The Autobiographical Monologue
Created by Gai Jones
All students have something to say and a story to tell. They can relate to their personal stories better than anyone else. All students have a lot of material which can be used as part of an original monologue.
In this unit, students will write an autobiographical monologue based on their personal expertise, memories, distinct point of view, sense of truth, and life experiences.
Through the process, students will be encouraged to explore past stories, objects, and images and other personal material.
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1Lesson 1Introduction and Warm-Up ExercisesIn this lesson, students will be introduced to the objective of the unit (to write an autobiographical monologue), reflect on their thoughts and fears when it comes to the writing process, and engage with exercises that introduce the concept of using personal connection and narrative to create characters.
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2Lesson 2Comic and Serious PerspectivesIn this lesson, students will experiment with thinking from a comic and a serious perspective, which might offer possibilities for their original monologue.
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3Lesson 3Brainstorming for an Autobiographical MonologueThis is a brainstorming-through-exercises lesson to give students the opportunity to explore possible personal inspirations for their autobiographical monologue.
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4Lesson 4Writing an Autobiographical MonologueIn this lesson, based on their brainstorm material, students will look at their memories, notes, and images, choose a subject, and write on the character for their monologue. They will then write a first draft of their monologue in a quick-write fashion. After a break, students will analyze what they’ve written, and write a second draft. The unit ends with a reflection or students reading their work aloud.
Standards Addressed
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 6
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 8
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 8
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Proficient
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade HS Proficient
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Accomplished
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade HS Advanced
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 8
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 8
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Proficient
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Accomplished
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade HS Accomplished
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