Mrs. Shamoon’s English IV & AP English IV
During this semester, you will write a My Life Book that documents thoughts, memories, and activities that have influenced your life. The final project will be due on Monday, December 15 th . You will turn in parts of the book in increments throughout the semester. Each week, you will finish a chapter in your book for a weekly grade.
The final book must be presented in a 3-ring binder or approved scrapbook. Choose the size of your bindings to accommodate the size of your project. You will decorate your binder, so take that into consideration when choosing your binders or scrapbooks. You will need a package of sheet protectors for your pictures, essays, and other accessories you will include.
Your weekly submissions will be worth 25 points for the poem and each chapter in the My Life Book. Total points = 375
The final submission consists of all the contents placed into your binder and is worth 225 points. Please follow the schedule:
“Me Poem”: AUG 29
Chapter 1: SEP 5
Chapter 2: SEP 12
Chapter 3: SEP 19
Chapter 4: SEP 26
Chapter 5: OCT 3
Chapter 6: OCT 10
Chapter 7: OCT 17
Chapter 8: OCT 24
Chapter 9: OCT 31
Chapter 10: NOV 7
Chapter 11: NOV 14
Chapter 12: NOV 21
Chapter 13: DEC 5
Chapter 14: DEC 12
FINAL BINDER SUBMISSION: DEC 15
Your final book must include 15 writings. You should have a “Me Poem” and 14 Chapters. The final book must be illustrated throughout. The Illustrations may be photographs, drawings, computer-generated, or pictures cut out of magazines. However, I do not want a book of “junk.” Make sure everything you include is relevant to the project. Be creative! You will also need to include a title page with your name somewhere on it with a table of contents listing the order of your chapters. Your name must clearly appear somewhere on the outside of the book; it may be on the spine or the front cover. Please make it easy to find so your book will be easy to identify. Above all...HAVE FUN, BE CREATIVE!
Please create a high-quality project—refrain from including anything related to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, profanity—you already know what is acceptable for a school assignment! Thanks. (Pictures—even of babies need to be clothed!)

My Life Book Components
Me Poem: an autobiographical poem about you following the format on the handout included.
Chapter 1: “Who Goes There”: Describe who you are and where do you live? What do you look like? What are your life goals? How do you expect to reach these goals? What are your interests, hobbies, clubs, and other activities? (You can use this chapter as your information on your About Me page for your website)
Chapter 2: “Before I was, There was...”: Describe your parents and how they met, as well as any siblings, relatives and other people who have influenced your life.
Chapter 3: “Suddenly I Became Me”: Reflect on your earliest memories: all those cute things you did when you were little that your mother or someone tells you about. Describe the people, places and events included in those memories.
Chapter 4: “Hide and Seek”: Describe in detail some of the games you played as a child
Chapter 5: “School Bells”: Your earliest years in school—kindergarten through 6 th grade; learning to read, special school plays or programs, special teachers, and special friends.
Chapter 6: “Junior High”: Getting accustomed to being the “big kid;” new teachers, friends, activities, successes, and heartbreaks. Don't forget dances and sports.
Chapter 7: “My First Crush”: Elementary or junior high crush. Don't forget pictures!!
Chapter 8: “I Grew Up Here”: Describe your town (large or small), neighborhood, community, house, etc.
Chapter 9: “These are a Few of My Favorite Things”: Describe movies, books, music, pets, anything in childhood, junior high, and right now.
Chapter 10: “Friends Forever”: Highlight friendships that have really meant something to you, and focus on one friend or several people whom you have called “best friend” at different stages of your life.
Chapter 11: “High School: The Early Years”: Your sophomore and junior years—highlight events, successes, setbacks and lessons learned, heartbreaks, friends, teachers, coaches, etc.
Chapter 12: “At Last, I'm a Senior”: Your senior year—how are you feeling? Include upcoming events, prom, graduation, summer, job, college, and beyond.
Chapter 13: Pick one of the topics below
Chapter 14: Pick one of the topics below
“If I Could Live My Life All Over”: Reflect on things you would change and on the times you would love to live over again so you could enjoy them once more. Think about any regrets you have or decisions that you once doubted but proved to be right. This is the most difficult chapter, but it is one you will value the most when you look back on this project.
“I Wish I Could See ________ Again”: Describe a childhood friend you would love to see again or a celebrity you would love to meet and explain why.
“Let's Take a Vacation”: Describe a memorable trip you have taken with friends or family.
“First Set of Wheels”: Describe your first vehicle and when you got your license.
“Play Ball!,” “Hunting,” “Rodeo,” “Music,” “Art,” etc.: Describe what high sport or interest you have participated in or other passion you have in life.
“I'm Really in Love”: Who has been the “love of your life” so far? Will it last?

Just find words that describe YOU!
Good luck and enjoy the project...it is king of a pain now, but you will love the finished project!

Me Poem
Chapters
Binder
Illustrations
Grammar & Mechanics
Creativity
My Life Book Grading Rubric
600 total points
Create a poem or use the acronym 25 points
1 page minimum for each chapter
Typed in 12 point, New Times Roman format
1” margins
Double-spaced
Pertains to assigned topic
25 points each chapter = 350
Correct binder
Decorated Cover
Everything is organized and in place according to the table of contents and poem/chapter requirements
50 points
Table of contents
Everything is neatly placed in binder
5 points for the poem & each chapter
= 75 points
Each chapter has illustrations
Captions must be typed
Neat and organized
No “junk”
Must be relevant to the chapter
All parts of the project have good grammar and mechanics
You may use creative writing to express yourself in the project, but it is obvious if you have misspelled something or you are not using grammar in a creative way.
50 points
Choice of illustrations
Originality
Freshness of language
Other creative devices used. This may be treated as a scrapbook as long as everything is neat, typed, and organized.
50 points