Autobiographical Narrative

Assignment Sheet/Checklist

Overview and Rationale:

Throughout this quarter you have been reading the personal narratives of
various authors in our unit on fiction. Reading these stories has given you
information and insight into who the authors are, and how their choices and
experiences have shaped who their identities. It is now time for you to tell
your own story. You are going to do this by choosing one important choices
or challenge in your life and writing about it. You will then interpret and
reflect on this event and through this interpretation and reflection create a
rule by which you live; a rule that helps you explain who you are and who
you have become to both yourself and others.

Checklist

 Select a maxim that represents your personal philosophy, or a rule you

live by
 Brainstorm a list of 10+ events in your life that demonstrate the truth
of your rule (10 pts)
 Select one of the events from your list and write about it, giving as
much detail as possible (1st draft – 50 pts)
 Re-write the event, making sure you have: (2nd draft – 50 pts)
○ Conflict, climax, and resolution
○ Dialogue
○ Strong characterization that demonstrates the characters’ traits
○ Reflection on the event
○ Analysis of how the event relates to your rule
 Write your introduction and conclusion
 Edit your rule for the following:
○ Subject-verb agreement
○ Punctuation
○ Capitalization
 Email the final draft of your rule to me at avery.tooley@pgcps.org on
or before 8 October 2010
Presentation

The final draft of your Rule should also meet the following criteria:

 Title (Your title should be the rule you live by)

 Double-Spaced
 Typed in an approved 12-point font
○ Times New Roman
○ Georgia
○ Tahoma
○ Arial
 600-750 words

This is not the project for you to get creative with your font face and line
spacing.

Due Dates

Brainstorming list of 10 Events - 17 September (A), 20 September (B)

First draft of event – 21 September (A), 22 September (B)
Second draft of event – 30 September (A), 1 October (B)
Final Draft – 8 October (A+B)

This project will be worth a total of 310 points. The brainstormed list and
first two drafts of the rule will count as homework AND as part of the total
project grade. Therefore, it is imperative that you engage in all aspects of
the writing process.