James Madison University

Adult Degree Program


BIS 200B and 200C

The Autobiography

Objectives: The purposes of having each returning college student write an autobiography include the following:
1. to stimulate you to think about and analyze your growth and development as a unique human being,
2. to introduce you to the Adult Degree Program director and staff, your faculty advisor,
the university writing specialist, Betty Hoskins, and to those who may evaluate your portfolio for experiential
credit, and
3. to demonstrate your ability to write college-level material.
Directions:
The following directions are suggested to stimulate your thinking and to serve as general
guidelines for organizing and constructing your autobiography.
1. Focus your autobiography on your post-high school adult years. Do not feel constrained,
however, by this definition if significant events in your life pre-date high school graduation.
2. Very personal information should be included only if it is directly relevant to your
educational and professional pursuits.
3. Develop your autobiography in chronological order.
4. Relate events in enough detail to give a general understanding of how they impacted on
your life but save the specific details for development in your portfolio.

5. The concluding paragraph in your autobiography should indicate how your life experiences
have led you to the Adult Degree Program and your choice of a course of study. Also, if you
plan to submit a portfolio, you should include a paragraph relating your life experiences to
the future development of a portfolio.
6. The following topics are suggested for inclusion in your autobiography:
a. changes in your values,
b. the foundation of your knowledge,
c. skill development,
d. the influence of individuals and/or groups on your life,
e. areas of strength and areas of weakness, and
f. other topics of importance to you.
7. It is not possible to require a specific length on this type of paper, but a range of from
two to four double-spaced typed pages would be appropriate.
The preceding guidelines written by Dr. Betty Hoskins, JMU Writing Specialist.
8. The following guidelines should be followed:
a. Center the word AUTOBIOGRAPHY, in caps, at top of first page.
b. Skip 3 lines.
c. Use 1" margins all around.
d. Double space text.
e. You may create a title page with content of your choosing.
d. Staple in upper left corner -- no binder.
e. Include your name in title page or on final page.
f. Include a recent photograph, significant others may be in photo if you wish. A snapshot
is fine, but you should be clearly recognizable. This photo helps identify you to the BIS staff,
BIS advisory committee, and your advisor.

These guidelines written by Betty Hoskins.
Additional Autobiography development assistance may be found in the Autobiography Rating Sheet

Return to Handbook Table of Contents

E-Mail: adult-degree-program
Adult Degree Program Home Page
BIS 200B Syllabus
BIS Handbook
This page maintained by:
Adult Learning Services
Office of Continuing Education, JMU