1. Mr. Brumfield Lawnton Elementary
Biography…Biography
Mr. Brumfield
Lawnton Elementary

2. What is a Biography? Just what is a biography?
The story of someone's life?
A tale of accomplishment?
A tale of woe?
Or is it a boring list of facts
that nobody cares about?
A good biography brings
the person to life . . .
makes us care
about what she or he did
with time and opportunity.
Who wants to read
another boring biography?
Who wants to write one?
Certainly not you!

3. Simply Speaking…
A biography is a written record of another person’s life.
Usually biographies are written about people who are famous or who have accomplished something important.

4. How can I write a Biography?
Just follow these steps and you will be finished in no time!

5. Some Guidelines (or Rules)
Step One
There are billions of interesting people in the world.
You need to select one person to research.
Some Guidelines (or Rules)
Choose a famous American
Your subject should be a role model
Find somebody who contributed to American history, not sports or entertainment.

6. Step Two Internet Resources
Find a resource that contains information about your subject. You can use the library and the internet to help you. Here are a few helpful websites.
Internet Resources
(Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Ben Franklin, Florence Nightingale, Sacagawea, & Ulysses Grant)

7. Step Three
Plan your introduction. You will want an interesting beginning to your biography, so you should think of an attention-grabbing hook. You might ask a question or give a surprising fact about your subject.
Some Ideas
Ask the reader a question about history or your subject
Give an interesting fact or detail about your subject
Build or describe the background about your subject or the time when he or she lived.

8. Some Questions to Answer
Step Four
1st Paragraph
Plan your first paragraph. You will need to introduce your subject and build some background for the reader. You will want to provide some general information and facts.
Some Questions to Answer
What date and period of time was your subject born?
Where did your subject live or grow up?
What was your subject’s early life like?
Did your person overcome any hardships?
What events shaped your subject’s life?

9. Some Questions to Consider
Step Five
2nd Paragraph
Your second paragraph will begin to describe the accomplishments of your subject. What did he or she do that was special of helpful to the community?
Some Questions to Consider
What qualities did your subject demonstrate? (courage, strength, leadership, caring, creativity)
What did your subject do that was important?
Why did your subject do these things?
How did your subject help other people?

10. Some Questions to Consider
Step Six
3rd Paragraph
In your conclusion you need to describe why your subject is a role model to other people. How has he or she changed the world and what can we learn from him or her?
Some Questions to Consider
Why is your subject considered a role model?
Why do people still learn about your subject?
How has he or she changed the world?
What lesson can we learn from your subject?

11. Planning Your Essay
You may use the 4 Square outline to plan your essay.
Each square will represent a paragraph, so each square should include three or four ideas.
You will turn your planning ideas and facts into complete sentences when you write your first draft.