The Biography : identifying its generic elements
by Nerelie Teese
Introduction · Questions · Web Resources · The Big Question · Conclusion · Rubric · Guide
Introduction · Questions · Web Resources · The Big Question · Conclusion · Rubric · Guide
Introduction
People can be fascinating. Some people do the most extraordinary things. They might climb mountains, explore the skies, live underwater, work with Science or Medicine to help others, or create beautiful music, pieces of art or literature.
Why do people do these or other exciting things that can inspire the rest of us? Quite often the answer to this question can be found in the books written about the person. This kind of book is known as a biography. As a writer, it is very important to make the biography as interesting as the person you are writing about.
This Knowledge Hunt will help you to select the most appropriate generic elements of biographical writing to show just how much importance you place on paying attention to detail and getting things right. The person you are writing about, and your readers, will love you for this because your work will be interesting!
Questions
- Use these links to identify five main elements of a biography.
Web Resources Links
- Writing a biography
- This site is useful for reviewing the structure and purpose of biographical writing. It also links to Biography Maker.
- The biography maker
- This user friendly and interactive site presents four basic steps for you to follow when writing your biography. The Biography Maker inspires lively story telling and vivid writing which will make your readers want to know more ...
- How to write a biography
- This informative site offers practical tips on writing a biography. As well as outlining the steps involved in planning your biography, it can link you to 'Tips on writing essays' and 'How to write a five paragraph essay'.
- Biography's writers' workshop
- Here you can learn how to research and write a biographical sketch — a story about someone's life that tells a lot about who that person is or was. Along the way, you'll find research and writing strategies as well as a warm-up exercise to get you started.
The Big Question
Now you know some (or all) of the important generic elements of a biography, design a flow chart that explains the processes involved in biographical writing.
Conclusion
Look carefully at your finished flow chart. Have you included all the generic elements and processes that you have identified as being the most important when writing a biography? Good.
This means that you are now ready to start planning your research activities as well as planning the writing stages of your work. (It also means that you can share your flow chart with other students. This can help them and you). Enjoy your work!
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created by Nerelie Teese email: nteese@sjcm.melb.catholic.edu.au http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/nteese1/topic1/hunt.htm |