I have to do an autobiographical essay.?

Question

It wants me to briefly describe a specific event or moment from my childhood that stayed in my mind and affected me. I'm not completely sure what that means. I don't have just one moment like that. I have no idea what to write and it's almost due.

Answer 1

OK, so you can't think of anything earth-shattering. So, turn it around. Remeber events from your childhood - maybe jot down a list of things you can remember. Everything on this list automatically fulfils the first half of the essay topic: a moment that stayed in your mind. You remember it = it stayed in your mind.

Then, think about what effect these might have had on you. It doesn't necessarily have to be a long-term effect, even; just think of how it affected you at the time. Did it make you happy, sad, did you feel ill, whatever. Again, technically ALL of the events you remember will have affected you - yes, it's a broad interpretation of the question, but it's true. You don't necessarily have to be writing about 'the one turning point that made me who I am today'; just about something you remember, and the effect that event had.

It could be something silly and little, something which at the time seemed really important, but you can now see with greater perspective - I, for example, vividly remember bursting into tears one morning because my Grandad used my bunnikins plate. It's a memory; it affected me. I remember coming home from a holiday in France with a packet of sugar from a cafe hidden behind my car seat, as a present for my cousin who collected them; I was worried because I didn't understand about Customs and thought I would get into trouble if they found it. These sorts of things would make a perfectly good essay, even if they aren't wildly important in the grand scheme of things.

Also, think about what you're trying to achieve through writing this. It's about your descriptive skill, so try to be interesting and original in your descriprions, and presumably it is at least in part to see how much of your younger self you can evoke through your writing - how you can vary your writing to make people really see how you felt at the time. If you do it well enough, it won't matter even if the thing you're describing finding a penny that had fallen down the back of the sofa.

Don't panic, and enjoy writing your essay. I bet it'll be great!

Answer 2

It could be anything...first day at a new school, performing in front of a crowd, learning to ride a bike, taking a family vacation, buying a special outfit, attending a wedding. Just pick something!

Answer 3

You could recall an important moment in your family history .i.e.When we moved to our new house it was a very good experience in my life.I made new friends,I liked my new school,my mum and dad enjoyed living in the new neighborhood.We celebrated our house move by giving a party. We were very happy.!