4 Application: Writing an Autobiographical Essay
Assignment Description
Students will use four kinds of writing (narration, description, exposition, and reflection) to compose an organically-structured autobiographical essay. Students should identify a particular community with whom they intend to share their story and compose accordingly. They can write to their families, their fellow students, or other communities to whom they wish to speak.
Prompt Suggestion: Share an experience that motivated you to pursue a degree in your chosen field. What happened? What did you learn? How did the experience change you? What did it make you want to do? What do you plan to do with your degree in the future?
Before embarking on this journey, we highly recommend reading the Student Resource page for The Writing Process and referring back to it whenever you need to.
Step 1: Understanding the Assignment
- Find and read model autobiographical essay to understand what an autobiographical essay “looks like.” Student samples are available in current OER, or use the narrative winner from the 2023-2024 FYC Writing Contest. Your model essay doesn’t have to be exactly the same topic as your essay; it just needs to be the same genre and perhaps inspiring to you in some way. Reading more than one might help you generate even more ideas.
- Fill out this Genre Features Chart to help you understand the pieces the text should have: This is available under Canvas FYC Course Materials / English 1013 Composition I / Additional Documents
Step 2: Prewriting
Consider the topic above or the one your instructor has specified. Begin by reflecting on a few basic questions related to the topic to help you figure out what you are writing about.
For the Suggested Prompt: What is your current major? What future career are you interested in pursuing? Who or what influenced your interest in this field? What motivated you to pursue this kind of work?
After answering these general questions, complete the Heart Mapping Brainstorming Activity to help you identify the experience and story you are going to share with you reader. (This strategy was created by educator Georgia Heard in the book Heart Maps: Helping Students. See link for further information: https://blog.heinemann.com/heart-mapping-at-home-meaningful-authentic-writing)
- Draw a heart.
- Write your major/future career at the top of the page.
- Draw lines within the heart creating 3-4 sections.
- Label each section with questions related to your topic. Below are sample questions for the suggested prompt.
| Among all of my hobbies, which have most influenced my career path? | What are some of the most important skills I should have to get my dream job? |
| What events or experiences in my life have inspired me the most? | How do the classes I take in college help prepare me for my goals? |
| What are some topics related to my major that I would most enjoy talking about everyday? | What do I love most about my future career? What am I lo