, Gia Bao still forgot. I will mark this on your notebook today." She looked at me and added, "I hope you will remember next time." Some classmates laughed, and I felt my face flush with embarrassment as tears welled up. But then she smiled gently and said, "But today, your handwriting is neat, spaced properly, and much better than many others." The class became silent. Her praise comforted me, and my frustration melted away.

From that day, I persevered in writing with my right hand. By grade two, I was writing beautifully. Although I no longer have Ms. Ngoc as my teacher, her lessons and kind words will forever remain etched in my heart.

1. Guidelines - Page 64 of Vietnamese 6, Volume 1, Cánh Diều Book

a) A memory is a story that remains in the mind of every individual. Writing an essay about a memory involves capturing interesting, impactful events from the past that you have witnessed and experienced. In this type of writing, the narrator uses the first-person perspective, referring to 'I'.

For example, the following text recounts a memory from the author's school days:

THE LIBRARIAN OF MY CHILDHOOD

Back then, when I was around 6 or 7 years old, my uncle had already retired. I didn’t know his age or his profession, I only knew his name was Hai. He had a beautiful silver goatee, and he looked even more majestic as he sat by the classroom door, playing a lively tune on his small mandolin in the cold winter afternoon.

At that time, our school didn’t have a professional library like now. Uncle Hai took the initiative to gather books and set up a small bookshelf in a classroom of the modest, single-story school building. On dry, crisp winter days, we would read passionately from afternoon until evening. On rainy days or during floods, the library would be closed because the water rose to our ankles. Even then, we would still eagerly wait for Uncle Hai to ride his bicycle, his silver beard swaying with every pedal stroke as he made his way to school.

I distinctly remember the first day I went to sign up for a library card. Back then, the library only issued cards to students from grade three and up. I was in grade two, just seven years old, and didn’t meet the requirements to own the prestigious green-grey card that had a student's name and class. I couldn’t stand this 'injustice' but continued to visit without saying anything, just quietly standing by. Uncle Hai insisted I go home, but I stubbornly stayed, watching older students read. Seeing how eager I was, he asked what grade I was in and where I lived. After learning my wish, he jokingly said, 'Then I’ll have to test whether you can remember anything from your reading!' He handed me a book called *The Green Lotus* and asked me to take it home.

That evening, I sat down to read *The Green Lotus*. I was so absorbed in it that even after two or three days, I still couldn’t put it down. By the end of the week, I returned the book. Uncle Hai asked, 'Was there a poem in the book?' I immediately recited a poem for him. From that moment, I was given a library card with my name on it, and I was even allowed to borrow books regularly. Later, when he met my mother, Uncle Hai praised my memory. He didn’t realize that, as a child with a not-so-crowded mind, remembering a small poem wasn’t a big deal! But his praise made me feel proud and boosted my confidence—I dared to write, speak, and share what I thought.

I can’t remember when that little library ceased to exist. I only remember that later, when I was in grade three, we often visited Uncle Hai’s house in the university dormitory of Hanoi University of Science and Technology to listen to him play the mandolin, practice singing, and... tell stories. I still remember a song he once played for us to sing along to—the song *Echoing Dawn*. The mandolin’s sound, pure and clear like water flowing down from a high mountain through small streams, carried our imagination far away...

b) From the text *The Librarian of My Childhood*, we can draw lessons on how to write an essay about a personal memory:

• Identify the memory to be shared and state its title in the opening of the essay.
• Describe how the memory occurred, highlighting its unique and memorable aspects.
• Use the first-person perspective, 'I', to easily present the narrator’s observations, thoughts, and feelings.
• Reflect on the effects or impact the memory had.
• Conclusion: Share the writer’s thoughts and wishes stemming from the memory.

2. Practice - Write an Essay about a Personal Memory

Task: Share a memorable experience you had with a teacher or friend during your elementary school years.

a) Preparation (Page 66 of Vietnamese 6, Volume 1, Cánh Diều)

• Recall and identify a significant memory from your elementary school years (what the memory was, who was involved, when it occurred, etc.).
• Review the writing approach for personal memories outlined above.

