Biography UnitBiography Unit

High School

Ms. Voltz

Biography Research Report & Oral Presentation

• Choose a person

• Your essay must be 4-6 pages in length

• It must be typed, double spaced and in 12 point font

• Please use only Arial or Times New Roman Fonts

Goal

• Students will learn how to write a biography (non-fiction) with an introduction, body section from research and an outline, a conclusion and a works cited list.

Objectives

• Students will scan for important facts.

• Students will develop skills for advanced searching of the Internet.

• Students will organize cards into a logical and chronological order.

• Students will develop a thesis statement.

• Students will determine credible sources on the Internet.

• Students will identify primary and secondary sources.

• Students will integrate quotations into their own writing.

• Students will write their own biography research report.

• Students will revise their essays.

• Students will integrate other people’s works without plagiarizing.

• Students will demonstrate how to cite articles correctly in MLA format.

California Standards

I want you to have these skills by the end of the Biography Unit

California Standards

• 2.0 Reading Comprehension (Focus on Informational Materials)

– 2.1 Analyze the structure and format of functional workplace documents, including the graphics and headers, and explain how authors use the features to achieve their purposes.

– 2.2 Prepare a bibliography of reference materials for a report using a variety of consumer, workplace, and public documents. Comprehension and Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text

– 2.3 Generate relevant questions about readings on issues that can be researched.

– 2.4 Synthesize the content from several sources or works by a single author dealing with a single issue; paraphrase the ideas and connect them to other sources and related topics to demonstrate comprehension.

– 2.6 Demonstrate use of sophisticated learning tools by following technical directions (e.g., those found with graphic calculators and specialized software programs and in access guides to World Wide Web sites on the Internet).

California Standards

• 1.0 Writing Strategies– 1.3 Use clear research questions and suitable research methods

(e.g., library, electronic media, personal interview) to elicit and present evidence from primary and secondary sources.

– 1.5 Synthesize information from multiple sources and identify complexities and discrepancies in the information and the different perspectives found in each medium (e.g., almanacs, microfiche, news sources, in-depth field studies, speeches, journals, technical documents).

– 1.6 Integrate quotations and citations into a written text while maintaining the flow of ideas.

– 1.7 Use appropriate conventions for documentation in the text, notes, and bibliographies by adhering to those in style manuals (e.g., Modern Language Association Handbook, The Chicago Manual of Style).

– 1.8 Design and publish documents by using advanced publishing software and graphic programs.

California Standards

• 2.0 Writing Applications – 2.3 Write expository compositions, including analytical

essays and research reports:• a. Marshal evidence in support of a thesis and related claims,

including information on all relevant perspectives.• b. Convey information and ideas from primary and secondary

sources accurately and coherently.• c. Make distinctions between the relative value and significance

of specific data, facts, and ideas.• d. Include visual aids by employing appropriate technology to

organize and record information on charts, maps, and graphs.• e. Anticipate and address readers' potential misunderstandings,

biases, and expectations.

• f. Use technical terms and notations accurately.

California Standards

• 1.0 Written and Oral English Language Conventions– 1.3 Demonstrate an understanding of proper English

usage and control of grammar, paragraph and sentence structure, diction, and syntax.

– 1.4 Produce legible work that shows accurate spelling and correct use of the conventions of punctuation and capitalization.

– 1.5 Reflect appropriate manuscript requirements, including title page presentation, pagination, spacing and margins, and integration of source and support material (e.g., in-text citation, use of direct quotations, paraphrasing) with appropriate citations.

Information to Include

• Early Life • School Life—Education • Young Adult Years • Older Adult years • Experiences • What has been their impact on their own

society? • What qualities did this person have that

you admire and wish you could achieve?

Biography Research Guidelines

• Decide on a topic to research • Research a minimum of 5 articles from

the following sources: – Book (1 must be a book)– Newspaper – Magazine – Internet

• Write a bibliography card for each source

Research Checklist

• Use Citation Machine for help with citing texts in you bibliography.

• Database of bibliographies • Read the articles, underlining the

important facts. • Your bibliography must be in MLA format

Note Cards

• Write out 40 note cards- 1 note card = 1 idea

• Make sure to write a topic on the top of each note card with citation information (which book it came from)

• These cards will be used when you write your essay and may be used when you give your presentation

• Turn in these 40 note cards bundled up with a rubber band for a grade.

How do I write my Essay?

• Organize your note cards in the order that the paper will be written

• Create your own outline based on your cards

• Fill it in with the facts from your cards.

• Write a first draft based on the outline.

Your Essay Must Include

• Introduction• Discussion/Body (where your

research information should be located)

• The person’s contribution to society and relation to historical context

• Include your personal opinion about your person’s character and actions in the conclusion

Revising and Editing

• Rewrite, edit, or add details to the essay

• Use editing short hand • Check the rubric for standards and

expectations• Ask at least two friends to edit your

paper and make comments. These comments will be turned in for a grade

Biographies

• Billie Holiday

• George Foreman

• Coretta Scott King

• Barry Bonds

• Vera Wang

• Marie Curie

• And about 50 others…

Project Ideas

• Check out Vera Wang’s Biography

• Look at her work• Listen to her

interviews• How has she become

successful?• How does the Asian

American Community respond to her?

Project Ideas

• Check out this Biography

• Did Barry get along with his teammates?

• What problems did he face as a teenager?

Visual Aids

• Visual aids serve two functions:– Enhanced Education– Less pressure for the speaker

• People will have their eyes on your VA not you

• Visual reminder of the material (for you)

• Be Creative– Posters, models, costumes, props…

Presentation

• Try to make your presentation fun!

• Length of presentation: 5-10 minutes

• Please follow the handout “Rubric” for specific expectations

Paraphrasing VS.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is Serious

• Plagiarism is: – Claiming someone’s work as your own– Not citing the author when you use his

or her quotes– Stealing/Buying an essay from the

internet or a person

• Consequences– Taking a zero, phone call home, and a

detention or Saturday school

Paraphrasing

• Paraphrasing is:– Taking a chunk of an article and

putting it in your own words– Legitimate when coupled with a

citation

• When do I Paraphrase– Consult the handout– Paraphrasing Quotations

How To Paraphrase

• Read passage until you understand its entire meaning

• Set the original aside• Try to write what you learned (no peeking!) • Check your version with the original• Use quotation marks to identify any unique term

you have borrowed exactly from the text• Cite the source (including the page) on a note

card so that you can credit it easily

Paraphrasing Activity

• Find a partner• Choose one biography• Read Aloud alternating paragraphs• Each person chooses a paragraph• Paraphrase the paragraph• Switch “paraphrased paragraph”

with your partner • Look for errors or duplicate,

“verbatim” phrases against original

MLA Style

Modern Language Association

MLA Citation

• MLA Website• Documenting Sources• In-text Citations• Sample Research Essay • Template for Research Essay• Citing in MLA• Formatting instructions• Parenthetical References

Biography Due Dates

• We will fill out a handout with all dates together

• If you are absent, talk with your absence buddy to see what you missed

Late Work

• 1 Day Late –5%

• 2 Days Late –10%

• 3 Days Late –20%

• 4 Days Late –50%

• Week or more = No Credit

• All projects have been given to you as of today—Please no Late Work!