Read the definition of autobiography on page 257 of your textbook. With the class, list possible organizations for writing, and decide which would be most likely used in autobiography. Then, identify transitions—words or phrases that connect and show the relationship between ideas—that might be used in such an organization.
1. Draw a flow chart in your notebook. Follow along in the text as your teacher reads the first five paragraphs aloud. Then, record in your chart the main events in these paragraphs—one event per flowchart box. Connect these events with transitional words and phrases between the boxes.
2. Continue reading the remainder of the autobiography on your own. Stop periodically to fill in the main events in your flowchart. Look for key transitions to alert you to main events. Record the transitions on your chart to connect the main ideas.
If you are having difficulty identifying transitions and main events, use the Guided Reading Questions in your textbook to alert you to the key events in the autobiography. Read a question, and find the answer in the text. Then, read and answer the next question. Review the text between the two questions, looking for transitions that identify the relationship between the two events or ideas.
Share your flow chart with two or three other students. Discuss any differences in information included in your charts. Then, based on the information in your charts, write a one-paragraph summary of the autobiography excerpt. Be sure to use transitions to show the relationship or connection between events and ideas.