Biography Project & Introduction to the Mediated Text

Part One: Biography Analysis

Pre-lesson: Full Class discussion of the definition of biography and mediated text with examples. Step 1: Find and bring in a one-page (minimum) biography of a famous person, past or present. Step 2: Form a group of five to read, annotate, and analyze the biographies. Step 3: Complete the following assignment:

DIRECTIONS In your groups, read and annotate each biography. Then discuss the questions (following) as a group (not individually). Have one person record the answers, being sure to include information from the biographies of each group member. Finally, the whole group will be responsible for giving a presentation to the class.

QUESTIONS 1.Who are the subjects of the biographies? What important information did you learn that you did not know before? 2.What important facts do the biographies contain? Do they have any opinions of the writer? Do they have any emotion of the writer? If they don’t have opinions or emotions, why do you think they don’t?

3.Do the biographies feature any quotes from the subjects? How do a person’s exact words make a biography better? If there are none, what effect does that have? 4.What important information do you believe is missing? Why do you think it’s missing? 5.Who is the intended audience for the biography? Who would not be interested in reading it?

Step 4: Groups present the information to the class and take questions from their classmates and teacher.

Part Two: Biography Production

Step 1: Students write a reflection about an important person in their lives about whom they would like to write a biography. Step 2: Students write 30 interview questions for the person they have chosen. Questions may not elicit single word or yes/no answers. Step 3: Students complete the interview outside the school. Step 4: Students begin writing the draft.

Necessary components include: Catchy introduction (no birth information in first sentence!) Direct quotes from subject (with translations, when applicable) Anecdotes (short stories to illustrate the subject’s character) Exposition (background, facts, information, explanations)

Your own thoughts about the person Conclusion (significance of this person’s life) Step 5: Peer editing in groups of three or four. Step 6: Revision and redevelopment of draft. Step 7: Submission of final biography Step 8: Reflection on the process- what students struggled with, enjoyed, learned, and found important about doing this project.