Suggested outline for autobiography

SUGGESTED OUTLINE FOR AUTOBIOGRAPHY 1. Introduce your family setting. Include all the important people present during your childhood and describe the physical, social, economic and historical settings in a few sentences. 2. Recount your earliest memories and other memories that seem important to you in your maturation. 3. Describe your interaction with your parents and others during your childhood. Include in your description any plots or interaction patterns common to the time. 4. Describe your experience with grade school and friends. Who, where and what was it like for you? 5. Describe your experience of adolescence and high school. How did you change in mental, social and behavioral ways? 6. Describe your movement towards independence from your parents in later adolescence. 7. Describe your college experience so far in terms of intellectual, emotional, social development. 8. Describe yourself as you are now in terms of your similarities and differences from others, your hopes, your aspirations and your perception of your own mental processes. 9. Describe how you think you will behave and change over the course of your life. Include thoughts about career, romance, family, and how you are unique among human beings. 10. Describe what you think you will be like when you are 65. 11. Include anything else that you believe a reader of your autobiography would find either interesting or informative about you or the events of your life. 12. Have fun! Page 1 – Write interesting titles for your autobiography and each chapter – Include a Table of Contents and Dedication Page – Submit your autobiography in a folder or album – Include photographs or illustrations with captions I. Introduction–Birthplace and General Family History A. Where and when you were born B. Places you have lived–towns, cities, states, countries C. Your current home–location and description D. Other related material to make an interesting introduction to your life i. Your looks; whom do you resemble? ii. Your name; how your parents determined it II. Family Information A. Father’s name, education, occupation, interests, etc. B. Mother’s name, education, occupation, interests, etc. C. Name(s) of brother(s) and sister(s), education, interests, personalities, etc. D. Other related material: Interesting grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins; people who have influenced who you are today i. Family jokes and traditions ii. Family vacations iii. Pets III. Years Before School, Infant-4 years old A. Funny incidents that happened to you as a baby or toddler B. Funny things you said or did when very young (ask parents or siblings) C. Ways you amused yourself (favorite toy, thing to do, book to read) D. Your disposition as a young child and the joy as well as the interesting moments that you caused E. Incidents your family tells you about when you were younger IV. Early School Days–Little stories or detailed memories, PreK-Grade A. Friendships you formed B. Games and hobbies you liked C. Funny, serious, and sad experiences that you had D. Other related material V. School Activities History–Try to give little stories or detailed memories A. Different schools attended B. Favorite or least-liked teachers, subjects and grades C. Activities–clubs, athletics, etc. D. Successes and failures–incidents that happened to you E. Your serious feelings about school and Wauconda in particular i. * What has school meant in your life so far? VI. Social Activities–Try to tell little stories or detailed memories A. Out of school activities B. Church, Temple, Synagogue membership and activities C. Community Membership–athletics, clubs, etc. D. Experiences you and your friends have had and what you do now in your free time VII. Leisure Time Activities and Potpourri A. Favorite TV and radio program (stations) B. Magazines and newspaper you read C. Hobbies D. Pets E. Daydreams F. Three favorite books G. Three favorite movies H. Travel–places you have visited, family vacations I. Your achievements J. Major experiences (operations, illnesses, accidents, etc.) VIII. Special Abilities A. Instruments played (continued on next page) B. Special talents–acting, dancing, singing, etc. C. Sports teams you have been on–incidents, season records, championships, etc. IX. Future Plans A. Educational–special training or college B. Job or career–What do you see yourself doing? C. Personal goals–family, marriage, travel, hobbies, sports, activities, where want to live, etc. A. I believe________________ B. I admire________________ C. I dream_________________ D. I need___________________ E. I trust___________________ F. I am_____________________ G. I create___________________ H. I cherish__________________ I. I strive____________________ J. I hope_____________________ X. I Am _________________–List a serious characteristic after each verb that creates a total picture of the person you are today.