How to Write an Autobiography--自傳寫重點 當心膨風被抓包

This article is intended for those who are applying for admission to college. It happens that my current students are required by their dear Chinese teacher Ms. Lin (林雅婷老師) to write their autobiography so that they can use it next year. Hopefully, this article is helpful to them.

http://mag.udn.com/mag/campus/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=240880

自傳寫重點 當心膨風被抓包

【聯合報╱記者陳智華、李威儀、薛荷玉／專題報導】2010/03/25

自傳不是流水帳，許多老師都建議參加大學甄試的學生，寫自傳要有重點，最好還能分段、下標題，並強調自己的優點，但不要過度吹噓、太「膨風」，最忌諱的就是被抓到作假。

My comments: Organization is important, making it easier for the readers to follow. Giving each section a title points out its main idea.

大學招聯會秘書、台大註冊組主任洪泰雄表示，自傳內容應包括個人資料、家庭背景、求學經歷及報考動機及未來展望；且重點應針對欲甄試校系的招生目標來撰寫，如強調自己的興趣、專長，曾參加的社會活動、服務及獎項，讓焦點集中在一、兩項個人特質上。

My comments: Try to convince the school that you are the one they are seeking.

至於家庭背景，洪泰雄說，也不必把每個成員學經歷、職業都寫得很詳盡，而應強調家人對自己學習、個性上的正面影響。

My comments: The focus should be put on the student him/herself. Every detail mentioned should bear a purpose--to be related to the student

洪泰雄建議，自傳最好有個精彩的開頭，提高審件者的閱讀興趣；寫作時要用誠懇的語氣，避免過度吹噓，少用形容詞、多舉實例來說明自己的實力；且要展現出對甄選校系的專業了解；自傳還可附上照片及插圖，使內容更為生動活潑。

My comments: Chinese students like to use a lot of adjectives to describe themselves, without knowing that this actually fails to give the readers any specific information about them. Remember, the readers need evidence. For example, if you describe yourself as diligent, give examples to prove it.

台北市大直高中輔導老師丁郁美指出，有的校系要求自傳字數600字，如沒要求，約寫2到3頁，即1千到2千字較適當。

丁郁美透露，有些系所簡章會隱藏自傳寫作的「線索」，如商學院期望學生要活發主動，醫學系在學生成績外，也看重道德等；可適度修辭，但要寫真實的自己，如自認很有想法，只是有時也會被認為太固執等，「如果全篇都寫自己有多優，會讓人覺得太假。」

My comments: No one is perfect.

她也說，自傳內容可能是未來提問內容，考生應熟悉這些內容；且為讓審查教授易讀，最好分段且下標題。

不少系所都會要求寫未來的讀書計畫，希望考生對此領域有想法。

丁郁美建議，前言可寫為何進此系、未來要達到的目標，可分近、中、遠程來寫，也可以主題區分，如專業和課外活動的計畫。

My comments: One way to approach this is by studying the courses offered by the department you wish to go to.

淡江大學西班牙文系大二生蔡惠伊說，除非是有加分作用的經歷，例如家庭背景只要簡明扼要即可，但是像社團經驗、擔任幹部的資歷等課外表現就要多多強調。

就讀大同大學工業設計系一年級的莊鈞雅以過來人經驗表示，因甄試設計系，覺得自傳應特別一點，因此把自傳做成可立起的桌曆型式，內容編排更運用圖文搭配，大膽設計出雜誌的感覺，就是要讓人眼睛一亮；格式上也安排自問自答的「Q&A」，使原本平舖直敘的自傳文章更為活潑。

My comments: A former student of mine applied to the journalism department, so he designed his autobiography in the form of an interview by a journalist. Brilliant! He was admitted to that department.