Community - English Keystage 2

Objectives

What is autobiographical writing?

Outcomes

Identify some key characteristics of autobiographical texts.

Suggested tasks

• Lead a class discussion about autobiographical writing. Draw out any prior knowledge from the class and ensure the main points of motivation, memory, audience and format are covered. Then divide the class into groups of four. Ask them to look at QueenSpark Books and identify the motivations of writers.

Ask the group to report back to class.

Written work: Ask students to nominate an event of which they all have a memory of. Ask them to use this event as a starting point in writing a short piece of autobiographical writing. This could be a public event, such as Big Brother or the wedding of Charles and Camilla. Or you may wish to use a school event.

Note: Let students know that this writing will be shared with others in the class.

Extension: Divide class into groups of four and ask them to assess their autobiographical writings for differences and similarities. Ask the groups to report back to class on their findings. Manage a class discussion about the impact of memory and audience on their autobiographical accounts.

Further extension: Ask students to choose an extract from QueenSpark Books.  Direct them to search for further information about the book from the online archive on the QueenSpark website (www.queensparkbooks.org.uk). Ask students to write a brief summary of the book, by covering the following points:-

• When it was published
• Author's name
• Subject matter and time period covered
• Motivation of writer