2. Describing a turning point . . .
From Reading to Writing In “A White Heron,” Sylvia is unable to betray the location of the heron to a hunter: “She cannot tell the heron’s secret and give its life away.”

3. Describing a turning point . . .
Just as such a turning point can reveal character in a story, similar incidents can reveal some aspect of your own attitude or personality. Writers include such autobiographical incidents in their memoirs and essays.

4. B a s i c s i n a B o x Autobiographical Incident at a Glance Middle
Beginning
Recreates the incident using descriptive details
Makes the significance clear
End
Concludes by reflecting on the outcome and significance
Presents the writer’s feelings about the experience
Introducing the incident including the people involved and the setting
RUBRIC
Standards for Writing
A successful autobiographical incident should
focus on a well-defined incident or a series of related incidents
provide background information for the incident
use elements such as plot, character, and setting as appropriate
make the order of events clear
use description or dialogue as appropriate
include precise language and specific details
show why the experience was significant
maintain a consistent tone and point of view

5. Prewriting Writing Your Autobiographical Incident1
Prewriting
Begin by choosing the incident you will write about. You may choose to focus on something that happened to you, or you may decide to write about an event you witnessed but did not participate in.
Make a list with three columns: People, Places, Things.
List all the things that come to mind in each category that represent something important to you.

6. Prewriting Writing Your Autobiographical Incident1
Prewriting
You might also remember meaningful events in your past by using the phrase, “I remember when. . . ,” then jotting down the thoughts that come to mind.
When you have chosen the event you want to write about, follow these steps:

7. Planning Your Autobiographical Incident
1. Test your topic. Do you remember the incident well enough to write about it? Why is this memory important? Will you be comfortable sharing the memory? Will writing about it show what you learned from the event or what impact it had on you?
2. Think about your purpose and audience. How can you show readers how and why the incident affected you?
3. Choose some of your building blocks. What other people took part in the incident? Is the time or place important? What are some of the key events?

8. Drafting Writing Your Autobiographical Incident2
Drafting
Get your memory down on paper. Don’t worry about how it sounds. You can make improvements later. If you find yourself losing interest in the incident or have trouble telling it, choose another memory. As you draft, consider the following hints:
Use some or all of the story elements—plot, character, and setting. Include any background information that the reader needs to know.

9. Drafting Writing Your Autobiographical Incident2
Drafting
Use dialogue when you can.
Use language that appeals to the senses.
Organize your incident. Usually chronological order is the clearest method of organization, but you might decide you can make a greater impact by starting in the middle of the incident. In that case, you can use a flashback to fill in all the missing parts.

10. Drafting Writing Your Autobiographical Incident2
Drafting
After you finish your first draft, let it sit for a while. Then reread it. Ask your peer readers for reactions, too.

11. Revising Writing Your Autobiographical Incident3
Revising
I can’t write five words but that I change seven.
Dorothy Parker,
American writer and humorist

12. Revising Writing Your Autobiographical Incident3
Revising
TARGET SKILL
MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY OF TONE
Your autobiographical incident will have more impact if the tone is the same throughout. A humorous piece that unintentionally turns serious or a serious piece that suddenly becomes sarcastic will likely confuse the reader.

13. Editing and Proofreading
Writing Your Autobiographical Incident
Editing and Proofreading 43
TARGET SKILL
PUNCTUATING CLAUSES
Your incident will have more impact if you vary the sentences you use to tell about it. To avoid too many short, choppy sentences, writers combine ideas into one sentence with two or more clauses.