Writing Assignment One

Writing Assignment 1:

You will be writing a two-page (double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 font)autobiography. Although an autobiography is the story of your own life, it does not mean that you will write about your birth, how you were the cutest baby ever, all the way up to what you ate for breakfast this morning. Instead, a short autobiography is telling the story of a single moment or event. That means you will need to give details, vivid descriptions and background if necessary.

To focus your story, select one of the following topics:

Your most embarrassing moment
Your first day of school (Kindergarten or the start of a new school)
Your first day at a new job
Breaking a bone, or some injury that results in a trip to the hospital

A few guidelines: Whatever it is, keep it clean. I'll be reading every word, and all your writing should be school appropriate. That means, no dirty words, drugs, alcohol or anything that would make your grandma blush.

Just like ALL writings, yours should have a central focus, or thesis. Since this is an autobiography, you will not need to use the five-paragraph essay format that is required with most writing. Instead, be creative with your use of foreshadowing, literary devices and story-telling abilities.

Remember to fully tell a story with a beginning, middle and end, even if the story told is very short. You may have falled down the stairs in front of a lot of people. The fall only took a few seconds, but there are details in the story that can make such a short period of time fill the two pages you need.

Your rough draft is due before class starts. Check your pacing guide for the correct date. Rough drafts are an automatic A if you turn it in on time. You will be peer editing with a friend on its due-date, so a late paper will result in 10 points per day being taken off.

Your final draft will be graded for length, content, a focused message, and spelling/grammar.