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An autobiography is a self-written life story. It is different from a biography, which is the life story of a person written by someone else. Some people may have their life story written by another person because they don’t believe they can write well, but they are still considered an author because they are providing the information. Reading autobiographies may be more interesting than biographies because you are reading the thoughts of the person instead of someone else’s interpretation.
Autobiographies are an important part of history. Being able to read the person’s own ideas and life stories is getting the first-person story versus the third-person (he-said/she-said) version. In journalism, reporters go to the source to get an accurate account of an event. The same is true when it comes to life stories. Reading the story from a second or third source will not be as reliable. The writer may be incorrectly explaining and describing the person’s life events.
Autobiographies are also important because they allow other people in similar circumstances realize that they are not alone. They can be inspiring for those who are facing problems in their lives. For the author, writing the autobiography allows them to heal as they express their feelings and opinions. Autobiographies are also an important part of history.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT
You will write some assignments in class; others will be homework; you will turn some in for
comment, and share others in peer groups. Since you are required to have your book bound
professionally, you must plan ahead and budget time.
You should revise ALL assignments before rewriting them in final form. If you do not
type your assignments, you may write them neatly in final draft form. Most assignments will be
approximately a page long. You may complete an assignment by writing on the back of a page,
but start every new assignment on a new page.
❒ PROFESSIONAL BINDING-- Plan ahead and budget time and money to have your book
bound professionally. You may choose strip or spiral binding, from about $3.00 up, depending
on your choices.
❒ 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, quotations, etc. Use rubber cement or a
glue stick to mount items, and be sure that your cover design hides price tags and brand names.
❒ A 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. Illustrate the title page
with the title, name, and date.
❒ A TABLE OF CONTENTS-- List the assignment number and title of all assignments in your
autobiography. Title each contents page.
❒ AN INTRODUCTION-- Explain the significance of your title, making clear why it is
relevant to your life in particular. Also include a brief description of this writing project and its
purposes -- in your own words.
Every assignment should be:
✔ a thoughtful response to the assigned topic
✔ revised as necessary
✔ neatly and legibly written or typed
✔ in order according to this assignment booklet
✔ in black ink
✔ titled on the top line
✔ numbered by assignment (not page) in the upper right corner
✔ corrected using proofreading symbols or correction fluid
DONENESS counts! But your writing should also demonstrate appropriate word usage,
sentence structure, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
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