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An Autobiography

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Alexander Erneo
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56 views

An Autobiography

Uploaded by

Alexander Erneo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Advance English

specific purposesfor
What is an Autobiography?
An autobiography is a non-fiction
account of a person’s life written from
their own perspective by the subject.
Autobiographies are a subgenre of
biographies, however, unlike a standard
biography, which is usually written by
someone other than the subject, an
autobiography is written by the subject
himself/herself.
Autobiography vs. Biography
Memoir vs.
Autobiography Biography Memoir
An A biography A memoir is also
autobiograph an account of
y is an
is an account someone’s
account of a of someone’s life but of during
person’s life life written a specific time in
the
written by by someone Journey of his/her
that person or else life. This means it
subject itself only
covers a part of
the author’s life
It is a It is an
It is a It is a It is a
primary secondary primary
source of source of source of
information information information

They are Biographi Memoirs can


written in es are also be written
chronological
written in chronologica
order, like
chronologi lly But often
from birth to
cal order move back
What to Include in an
Autobiography?
1.People with the most influence (like family, friends,
mentors, coaches, etc.)
2. Important events (like your origin story,
vacations, graduations, life turning points, life
lessons)
3. Moments of emotion (When you were homeless,
when you battled a life-threatening condition, or
when you fell in love)
4. Suspense or drama? (Did you get accepted to
How to Start Writing Your Autobiography?
1. Place
Your You must put them in the right
Story
Order chronological sequence. Try to
keep it in order.

2.Speak
in the
People expect an autobiography
First
Person to be written in the first person
since it is about you. When
discussing events, you might
use ‘I,’ ‘Me,’ or ‘Mine,’ rather
than she or he. If you’re sharing
Important Tips on Writing
an Autobiography
1.Allow yourself to be vulnerable. The
finest autobiographies are full of
defects, weaknesses, quirks, and
missteps. Allow your readers to see the
genuine ‘you’.
2. Skip the sections that are boring.
There’s no need to go into great detail
about every meal, vehicle ride, or a tense
trip to the supermarket.
3. Keep your autobiography focused on the
characters.
4. Remember that this is YOUR tale to tell!
5. Be (or don’t be) nice to others. Keep in
mind that there may be consequences or
reactions if you write about people in your
narrative.
6. Consider a theme to follow! Many
autobiographies are divided into sections
based on a common theme.
7.Create snippets for your tale (or vignette).
Each vignette is a standalone tale with a
beginning, middle, and conclusion.
8. Pick a tone! Your narrative (like most
stories) will most likely contain a range of
emotions, but pick one and stay with it.
9.Engage the readers! Always consider how
you might make each part, chapter, page,
paragraph, and phrase more engaging. . You
want to speak the truth, but it’s up to you
how you say it.
How Many Types of Autobiography are
There?
• Full autobiography
• Memoir
• Personal essay
• Confession
• Psychological illness
• Overcoming adversity
Full Autobiography
• This type of autobiography revolves
around a complete life story from birth
to the present time. Authors choose to
write a full autobiography if their
whole life is different from others.
• With a full or traditional
autobiography, you let your readers
know about the real you and give them
inside information. E.g Benjamin Franklin
Memoir
• A memoir focuses on a specific place, time,
or relationship. Memoirs are written from
the first-person point of view.
• More limited than the traditional
autobiography as it focuses more on an
important part of your life.
• It can be about your childhood years and
what made you who you are now. For
example, a famous memoir is Henry David
Thoreau's Walden.
Personal Essay
• It is one of the oldest forms of
autobiographical writing. A personal essay
is the most artistic and intimate form of
writing as compared to the other three
types. This type of writing does not focus
much on the story but on the tone and style.
• A great personal essay example is ‘A
Natural History of the Senses’ by Diane
Ackerman.
Confession
• This type of autobiography is written
by those who have done something
wrong. They find comfort in writing
about their mistakes in the hope that
other people will learn from them.
Confessions by Jean-Jacques
Rousseau is a good example to
consider.
Psychological illness
• In this autobiography, people who have
suffered from any kind of mental illness find
it therapeutic to pen down their thoughts.
• Although there are specialists who listen to
people’s problems to help them feel better.
Many people find it more relieving to write
down their stories.
• The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé
Weijun Wang is a good example to consider.
Overcoming adversity
• Not all people are living happy and
satisfying life. Many face terrible
events such as accidents, kidnapping,
murder, etc.
• Sharing such stories can inspire others
and also help them in expressing their
emotions to heal. A good example of this
autobiography is The Center of the
Universe by Nancy Bachrach.

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