This assignment has three parts to it Make sure you do all three parts and post parts II and III by the end of the week PART I Although it is easy to talk about oneself, it can be tricky to write a meaningful autiobiography that has purpose and focus Unfortunately, many student autobiographies ramble and lack a clear end goal To help you all compose a focused autobiography, your first writing assignment will be a freewriting assignment Freewriting is a brainstorming technique that can help you get all your ideas out on paper Before you even begin, you need to read, or reread, the autobiography essay guidelines To complete this freewriting activity, I want you to step away from the computer and grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil Then, set a timer for 15 minutes With the guidelines in the back of your mind, I want you to write nonstop for 15 minutes Your general topic for the freewrite should be an event or person you have encountered in your past work experiences or experiences in your community but don't try to actually address this topic Instead, just write You won't be sharing your freewriting with anyone so you can write whatever you want and however you want If you get stuck, write I don't know what to write over and over until something comes to you After you've completed the fifteen minute freewrite, go back through and read what you have written Highlight anything that seems good or interesting to you If nothing jumps out at you, wait at least an hour and then try the freewriting activity again PART II Once you've highlighted possible essay topics, I want you to do another freewriting activity but based on one (or more) of the highlighted topics This time, however, I want the freewrite to be a bit more formal Instead of handwriting, I want you to type out your thoughts You may need more than 15 minutes this time and that is okay UMUC has an excellent writing and research source Online Guide to Writing and Research In Module Two of the guide, you will find a link entitled, Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea I strongly recommend that you read this section of Module Two before completing the highlighting portion of the freewriting activity When you've finished your freewrite, go back through and highlight according to the following In Yellow Highlight the sentence(s) that you think could give purpose to your autobiography If you would like to think it terms of writing skills, you are highlighting possible thesis statements In Pink Highlight the sentence(s) that you think could be paragraph topics Post your highlighted freewrite warts and all, we're not worried about grammar and formatting this week PART III Then, respond to your own freewrite with an outline for your autobiographical essay Your outline should look like the alphanumeric outline demonstrated at the OWL at Purdue site https owl english purdue edu owl resource 544 03 (Click on Types of Outlines and Samples for a sample alphanumeric outline ) Be sure to include a working thesis with your outline Information on thesis statements can be found at http writingcenter unc edu handouts thesis statements Autobiographical Essay and Freewriting Assignment

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This assignment has three parts to it. Make sure you do all three parts and post parts II and III by the end of the

This assignment has three parts to it. Make sure you do all three parts and post parts II and III by the end of the week.
PART I
Although it is easy to talk about oneself, it can be tricky to write a meaningful autiobiography that has purpose and focus. Unfortunately, many student autobiographies ramble and lack a clear end goal. To help you all compose a focused autobiography, your first writing assignment will be a freewriting assignment.
Freewriting is a brainstorming technique that can help you get all your ideas out on paper. Before you even begin, you need to read, or reread, the autobiography essay guidelines.
To complete this freewriting activity, I want you to step away from the computer and grab a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. Then, set a timer for 15 minutes. With the guidelines in the back of your mind, I want you to write nonstop for 15 minutes. Your general topic for the freewrite should be "an event or person you have encountered in your past work experiences or experiences in your community" but don't try to actually address this topic. Instead, just write. You won't be sharing your freewriting with anyone so you can write whatever you want and however you want. If you get stuck, write "I don't know what to write" over and over until something comes to you.
After you've completed the fifteen-minute freewrite, go back through and read what you have written. Highlight anything that seems good or interesting to you. If nothing jumps out at you, wait at least an hour and then try the freewriting activity again.
PART II
Once you've highlighted possible essay topics, I want you to do another freewriting activity but based on one (or more) of the highlighted topics. This time, however, I want the freewrite to be a bit more formal. Instead of handwriting, I want you to type out your thoughts. You may need more than 15 minutes this time and that is okay.
UMUC has an excellent writing and research source: Online Guide to Writing and Research.
In Module Two of the guide, you will find a link entitled, "Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea." I strongly recommend that you read this section of Module Two before completing the highlighting portion of the freewriting activity.
When you've finished your freewrite, go back through and highlight according to the following:
- In Yellow - Highlight the sentence(s) that you think could give purpose to your autobiography. If you would like to think it terms of writing skills, you are highlighting possible thesis statements.
- In Pink - Highlight the sentence(s) that you think could be paragraph topics.
Post your highlighted freewrite - warts and all, we're not worried about grammar and formatting this week.
PART III
Then, respond to your own freewrite with an outline for your autobiographical essay. Your outline should look like the alphanumeric outline demonstrated at the OWL at Purdue site: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/03/. (Click on "Types of Outlines and Samples" for a sample alphanumeric outline.) Be sure to include a working thesis with your outline. Information on thesis statements can be found at http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/.
Autobiographical Essay and Freewriting Assignment