Autobiographical Incident Personal Narrative
Much of the literature that we’ve read in the unit is autobiographical in nature. These works not only an
exercise in self examination, but also became a historical record. While I don’t necessarily expect that this
assignment will become part of the national historical record, I do expect that you will learn something new
about yourselves through this process. This is in addition, of course, to the growth in writing skills!
Please see pages 130-132 in your text for some additional direction, and take careful notes when we
discuss this assignment in class. This piece of writing will be graded using the following rubric:
Stimulating Ideas:
_____ (10) focuses on a specific experience or event.
_____ (10) presents an engaging picture of the action and people involved.
_____ (10) contains specific details and dialogue.
_____(5) makes readers want to know what happens next.
Logical Organization:
_____ (10) included a clear beginning that pulls readers into the essay.
_____ (10) presents ideas in an organized manner.
_____ (5) uses transitions to link sentences and paragraphs.
Engaging Voice:
_____ (10) speaks knowledgeably and/or enthusiastically
Original Word Choice:
_____ (10) contains specific nouns, vivid verbs, and colorful modifiers.
Effective Sentence Style:
_____ (5) flows smoothly from one idea to the next
_____ (5) shows variation in sentence structure and length.
Correct, Accurate Copy:
_____ (10) adheres to the basic rules of writing.
______ (100) Total