Historical Fiction

1
Historical Fiction

• Dr. Peterson
• Spring 2004

2
Historical Fiction

• What is historical fiction?
• Realistic story set in the past
• Explains some element of the past in a story form
• Some things may not be true
• Can be as recent as events that occurred two
  years ago or as long as 20 years ago.
• Some authors mix genres
• Historical fantasy
• Historical Tall Tales
• Historical Mysteries

3
Benefits of Historical Fiction

• Makes historical figures more real and gives them
  a personality
• Can be used to teach about the world, cultures,
  and the nations history
• Relationships to today can be made (events that
  changed the course of history).

4
Selecting Historical Fiction

• Must be a well-told story that doesnt conflict
  with historical records.
• Portray characters realistically
• Present authentic settings
• Artfully fold in historical facts into the story
• Provide accurate information through
  illustrations
• Avoid stereotypes and myths particularly with
  minority groups
• Believable

Source http//raven.jmu.edu/ramseyil/histfic.htm
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• Websites to Visit for Information
• History World
• http//www.historyworld.net/
• World History consists of some 400 separate
  Histories AND 4000 tagged events. Choose
  histories to read a chosen subject, and to move
  seamlessly from one History to another. Try tours
  to travel through time on your own selection of
  interconnecting trails. Use whatwhenwhere to
  discover what was going on at any moment.
• HyperHistory Online http//www.hyperhistory.com/on
  line_n2/History_n2/a.html
• This site shows a timeline of historical events.
  When you enter the home page click on history
  on the left navigation bar. Then choose a time
  period on the right.
• The History Channel
• http//www.historychannel.com/
• This site has two special features (1) history
  of the world timeline (on the left navigation
  bar) and (2) this day in history (on the top
  navigation bar) located on the home page.

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Biographies

• Dr. Peterson

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Biography

• What is it?
• Provides accurate and detailed information about
  another persons life and that persons effect on
  society.

8
Selecting Biographies

• Does the book tell a good story?
• Are the facts accurate?
• Is the person presented as a rounded character
  and not one-sided?
• Does it provide historical perspective?

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Benefits of Using Biographies in the Classroom

• Children are often inspired to set goals for
  their own lives.
• Familiarize children with the lives and times of
  prominent world figures, past and present, and
  help them develop an understanding of the
  circumstances and events that may have
  contributed to their accomplishments.
• Provide insights into different cultures and
  races.
• Exposed to a variety of careers
• Contemporary biographies allows children to enjoy
  a sense that they are sharing the lives of
  popular celebrities.
• Fits into anyones needs and interests.

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• Biography.com
• http//www.biography.com/
• Contains a biography almanac and a biography
  search. Click on the link titled Biography
  Search located on the left navigation bar to
  begin the search. Type in the name of the person
  you are interested in.
• Lives, the Biography
• http//www.amillionlives.com/
• Scroll to the middle of the home page of this
  website and you can search for a person by name
  by typing in a search in the space on the left of
  the page or locate individuals by last initial on
  the navigation bar on the right of the page.
• Infoplease Biographies
• http//www.infoplease.com/people.html
• Search by name or in a category on the home page.
• Who2
• http//www.who2.com/
• Search for a person by typing in the name or by
  last initial.