BiographyBiography

Characteristics of a Biography Characteristics of a Biography

A story about a real personA story about a real person Shows that the author knows a lot Shows that the author knows a lot

about the personabout the person The author must do extensive The author must do extensive

research on the subject by research on the subject by conducting interviews, reading conducting interviews, reading books, scripts, etc.books, scripts, etc.

Characteristics of a Biography Characteristics of a Biography

Describes the person’s environment Describes the person’s environment where, when and how they lived. where, when and how they lived.

Provides details that show the Provides details that show the person in action like their person in action like their accomplishments, goals and accomplishments, goals and behavior.behavior.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics of a Biography of a Biography Shows how the person affects other Shows how the person affects other

people. Things like new discoveries people. Things like new discoveries in science and medicine or changes in science and medicine or changes in laws.in laws.

Characteristics of a Biography Characteristics of a Biography

States or implies how the writer States or implies how the writer feels about the personfeels about the person

Different authors will have a Different authors will have a different view point of the person different view point of the person he/she is writing abouthe/she is writing about

The author’s point of view could be The author’s point of view could be positive or negativepositive or negative

Finding a BiographyFinding a Biography The call number of a biography is 921 The call number of a biography is 921 Under the 921 are the first three Under the 921 are the first three

letters of the letters of the person’s last name that person’s last name that the book is about.the book is about.

For example, For example, Martin Luther Martin Luther KingKing

921921 KINKIN

Different types of BiographiesDifferent types of Biographies

AutobiographyAutobiography Collective BiographyCollective Biography Unauthorized BiographyUnauthorized Biography

AutobiographyAutobiography

The main character is the authorThe main character is the author For example, if you were to write a For example, if you were to write a

biography about biography about yourselfyourself, then that , then that would be an autobiographywould be an autobiography

AutobiographyAutobiography Recounts key incidents/events in the Recounts key incidents/events in the

author’s lifeauthor’s life Describes major influences (people, Describes major influences (people,

events, places) on the writerevents, places) on the writer

AutobiographyAutobiography Describes interactions between the Describes interactions between the

writer and significant people in his or writer and significant people in his or her life.her life.

A teacher A father A mother

Finding an AutobiographyFinding an Autobiography The same way you would find a The same way you would find a

biography. biography. 921 and the first three 921 and the first three letters of the last name of the person letters of the last name of the person being written about.being written about.

Remember the person that the book Remember the person that the book is about is also the author.is about is also the author.

Collective BiographyCollective Biography Has many different biographies that Has many different biographies that

are all contained in one bookare all contained in one book An example, Portraits of African An example, Portraits of African

American Heroes by Tonya Bolden. American Heroes by Tonya Bolden. This book would be found in This book would be found in 920 BOL.920 BOL.

This book has mini biographies of This book has mini biographies of famous African Americans.famous African Americans.

Finding a Collective BiographyFinding a Collective Biography The call number is The call number is 920920. Under the . Under the

number 920 are number 920 are the first three letters the first three letters of the last name of the author of the of the last name of the author of the bookbook

920BRA

How They Croaked by: Georgia Bragg

Call #

Unauthorized BiographyUnauthorized Biography Biography about a person that was Biography about a person that was

not approvednot approved by him or herby him or her These are usually about celebrities These are usually about celebrities Risk of being suedRisk of being sued Purpose is to entertainPurpose is to entertain