Suggestions:

• Memory: A time when school ended but my parents forgot to pick me up because my grandmother was sick.
• Involved: My teacher.
• When: During elementary school years.

b) Develop an Outline (Page 66 of Vietnamese 6, Volume 1, Cánh Diều)

• Develop ideas based on point a), answering questions such as:
  • What memory do you intend to write about?
  • What happened in the story?
  • Why is this memory significant and memorable?

Create an outline using the ideas you’ve developed, organizing them into three main parts of the essay:

• Introduction: Briefly mention the memory you plan to tell. For example: Recounting a time when my teacher helped me in grade four; how I felt guilty for lying to a classmate in grade five, etc.

• Body: Provide detailed descriptions of the memory by focusing on the following elements:
  • State the location and time when the event took place, along with the people involved.
  • Recount the events from start to finish, paying attention to distinctive, memorable actions, words, and situations.
  • Explain what made the memory so emotional, whether it brought joy, sadness, or inspiration.

• Conclusion:
  • Share your feelings about the memory or any lessons learned from it.
  • Express your wishes stemming from the memory.

c) Writing (Page 67 of Vietnamese 6, Volume 1, Cánh Diều)

From your outline, write the essay as required by the prompt.

Sample Essay:

Throughout my cherished elementary school years, the person I admired most was Ms. Thanh. She was the one who instilled in me the highest feelings of affection that a teacher can offer to their students.

Ms. Thanh was still quite young, with a slender, petite figure and an endearing personality. She loved her students dearly. Whether it was a sunny or rainy day, she never arrived late or missed a class. She was always gentle with us, yet very serious about teaching. During break times, if any student struggled with the lesson, she would stay behind after class to explain it to them. For the boys who often joked around, she would kindly remind them. Ms. Thanh often used interesting stories to educate us, and whenever a student misbehaved, she would give advice rather than scold. For those who struggled academically, she paid special attention to help them improve. As a result, all of us loved her and saw her as a second mother.

One afternoon, after school ended, I waited for my father to pick me up, just like always, but he still hadn’t arrived long after everyone had left. I became very worried because my father had never been late before. As I was almost in tears, Ms. Thanh walked over and asked why I hadn’t left yet. I explained what had happened, and my worry was clear in my voice. I started crying.

She reassured me to stay calm and offered to take me home. When we arrived, I noticed the gate to my house was still shut. This made me more anxious because my mother would usually be home at this time. Coincidentally, the day before, Ms. Thanh had asked a neighbor about my family’s situation and learned that my father was on an unexpected business trip. My mother was at home, but my grandmother had suddenly fallen ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. The entire family had gone with her and had forgotten to pick me up. Ms. Thanh immediately drove me to the hospital to visit my grandmother. I was overjoyed to see my mother and learned that my grandmother had passed through a critical moment. My mother was very touched and thanked Ms. Thanh deeply.

d) Review and Revise (Page 67 of Vietnamese 6, Volume 1, Cánh Diều)

• Check your outline and identify any content errors that need to be corrected.
• Review your writing for errors in spelling, grammar, word usage, and presentation, and make necessary corrections.

1. Guidelines

• Identify the memory to be recounted and give it a title in the heading of the essay.
• Describe the sequence of events. What makes this memory unique and memorable?
• Use the first-person narrative, referring to "I" to express personal observations, thoughts, and feelings.
• Reflect on the impacts and effects of this memory.
• Express the writer's wishes and emotions related to the memory.

2. Practice

Task: Write an essay about a significant memory with teachers and friends during elementary school.

• Recall and identify a meaningful memory from elementary school (What memory, with whom, when...)
• Review how to write about a memory.
• Generate ideas based on point a), asking and answering questions such as:
  • What memory do you intend to recount?
  • How did the story unfold?
  • Why is this memory meaningful and memorable?

• Create an outline based on the ideas gathered, organized into three sections:

(1) Introduction: Briefly introduce the memory you intend to recount.

(2) Body

• Specify the location, time, and the people involved.
• Detail the sequence of events, emphasizing memorable actions, dialogue, and key moments.
• Explain what made the memory joyful, sad, or emotionally impactful.

(3) Conclusion

• Share your thoughts on the memory or lessons learned from it.
• Express wishes or hopes inspired by the memory.

Writing: Based on the outline, write the essay as per the assignment requirements.

