How to Write a Summary of an Autobiography
The amount of information in the average autobiography can make the task of summarizing it seem overwhelming. But you must keep in mind that you're dealing only with the essence of the subject's life and not the complete life story. If you do this--and if you can break the information down into manageable categories---the job will be easier. The following method will work for most autobiographies, but you can add or subtract categories as you see fit.
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Things You'll Need
- Post-it notes in four colors Colored markers that match the Post-it notes
Instructions
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How to Write a Summary of an Autobiography
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1
Take careful notes as you read the autobiography. List the major events and accomplishments of the person's life.
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2
Use Post-it notes to designate the pages from which you've taken notes. Use four different colors to designate the following areas of the person's life (or whichever areas you choose): childhood and education; work and achievements; personal life; philosophy and quotations.
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3
Use the markers to label the notes you took. Later, as you get ready to write, you'll be able to simply organize your material, referring to the text only when you need to confirm facts or add information.
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4
Write an introduction in which you describe the person's major accomplishments (or tell why the subject wrote the autobiography), and tell when and where the subject lived.
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Describe the subject's childhood and education. Talk generally about the subject's family relationships and discuss how the subject's education (or lack of it) affected the subject's life. Remember to check through the notes you made and the text passages you noted.
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Discuss the subject's work and achievements in greater detail. Chronologically explain the events that led to the subject's career choice and the successes and pitfalls the subject encountered. Again, check your notes and the text as you work.
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7
Describe the subject's personal life---if the autobiography discusses it. Choose information that gives the reader a fuller idea of the subject's character and personality.
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In the final paragraph, let the subject do the talking, including any passages of self-reflection, statements of personal philosophy and relevant quotes.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask someone who has not read the autobiography to read your summary and tell you if there are any major unanswered questions.
Go back to your notes one more time and make sure you didn't leave out any major points.
