Writing an Autobiography WHO ARE YOU? Writing an Autobiography

Non-Fiction Books about People Biography Autobiography Memoirs

Biography bi·og·ra·phy : n. pl. bi·og·ra·phies An account of a person's life written, composed, or produced by another: a film biography of Adlai Stevenson; an oral biography. Biographies considered as a group, especially when regarded as a genre. The writing, composition, or production of biographies: a career entirely devoted to biography.

Memoirs mem·oir m m wär , -wôr ) n. An account of the personal experiences of an author. An autobiography. Often used in the plural. A biography or biographical sketch. A report, especially on a scientific or scholarly topic. memoirs The report of the proceedings of a learned society.

Autobiography Every person has a story to be told The biography of a person written by that person Every person has a story to be told Autobiography transforms story into written text Being Unique -- Autobiography it focuses on the whole of ones life Provides opportunity for authors to: Reflect on patterns of life Discover deeper meanings Consider the “larger story” revealed

What is an autobiography? An autobiography is a detailed account of events a person experiences in their life written by that person. Autobiographies are not just facts, although they do give details of a person’s life they also express feelings and thoughts of the author at certain instances in their life. By writing an autobiography you are letting the reader get to know and understand you better.

Function of Autobiography (for the author) See inside and to understand more about events Determine relevance of events and experiences Learn ‘how I came to be who I am” Bring the elements of his/her life to consciousness -- into the light

WHY WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY?  - to leave a message to future generations to pass on your heritage to put closure to a period or episode to process experiences to preserve family history to share what and who you are

Autobiography Reveals (for the Researcher) Life’s turning points How these redirect lives down one path or another Moments and Efforts to deal with life events Choices Decisions Unique and shared aspects of human aging over the life span How society, culture or family patterns are reflected in individual lives

Focus on FOUR major things: (1) who you are in life (how would you describe your personality), (2) what major life events or critical issues have had an impact on your life, (3) what life means to you, (4) what your outlook on the future is.

Instructions: Examine Your Life Step 1 Make a list of your ten best moments. Step 2 Make a list of your five worst moments. Step 3 Draw a Life Map Step 4 Think about what moves you emotionally and write these things down. Step 5 Examine your life for meaning and purpose. Step 6 Look for connections between your best and worst moments. Outline any connections you find. Step 7 Interview people who know you. Sometimes we need another perspective on our lives.

The 10 Elements Birthdate and place Family Members Childhood and School Life Hobbies, Interests, and Activities Education Career Motto of life Life meaning and beliefs Future expectations Photos and Likenesses

So, you have to (1) gather facts, (2) organize you information, (3) write you story.

Just imagine … Where are you five years from now? Twenty years from now? Thirty-five years from now? Fifty years from now? If I could live anywhere and any way I wanted, I would… If I could be anything I wanted, I would… If I could do anything I wanted, whenever I wanted, I would…

  It is said that life has two stories: a person sets out on a journey, and a stranger comes knocking on the door.

"I should not talk so much about myself if there were any body else I knew as well." “The history of the world is not complete until your story is told!” “There is properly no history, only biography” – "There's a world of wisdom in our personal stories. Your life is a legacy, a gift that only you can give. Why waste something so precious?" "Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your children's children."

The Practice of Autobiography Guidelines “Imagine that a publisher has asked you to write four chapters of your life story. Consider a title for each of the chapters and write two to three pages for each chapter.” 4/13/2018

EXAMPLES of TITLES Antonina’s Autobiography: Looking Back Chapter Titles Expectation Meeting Mother Troubled World In the Army Now Going Back

Juan’s Autobiography: Mi Vida Loca Juan’s Chapter Titles Baby Steps Songs of Innocence Vulture Culture Peace, Pot, P…, and Pink Floyd Songs of Experience

Example of an Autobiography I was born on a warm, sunny day in June in Sarasota, Florida. I still live in Sarasota, Florida, and I go to school at Booker High School. I live with my mom,Kate; my brother, Jake; and my Aunt Molly. When I was born, my bother was fifteen-months-old and hid under the table from me. Jake is a sweet kid and he would do anything for me, but like all brothers and sisters we fight like cats and dogs. Sometimes when no one was around, Jake would come up to me and bite my toes for no reason. I still love him but only because he is my brother. Who I am in life. My name is Sally Friday. I started school when I was six-years-old. I went to kindergarten through fifth grade at Booker Elementary and while I was there, I won an award for perfect attendance. I also won an award for honor roll all four terms. Then I attended Booker Middle School, and there I also won a couple of awards: one for perfect attendance and two for being named Student of the Year--one in sixth grade and the other in eighth grade. I am now a senior at Booker High School. I plan on finishing school and maybe going to a community college. What life means to me. Life to me means friends and family who you can trust and who trusts you. I am pretty much on the happy side of life, but like all teens I do I have my "days of." That means I do have some sad days or depressed days. I have a few frinds here that sort of look out for me and when I am having a bad day, I have someone here at school to talk to. I make my school days go by thinking of either the next hour or what I will do when I get home or on the weekend. I'm not seeing anyone now but when I did have a boyfriend, our favorite places to go were the movies and out to dinner. Sometimes we went to the beach. Only once we went to an amusement park: Universal Studios. We were together for twenty-nine days and then we broke-up; so no, I don't think it was forever. What's my outlook on the future. The year 2018 will make twenty years since I graduated from high school. I think I will probably be still living here in Sarasota. I will be quite comfortable with my living situation, meaning that I will be married to Paul Smith. We will have one child: Linda Treasa Smith, who at that point will be three-years-old and a little devil. Paul is a sweet guy; he will do anything for anyone. He is six feet tall and built well. He has baby blue eyes and blond hair. We will have been together for five years and will be happy together--this is forever. Conclusion As I said in the beginning, I was born here in Florida and I've lived here my whole life. I would like to see more of the USA but unfortunatly, I don't have any money to leave Florida to go anywhere right now. I hope you have enjoyed reading my life story as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you. Try to get as much as you can out of school; you're only there for twelve years and when you graduate, you're home free. Here's a tip for you to live or try to live by: If you think it, it can be done.    Written by Erika Baker