BIOGRAPHIES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE
INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED:
(If information cannot be found, write “Information Not Available”)
Research Links:
http://www.factmonster.com/people.html
You may download and use this research card for each source to help you organize your research.
Here is a list of guiding questions for biographies of famous people.
*To avoid plagiarism, your notes must be put into your own words unless you are directly quoting.
Introduction—Paragraph 11. Who is your Famous Person?
2. Picture of your Famous Person
3. What are they most famous or known for? What did they do? List them: / 1.
2.
3.
4. Did they have any major accomplishmentsand awards?
Early Life—Paragraph 2
5. Date and place of birth?
6. Who were their parents? Did they have any siblings (brothers or sisters)?
7. Where did their early education take place?
8. How did their childhood/early life experiences mold them?
Education and Work—Paragraph 3
9. Did they go to college? Where?
10. Where did they work?
11. What were their religious and/or political views?
Personal Life—Paragraph 4
12. Where did they live?
13. Who were they married to?
14. Did they have any children?
Conclusion—Paragraph 5
15. *Reflection: Your personal reflectionabout his/her importance.
16. Remember a good conclusion should summarize or remind your reader about the most important aspects of your essay!
Find several images of your Famous person in different times of their lives.
Citation--We will be using the Citation Machine to cite our sources. http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
*To avoid plagiarism, the above notes must be put into your own words unless you are directly quoting.
To write a biography you should:
1. Select a person you are interested in
2. Find out the basic facts of the person's life. Start with the encyclopedia and almanac.
3. Think about what else you would like to know about the person, and what parts of the life you want to write most about. Some questions you might want to think about include:
a. What makes this person special or interesting?
b. What kind of effect did he or she have on the world? other people?
c. What are the adjectives you would most use to describe the person?
d. What examples from their life illustrate those qualities?
e. What events shaped or changed this person's life?
f. Did he or she overcome obstacles? Take risks? Get lucky?
g. Would the world be better or worse if this person hadn't lived? How and why?
111. Do additional research at your library or on the Internet to find information that helps you answer these questions and tell an interesting story.
111. Write your biography. See the Tips on Writing Essays and How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay for suggestions.