1. Drafting The Autobiographical Essay
Mrs. Hackworth
Comp 1: Day 9
Writing the First Draft

2. Structure of Autobiography: The Introduction
Introduction should be 7-10 sentences.
The beginning of the essay captures the reader’s interest
Hook: a writer’s tool to grab the audiences attention.
Your autobiographical narrative will be about one significant event in your life
The narrative needs to include the people, times, places, and objects
During your description of the event you need to include your feelings:
How you felt then;
And how you feel now

3. Structure of Autobiography: Body Paragraphs
Each important (interesting) detail should be in chronological order. (Flashbacks are permitted for added background.

4. Autobiographical Incident at a Glance
Intro: Beginning
Body: Middle
Conclusion: End
-Write about a single incident
-Identify the people, places, times and objects involved
-Describes the incident using descriptive details and dialogue
-Describe your feelings THEN
Tells the outcome and importance of the incident
Presents the writer’s feelings about the experience NOW
-Introduces the incident in an interesting way
-Includes the people involved and the setting
-Tell why the incident is important to you

5. A Captivating Beginning
What sounds better:
A. One day this past
summer I went to the
beach.
B. It was a warm summer
day and I could smell the
salt in the ocean breeze.

6. Body Paragraph For example:
When I was 6 years old my whole family moved to Australia. This was such an important event in my life, at the time, because everything in my life changed so much. At first I felt afraid and it was hard to make friends. But after a while I slowly made new friends and felt at home. I must say that the years I spent in Australia changed me a lot. I became a much more out going and social person. I also learned that people are the same everywhere and everywhere in the world there are kind people. For example, I easily made many new friends in Australia. Most people there were kind and friendly.

7. The Conclusion: The final paragraph
Restate your introduction.
The conclusion should be 5-7 sentences in length.
Use the funnel approach
Funnel back out to a broader topic and end your essay positively.
If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball…if you can write an introduction, you can write a conclusion.

8. Final Tips
Remember that you can revise and reorganize your writing later.
Try to give readers a strong sense of the incident.
Show rather than tell why it is important to you.
Include well chosen sensory details and dialogue as you plan your essay.
Remember to start off with a strong beginning and conclude with a memorable ending.

9. Writing Your First Draft
Remember: A first draft does not have to be perfect, it just has to be written.
Your typed and printed (and stapled) first draft is due next class.
Intro
Body Paragraphs
Conclusion