Paul Said:

English Writing/Reading Exam Techniques/Tips?

We Answered:

Read the passages slowly, and answer what you can, and go back and check your work.

How to Write An Autobiographical Essay

1.Decide upon the theme of your autobiographical essay. You decided it is about your mother's breast cancer diagnosis. It is not a chronology from your birth to the present, decide what the scope of what you want to include is. This is your theme.

2. Create an outline surrounding your theme. For instance, you might describe how these experiences changed you, your values, and your relationship with her. From there, break down the events you want to include in chronological order, using only those that add perspective to your theme.

3 If you have time, write a rough draft, expanding upon your outline in a way that explains how the events formed your current mindset. Emphasis the human side of the story, how it changed her, how it changed you.

4 Use descriptive words and terms to allow the reader to "feel" the setting and the emotions as you experienced them. Although most autobiographical essays are written in first person, avoid starting every sentence with the word, "I." For example, instead of writing, "I could tell that he was happy to see me," try writing, "She smiled and hugged me when we were in this hospital . . . " You might want to show what the room was like, how things smelled, what clothes she wore, a little bit of description so the reader feels as if he or she is there to experience the story.

5 If you have time to write a draft, re-read your narrative and revise any sentences that don't flow easily. When you're in competition for a scholarship, your autobiographical essay must shine and leave a positive impression on the reader. Cut out anything that does not add to your story. Go through your essay, one sentence at a time and ask yourself, "Does this sentence add to my story?" If it doesn't, delete it.

6 Use your spell checker and correct all grammatical errors that you want to use before writing your essay in that one and a half hour. Double check to see if this is something you can do in an hour and twenty minutes. You want to have time to spare and re-read what you wrote..


7 Give your essay a title that entices the reader to keep reading. Maybe "The Day my Mom was diagnosed" or "Chemotherapy, is it a cure?"