ASSIGNMENT 1
Writer’s Autobiography
An Introduction to Yourself as a Writer
Due Date: Monday, January 8th, 2007
N.B.* Please, READ the entire assignment before starting to write. It is quite common for
students, and professionals alike, to only read part of an assignment because they think they
know what the assignment is asking. Most of the time they are wrong and leave out key parts!
Read it through once, twice if necessary, to make sure you understand what you are being
asked to do.
The questions listed below may be helpful to you when thinking about what you might like to say in your
paper. You do not have to answer any of these questions directly. They are meant to get you thinking of
yourself as a writer and your past experiences with writing.
1. What kinds of writing courses, teachers, and assistance have you had, and what do you think of
them?
2. Do you do any writing, or reading, for pleasure outside of your courses? If so, what kinds?
3. What is your favorite kind of writing to read? Do you have a favorite author? What do you like
about the way this author writes?
4. When you write for courses or for pleasure where do you do it? (e.g. at home, at a deck, in a
library)
5. What time of day do you usually find yourself writing? What do you usually write on/with?
(e.g. paper, computer, with a favorite pen, in a journal)
6. What is hardest for you in writing? What is easiest? Do you like to write? Hate to write?
7. What is your perfect writing situation? How often does it happen?
8. What kinds of writing do you do most often? Least often? Why?
9. Do you write more than one draft? How do you change, add and revise between drafts and final
work?
10. Do you find it difficult to get started when you write? Does it get easier after you begin?
Now that you’ve read through these questions, thought about them, maybe even made some notes
(mental or written) in response to them, you are ready to begin your first assignment. To begin, re-read
the questions and then think about the following: “How did I become the writer I am today?” Freewrite
in your journal for ten minutes. This freewrite is meant to get you thinking about and discovering things
about yourself. When you’re done with the freewrite set it aside and do something else. When you’re
ready, use this freewrite as inspiration for your essay. DON’T just write answers to the questions listed
above. Instead, use this assignment to introduce yourself in such a way that I can get to know you as a
writer. You might find that one or more of the questions above help you to organize your thoughts, or
provide you with an experience or concept to focus on. Be as specific and descriptive as you can. Don’t
just write “in my high school,” i.e.§ say where you went to high school. I want you to reflect on yourself
as a writer because your history affects who you are and what kind of writer you will be, in this class
and in the future.
As you write, shoot for three to five pages of writing; anything less won’t be adequate to describe and
explain yourself as a writer.
Handy Latin Phrases we writers use in abbreviated form:
*N.B. – Abbreviation for nota bene which means ‘note well’ or ‘take notice’ in Latin.

e.g. – Abbreviation for exempli gratia which means ‘for the sake of example’ or ‘for example’ in Latin.
§
i.e. – Abbreviation for id est which means ‘that is’ in Lain