BIOGRAPHY

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Unit 9

• BIOGRAPHY

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BIOGRAPHY

• Tells story of persons life achievements
• Types
• chronological
• episodic
• highlight only certain period
• interpretive
• Autobiography -- written by self

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Benefits of Biographies

• Develop concept o f historical time
• Discover ideas
• Empathize with historical characters
• See all people have same basic needs and desires
• See their lives in relation to the past
• Learn social details of past
• Begin to consider human problems and
  relationships of present in light of those in the
  past

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Criteria for Selection

• Need to be stories grounded in source material
• Portraits of real people rather than paragons
• Historically accurate depiction of time and place
  in which subject lived
• Few biographers for children rely solely on
  primary sources
• Plot, Style of Writing, Characterization

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Criteria for Selection

• Accuracy -- source of information
• Social Details -- Setting and Plot
• Style
• Theme
• Illustrations

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Definitions

• Fictionalized Biographies-- grounded in research
  and fact, but dialogues is invented
• Biographical Fiction -- consist entirely of
  imagined conversations and reconstructed events
  in life of an individual
• Biographies need to present vivid and accurate
  pictures of life and times of the subject

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ACCURACY -- SOURCE

• Ask
• what source did the author use?
• Are sources documented?
• Are unnecessary generalizations about the people
  of the time or stereotyping of gender, ethnic or
  racial groups evident?
• Primary source -- first hand, such as letters,
  speeches and personal accounts
• Secondary source -- what someone said of another
  or witness

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SETTING

• Clearly and accurately depicted
• Full of interesting social details
• Linked to development of subjects character
  accomplishmentsPlot shaped by particular events
  that shaped subjects life
• Some biographers for children simplify facts
  others focus on one aspect of persons life.

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PLOT

• Revolve around interesting and authentic events
• Be told in fast moving manner
• Realistic view of persons life is important by
  showing strengths and weaknesses
• Jean Fritz especially good at doing biographies
  for children focus--Revolutionary War heroes

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STYLE

• Notice if
• Weave facts into interesting detail
• Incorporate language and customs of times
• Authentic language is used that is not
  overwhelming
• Language rings true to characters

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THEME

• Unifying element behind story. Look for books
  that
• facts blend into the background of the story as
  they subordinate to the story
• contain theme with universal application and
  appeal
• fighting against injustice
• struggling for independence
• working for human rights

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ILLUSTRATIONS

• Should include
• interesting, authentic details appropriate to the
  setting
• illustrate the character of the subject

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Chronological Biographies

• Prehistoric times to American Revolution
• Revolutionary War Period
• Civil War Period and Life on the Frontier
• Immigration, first World War, Great Depression
• Second World War and Aftermath
• 1950s to Present

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BIOGRAPHY IN THE CLASSROOM

• Enliven social studies
• Use in conjunction with historical fiction and
  nonfiction
• Explore variety of themes world exploration,
  oppression, human rights, civil rights, science,
  sports, artists, musicians
• Favorite intermediate and advanced-grades