8th Grade Autobiography Second Semester Project

1
8th Grade AutobiographySecond Semester Project

• All eighth graders complete an autobiography
  worth 100 points. This is a required curriculum
  component of eighth grade English and is included
  on the students fourth quarter grade. The
  following slides give an overview of what is
  expected. Students are also given a sheet with
  guidelines.

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Autobiography

• --the story of ones life written by oneself

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Topics You Might Include

• Birthplace
• Birthdate
• Height
• Weight
• Length

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Topics You Might Include

• Family
• Parents/Siblings
• Grandparents
• Step-Families
• Special People in Your Life

5
Topics You Might Include

• Schools Attended
• Preschool
• Elementary
• Junior High
• Middle School
• High School????

6
Topics You Might Include

• Disappointments
• Sadnesses
• Unhappinesses
• Wish I Could Do It Over!
• Life Isnt A Bowl Of Cherries.

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Topics You Might Include

• Hospital Stays
• Accidents
• Injuries
• Broken Bones
• Ouchies

8
Topics You Might Include

• Trips
• Vacations
• Fun Memories
• Summer Activities
• Hobbies

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Topics You Might Include

• Past Friends
• Current Friends
• Best Friends
• Good Friends
• Not Friends

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Topics You Might Include

• Birthday Parties
• Family Parties
• School Parties
• Friend Parties
• Holiday Parties

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Topics You Might Include

• Organizations
• Church
• 4-H
• Student Council
• Music
• Dance

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Topics You Might Include

• Sports
• Recreational
• Club
• School
• Just For Fun

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Topics You Might Include

• This is your writing. You should include anything
  that has been important to you throughout your
  life.

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Topic You Must Include

• Future Hopes
• Future Dreams
• Future Plans
• Future Goals

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Where Do I Get Stories?

• Memories
• Baby Book
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Relatives
• Neighbors

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Rules To Follow

• Choose an ORIGINAL title.
• My Life, My Autobiography, and Me are not
  original.

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Rules To Follow

• The final copy is the only copy that will be
  collected.
• Typed
• Written in Blue/Black Ink

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Rules To Follow

• Length--Long enough to cover your life
• Average 7-15 pages of writing with additional
  pages for pictures, awards, etc.
• Many will be much longer.

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Rules To Follow

• Pages must be securely fastened together on the
  final copy.
• Folder
• Binder
• Scrapbook
• Three-ring Binder

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Rules To Follow

• Photo--One of yourself is required.
• Self
• Family
• Friends
• Fun Times
• Unlimited

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Rules To Follow

• Organization is your choice.
• Chronological
• Reverse Chronological
• Chapters
• ???????

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Rules To Follow

• Yes, it must be written in first person.

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Grading

• Writing
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Rubric is provided to students.

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Grading--Consider the 6 Traits of Writing

• Ideas/Content
• Organization
• Voice
• Word Choice
• Sentence Fluency
• Conventions

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Grading

• The pictures and presentation add a great deal,
  but it is the WRITING which is important and is
  graded.

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Who Reads It?

• Mrs. DeHaan
• Anyone with whom you choose to share.

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Start Early--Work Hard

• A Little Each Day
• Dont Procrastinate
• Have Fun

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Questions?