Page 212 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Language Arts

210 C OMMUNICA TION SKILLS

Writing from SEE ALSO

34–35 Pronouns
personal experience    184–185 Making sentences interesting
188–189 Paragraphing
204–205 Writing to explain or advise
WHEN SOMEONE WRITES ABOUT THEIR LIFE OR PERSONAL  208–209 Writing to describe
Writing a narrative 212–213 
EXPERIENCES, IT’S CALLED AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL WRITING.
Writing for the Web 214–215 
Writing a speech 226–227 
Autobiography is a genre in itself, but it can also be used in other
types of writing, such as a speech or an advice leaflet, to give
a more personal touch.

A life less ordinary This is my life
Everyday life may not seem very interesting, but readers When writing a complete autobiography (from birth to the
find other people’s lives fascinating. Earliest memories, present day), it’s important to work out the right order of
embarrassing incidents, or particularly happy, sad, scary, events. One way to do this is to create a life map. This is
or proud moments all make good topics. Readers also a visual way of plotting events, and can be accompanied
enjoy finding out about experiences that are very by pictures to suggest memories. Rather than listing
different from their own, such as celebrating certain every single memory, writers often give an autobiography
festivals or living in different places. a theme. For example, it might focus on a struggle from
rags to riches or a love of sports.

Lost in the Winning Bob Being
supermarket the goldfish picked for
at the fair the team Life map

My life I began to
Bob died support the
local team.

Celebrating Life on I started to Age 6 Age 7
Chinese New Year Trip to a farm play with
a ball in
India the yard.
Age 3 Age 5
Not everyone celebrates People who live in
Chinese New Year so the city won’t know Age 4
readers will find the about living on
traditions interesting. a farm.
Age 1 Age 2 Age 8
I got my first My team
real ball.
• Don’t make up a whole experience, but it is acceptable lost in the
to embellish a story slightly if it is going to make the story final.
more dramatic or entertaining.