Multi-Genre Autobiographic Almanac
You will be producing your own almanac patterned after the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and Poor Richard’s Almanac. Your almanac will be a mixture of information and personal writing about yourself and where you live.
Benjamin Franklin | PBS
Benjamin Franklin's Pseudonyms and Benjamin Franklin on Self Improvement
Benjamin Franklin's Method for Achieving Moral Perfection
To make the project more interesting, you may want to organize your selections around a particular theme – a sport, a holiday, your hobby or place of employment. Your almanac must include the following:
1. Life-map or Google Map illustrating major events of your life.
- Mr. Lackey's Life Map
- Bill Gates Timeline
2. Autobiographic Incident Narrative:
- Based on Life Map assignment
- Opens with trigger incident and closes with epiphany
- Includes at least five sensory details and three figurative devices
- 250 words – submit to Turnitin.com
Check out Song and Memory to hear how music triggers recollection.
3. Credo or Epitaph after the fashion of:
- Robert Fulgham's Credo or Ben Franklin's Epitaph
4. Copy-change poem following the pattern of one of the following:
- Where I’m From by George Ella Lyon
- I Live In . . . by Ntozake Shange
- When I Was Young in . . . by Cynthia Rylant
5. General Information – include at least three:
- Weather
- Phases of the moon
- Astrological Information
- Planting/Crop Information
- Holidays
- Proverbs, Aphorisms or Quotations
- Recipes
- Other essential suburban survival information
For almanac resources see Old Farmer's Almanac, Farmer's Almanac or the Urban Almanac
6. Glossary of Slang – include at least 10 words with definition and usage. For Slang Dictionaries:
- Word Spy
- SlangSite
- Online Slang Dictionary
- Yahoo Slang Dictionary Directory
7. Strongsville Local Lore – write a short article (150 words) and include photographs about one of the following:
- Living Strongsville Treasure –a person in Strongsville who embodies the spirit of your community and has a strong sense of place.
- Suburban Sanctuary – A place of peace and contemplation indoors or out where you can go to rest, relax and connect with your self.
- Essential Place in Strongsville – A location that represents the character and essential nature of the town.
8. Publication - Think about how Franklin would publish his Almanac today. Consider creating a blog, web page, video, or PowerPoint presentation. Paper and ink are also certainly acceptable.
9. Include Works Cited information for Copy-Change poem, General Information and any other information sources in your almanac.
Multi-genre Autobiograpy Rubric
Mr. Lackey's "Where I'm From" PowerPoint Slides