Autobiographical Story

To create an autobiographical story, start with the problem, tension, conflict or personal realization that will serve as the heart of the story. Then work backwards by describing the setting (place & time) and characters. Develop the story forward by describing significant life events leading up to the climax. Then resolve the problem, tension or conflict. Finish the story by wrapping up loose ends. Youth can also do language autobiographies where they explore through storytelling their relationships with language (their first words, successes or failures with language, code-switching and multilingualism, intimate, social, professional and avocational languages in their families, etc.) as a means of understanding identity and classroom diversity.