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Writing Guidelines
Prewriting ■ Choosing a Topic
Think about the important phases, or stages, of your life. Then choose an important phase to write about. Teri created a life map to examine the phases in her own life. (A life map recalls the stages in a person’s life, from birth to the present. Teri’s map also rates the events.)
Life Map

Gathering Details
After choosing a topic, list the key actions or events related to the phase. Teri thought back to the summer when she turned 12 and moved to a new city. (Download a time line.)
Time Line
