Autobiography Assignment



ENG 3C – Independent Study Unit

Autobiography Assignment

Learning Goal: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of detailed, personal writing through the completion of their own autobiography.

Over the course of the semester, we will be studying The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Freedom Writers Diary which is a compilation of numerous students’ writings of themselves and their lives. One of your final assignments for the course, an autobiography, is a culmination of what we have studied. Your assignment will be to complete an autobiography of yourself and your life.

This assignment will be completed over the course of the entire semester. You will receive class time each Friday to work on this assignment. Part of your mark will be determined by your ability to use your time effectively and productively. You will be completing it in stages and will submit the final product towards the end of the semester.

You must include ALL of the chapters listed under “The Chapters.” Each chapter should be at approximately one page in length, including pictures and graphics that correspond with that chapter. Each chapter has been given a title that you must include with your final assignment. Every chapter should (this Success Criteria):

-include a thoughtful response to the assigned topic (minimum of two paragraphs for each

chapter)

-be revised/edited as necessary

-be neatly typed either in the computer lab or at home

-in order, according to this assignment booklet

-clearly labeled (Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.) and pages numbered.

In addition to each chapter, you are also required to include the following (more Success Criteria):

-A COVER- Your cover should include your selected title, your name, and an illustration appropriate to your book. For illustrations, consider a word pattern, graphic design, collage, original drawings, photographs, magazine pictures, etc. Be sure to glue your graphic(s) securely to the cover of your book so they do not fall off. Using a binder with a plastic sleeve at the front is also a good idea.

-TITLE PAGE- Select a word or phrase particularly meaningful for you to serve as your title. Browse through a thesaurus, listen to music you love, think of special people and places and interests, and then submit several possible titles. “A Book about Me” or “My Autobiography” are poor titles because they are vague and impersonal. The title page should include the title, your name, your teacher’s name, the class, and the due date.

-A TABLE OF CONTENTS- This page should be title “Table of Contents.” List the title of all chapters in your autobiography and list the page number it is found on. All chapters will need to have page numbers that coincide with the table of contents.

-PHOTOGRAPHS- As previously mentioned, each chapter should include photographs, pictures or graphics that correspond with the chapter. Be sure to provide explanation for the picture in one or two sentences.

-FAMOUS QUOTES- Each chapter must include a relevant quote just below the chapter heading. It must fit the content of the chapter in some way. For example, if you are writing about your family and your mother has played an important role in your life, you may choose to quote something someone has said about mothers. There are plenty of quote websites available for you to search through by category. You must have a quote for each chapter in your book.

-DEDICATION- You may want to dedicate this book to someone who has had a profound influence on you or your writing. Most often, authors dedicate their work to someone close to them and then give a brief reason why. An example: “For my wife, for being there for me from the beginning”. You do not have to include a dedication, but it would be a nice added touch to your final product.

This is an exciting and memorable assignment. Be as honest and prolific as you feel necessary. Anything that is put into your autobiography will only be read by me, and will be kept completely confidential. Make this a fun assignment for yourself. This is something you can look back on and treasure for years to come.

If you have any questions or concerns, please come and see me. Remember that I here to help, so please ask for help if needed. You can also contact me through email: diane.kelly@tldsb.on.ca. A rubric for the assignment is attached.

THE CHAPTERS:

1. What’s in a Name?

Names are an integral part of who we are. They shape our sense of who we are. Explore your feelings about “The unity between yourself and your name.” Do you like your name? Are these the names you would have chosen for yourself? (First name, middle name(s), last name?) Is there a story behind your naming; someone famous, a family member, weird initials? Does your name have symbolic meaning or another special meaning? Is it ethnic, historic, or literary? Did your parents consider other names? In short, how do you live with your name?

2. Mini-Me

Imagine yourself as a small child. How did others see you when you were very little? You could interview someone who knew you as a small child- one of your parents or grandparents, an older sibling, or an aunt or uncle, for example. Write about their favourite memory of yourself, OR write about one early memory of your own. Some possibilities are: when you learned to walk or ride a bike, a memorable sports game or musical event, a visit to grandparents, a special birthday, a fulfilling and relaxing evening at home, or anything else that may stand out.

3. This is My Hometown

Describe your hometown in detail. Use all of the five senses to make it come alive. Don’t forget all the important places that make your hometown unique. Add feelings and impressions about your hometown. Do you like it overall? Explain why or why not. Are there certain things you like or dislike? How did your hometown contribute to who you are today? Would you like to stay in your hometown or do you want to get out as soon as possible?

4. School Daze (Part I- Elementary School)

Choose at least one memorable experience from elementary school. Describe the experience and discuss how that experience was important to who you are. Be as detailed as possible. What happened? Who was involved? Your experience can be funny, serious, traumatic, stupid, mean, etc., but it must be memorable.

5. School Daze (Part II- High School)

Choose at least one memorable experience from high school. Describe the experience and discuss how that experience was important to who you are. Be as detailed as possible. What happened? Who was involved? Your experience can be funny, serious, traumatic, stupid, mean, etc., but it must be memorable.

6. Blood is Thicker than Water

Choose a member of your family and describe a specific moment you’ve shared with that family member and what you learned from that experience. Perhaps you’ve gone fishing with your grandfather, or shopping with your sister, or on a walk with your mother, for example. How has your relationship changed with this family member as you’ve grown older? What hopes do you have for your future relationship? Explore.

7. You Should’ve Been There

Describe a memorable event that you witnessed or attended in the last year. Describe the event, with whom you attended, what was special about it, if you would do it again, if you would recommend other people to do the same thing, etc. For example, you might describe a concert, a special movie, a family reunion, or a birthday party. Include some other tangible evidence for bonus marks, such as a ticket stub, a program, or a photograph if possible.

8. I’ve Been Everywhere, Man

Describe at least one memorable trip you’ve been on. Discuss the highlights of the trip and how it influenced you. Would you go there again? Would you recommend this place to someone else?

9. Who I Look Up To

Think of two people whom you admire. Write about what they mean to you and what they have added to your life. Devote at least one solid paragraph to each person, telling what each person has done to deserve your admiration.

10. It’s a Wild World

Choose one or several current events that you think are particularly important. Describe the events and discuss the impact they have on your life. How do they make you feel? Have they changed you, your opinions, or the way you in any way? How do you think these issues will play out over your lifetime?

11. When I’m Sixty-Four

Write about all of the things that you wish to accomplish by the time you are in your sixties. Include career goals, material possessions (car, house, etc.), family goals, places you want to go, things you want to experience. The sky is the limit, so don’t hold back.

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