Review and edit

• Ensure the essay follows the outline and meets all the assignment criteria.
• Identify and correct issues related to word usage, spelling, grammar, sentence connections, etc.

Sample Essay:

In everyone's life, certain memories, especially those from the first day of school, remain unforgettable. For me, every year, as autumn arrives, I recall the emotions of my first day at school.

On that day, I woke up early, carefully packing my school bag. At seven, my grandfather took me to school on his familiar bicycle. The sky seemed clearer and bluer than usual. As we rode along, I felt excited, watching other students dressed in new uniforms riding with their parents. I noticed the faces of my classmates, a mix of worry and anticipation, and I saw the older students chatting cheerfully as they cycled by.

Even though I had already met my teacher and classmates before, I still felt thrilled. I wore my new uniform, the sandals my mother gave me, and entered the school with my grandfather. My teacher stood at the front of the line to greet us. I waved goodbye to my grandfather and took my seat as the teacher had arranged. The opening ceremony was formal, with speeches from the principal, senior students, and a first-grade representative. At the end of the ceremony, the principal rang the bell to signal the start of the school year. Hearing that bell, I felt moved and excited.

After the ceremony, we followed our teacher into the classroom. The first lesson was a reading exercise, and we listened intently to the teacher's instructions. Later, the teacher asked us to read aloud as a class. The sound of our voices together was clear and strong. The rest of the lessons were fun and engaging, and I eagerly raised my hand to answer questions, receiving praise from the teacher. This made me very happy. After school, I shared everything I had learned with my grandfather, and he rewarded me with a big ice cream for my effort.

Indeed, the first day of school leaves a lasting impression, and that day remains a cherished memory from my childhood.

1. Guidelines

A memory is a story that lingers in our minds. Writing about a memory means capturing an interesting and impactful event from the past that we have witnessed and experienced. In the story, the narrator speaks in the first person, using 'I'.

2. Practice

Task: Recount a memorable experience you had with your teachers or classmates during your elementary school years.

Answer:

Sample Essay

Time flies quickly. I remember the days when I timidly hid behind my mother, taking slow steps through the gates of my elementary school. Now, I’m in 6th grade, adapting to a completely new environment. One memory I’ll never forget is the last day at my elementary school.

That day, I arrived early, wearing the most neat and proper uniform. It was on that day that I truly understood the respect I had for the uniform I’d worn for so many years. The emblem of Primary School A felt so familiar and dear to me. In just a few hours, I would no longer be an elementary student, but would become a role model for the younger ones. Yet, why did my heart feel so heavy with sadness? Why did my throat tighten, and I couldn’t find the words to speak?

The road to school was as busy as usual. The trees lining the road seemed to droop, giving me the feeling that time itself was slowing down. My school, located in a small town on the outskirts of Hanoi, wasn’t as large or modern as the city schools, but it had a warmth and familiarity—almost like a second home to us. On that clear and quiet summer morning, sunlight streamed through the lush trees, and the schoolyard felt eerily still. Perhaps it was because not all the students had arrived yet. I was there earlier than usual because it was a special day.

I sat quietly at my desk. Since it was our last day, we didn’t have much to study. The exams were over, and this felt like the calmest moment of the year. My backpack contained only a few old books, which I gently placed on the desk. I looked around at everything, while my classmates continued to laugh and play, sharing stories with each other.

The laughter quieted when our homeroom teacher walked in. She didn’t scold us that day. She wasn’t the stern teacher who reminded us of our mistakes; today, she simply entered silently. Her eyes were filled with sadness, and she looked at us, urging us to be good and hardworking students in the next stage of our education. Her words, though familiar, felt deeper today, and we wanted to listen forever.

At the end of the roll call, she closed the attendance book, and the school bell rang. That’s when we realized that our beloved time at elementary school had ended. None of us could contain the overwhelming flood of emotions, and we all burst into tears. The entire class sobbed and rushed to hug her. That day, the whole school seemed to cry with us as we parted ways with our school and our elementary school memories.

That was the most beautiful moment of my 5th-grade year. Goodbye, dear school. Goodbye, my familiar seat. Goodbye, the blackboard and white chalk. No matter where we go, we will never forget. As I moved on to 6th grade, I promised myself to study hard and never regret my elementary school years.