WRITING AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Here are some starters for your autobiography. Try to keep each item to one page and accompany it with a photo or drawing. I was born: When: Where: How: (anything out of the ordinary such as born in the back of my parents’ car, etc.) As a baby: Interview those who knew you as a baby (parents, grandparents, older siblings, etc.). Share a funny, sad, unusual story about something you did as a baby. (e.g. “When I was only two years old, I jumped off a picnic table and broke my leg.”) If you have a picture relating to the incident, glue it to the page. My earliest memory: Think back to when you were about three years old. What is one of your very earliest memories? (e.g. “When I was just three years old, my family went on a picnic. We went to the park by the creek and had a cook-out. I took a big bite of my hot dog and YOW! There was a bee on it and it bit the inside of my mouth! That really hurt! But my mom went and got me a popsicle which cooled off the sting and we stayed for the rest of the day.” The town I grew up in: You may still live in the town you grew up in or you may have moved to a new town. Share some thoughts about your neighborhood, playground, favorite store, friend’s yard, etc. My family: Write a paragraph about your family. Describe each member and what makes them special or what they mean to you. You can also write about your grandparents, special aunt or uncle, cousins, etc. My pets: You can tell about the pets you have now or a pet you might have had when you were little who is no longer alive. If you have no pets, make up a story about what type of pet you’d love to have. (e.g. “I’ve always wanted to own a monkey. I’d dress it up in a little jacket and hat and put a leash on it and take it for walks with me.”) My favorite holiday: This is an easy one. Tell all about your favorite holiday, what it is, why it’s your favorite and share a story about an extra special one. When I was in preschool: Share a funny story from when you were in preschool or kindergarten. (e.g. “When I was in preschool my favorite thing to do was to hide in the toy box at clean-up time and not
answer the teacher as she called me. I remember my teacher laughing really hard about it the first time, but my mom wasn’t too happy.”) My Best Birthday Ever: Write a page on the best birthday you ever had. Describe what made it so special. (e.g. “I remember my seventh birthday. I didn’t have a party that year. Instead my mother took me on the train to New York City to see the circus at Madison Square Garden. After the circus we ate dinner in a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown and then came home again on the train.”) My Best Vacation Ever: Write a page on the best vacation or trip that you ever had. Describe where you went, who you went with, what you did, and why you enjoyed it. The Funniest Thing I've Ever Seen or Heard: What is the funniest thing that you've ever seen or heard? Maybe it was a joke that a friend told you, a comedy routine, or a scene in a movie. Describe this amusing event and tell why you thought it was funny. The Scariest Thing That Ever Happened To Me: What is the scariest thing that ever happened to you? Describe this event and write about why it scared you. The Most Annoying Things: Write about the most irritating, bothersome things in your life. (e.g. “I have lots of freckles and red hair. People always call me “Carrot Top” and it’s so annoying. I don’t call them “Baldy” or “Four Eyes” so why do they have to call me a name I don’t like?”) Self-Portrait: Draw a self-portrait, and describe yourself in writing. Three Words Describing Yourself: If you had to describe yourself using only three words, what words would you use and why? My Personal Hero: Who is your personal hero? Write a page on your hero's accomplishments and what makes that person a hero. If you don't have a personal hero, describe the characteristics that someone would have to possess to be your personal hero. When I'm Eighty: Write an essay as though you were 80 years old, looking back at your life. What have you accomplished, what are you proudest of, what is the world like, and do you have any regrets?