How to write a biography: POWERPOINT with information for ... - Xena

What is a biography?The story of someone's life?Or is it a boring list of factsthat nobody cares about?A good biography brings the person to life . . .makes us care about what she or he did with time and opportunity.

Here’s an outline, or formula, to follow in order to help you write thebiography. Think of the sections being a paragraph. You don't need to be anEnglish writer, or even good at writing to do this. Just tell the story.OriginName of personDate of birth, place of birth.Names of Parents, their birthplaces.Members of the familyHeritageOccupation of parentsPlaces lived while at parents' home -- why didthey move?What was this area of the country known for?

FamilyWhen married? Marital statusChildren, when and where born.Describe progression of places they livedDeaths in the family.InterestsHobbies/sports/ other...Clubs/OrganizationsPublic life

ConclusionWhat others think of the personMain accomplishments of lifetimeCause of DeathYour Reason for choosing this personIs there a single anecdote or story from theirlife that sums up the essence of the person?Other interesting questions...What makes this person special or interesting? What kind ofeffect did he or she have on the world? other people? What arethe adjectives you would most use to describe the person? Whatexamples from their life illustrate those qualities?

Intelligent questions for intelligent peopleIn what ways was the life remarkable?In what ways was the life admirable?What human qualities were most influential in shaping theway this person lived and influenced his or her times?What are the two or three most important lessons you or anyother young person can learn from the way this personlived?What do you think it means to be a hero? Was your person a"hero?" Why? Why not? How is a hero different from acelebrity or a famous person?Many people act out of a "code" or a set of beliefs whichdictate choices. It may be religion or politics or a personalphilosophy. To what extent did your person act by a code oract indepently of any set of beliefs?