Compressing characters and changing characters' names Compressing and changing characters' names is on the verge of turning an essay into a fictionalized account, but many authors believe that changing a character's name or consolidating characters does not distract from the verisimilitude of their story. When some readers do find out that an author has changed a name or two to protect a family member or friend, they may feel that the author was justified for doing so, while others may feel that the author has changed the nature of the story. I feel that changing a character's name from Sally to Jennifer should not take away from the author's narrative intentions. Furthermore, many authors address the composite character issue up front by letting readers know either in the preface or in the acknowledgements that they have changed their characters' names. In memoirs, authors generally acknowledge when they have changed names either in the preface or in a footnote, so that their credibility with the reader is not shattered and that they look like they are not hiding anything from the reader.

Disclaimers Using disclaimers and markers also adds to an author's credibility because the author is stating that she is not really sure something took place. For example, the author can write, "I imagine that my mother first felt scared when she came to America," or "I can't remember everything about that day, but here's what I do remember." In this case, the author chooses to acknowledge doubt and continue with her story. However, writers need to be careful to not show too much doubt before their reader, because the reader will not believe the writer as much. For example, if the student cannot