Ideas on what to include in an autobiography.

Sample Autobiography - What Should be Included in an Autobiography

1. Full name
2. When you were born
3. Where you were born
4. Your parents names
5. Where you named after anyone?
6. How many brothers and sisters you have?
7. Where in the birth order were you born?
8. Your hair and eye color
9. Right or left-handed?
10. Started first grade
11. Birth of siblings
12. Graduated high school
13. A family move



Suggested Questions for Brainstorming

Family
• How did you get your name?
• Does your family have stories about when you were born?
• Where have you lived? What were the houses, the neighborhoods, and the town like?
• Where are you in your family birth order? Do you remember any of your brothers or sisters being born?
• Have you spent time with your grandparents? What are your best memories of going to grandma's house?
• Did your aunts, uncles, or cousins make time to have fun with you?
• Have you had a very best friend? What adventures have you shared?
• What is special and unique about you and your family? Does your family have holiday traditions? Do you have a favorite memory of a family holiday?
• What was the best family vacation you can remember?
• Where did you go? Who came along?
• When was the first time you traveled alone? Where were you headed? What happened on the trip?

About yourself
• Did you have a favorite hobby? What was it? How long did you keep it up?
• Did you ever play a musical instrument? Which one?
• Did you take lessons? How did you feel about practicing?
• When did you attend your first dance? Did you ever go to dancing school? Please demonstrate your favorite dance step for the audience.
• What was your favorite sport? What did you like best about it? Were you ever on a team? What position did you play?
• What major world events influenced your daily life?
• What newspaper headline can you still see in your mind? Who were your heroes?

School
• Did you like school? Why or why not?
• Describe a favorite teacher.
• What subject gave you the most headaches?
• How much homework did you have every night?
• Were you allowed to watch TV on weeknights?
Summertime
• Did you ever go to camp? What's your best memory? Your worst? Who was your favorite counselor? Why?
• How old were you when you learned to swim? Do you remember who taught you? Ever have a scary moment in the water?
• What was your first summer job? How much were you paid? Describe a typical day on the job.
• Were you ever bored during the summer? What did you do when there was 'nothing to do'?


Adapted from Betsy Van Dorn