BiographiesClose Reading Nonfiction

Biography

• Definition: a story of a person’s life told by someone else and written from the third-person point of view.

• The writer (or biographer) gathers information about the subject by doing detailed research using several sources.

Autobiography

• Definition: the story of a person’s life, but it is told by THAT person and is written from first-person point of view.

If a person lived many years ago, t can be more difficult to gather information for his or her biography. Consider what sources a biographer may use for Abraham Lincoln.

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Model 1: Biography

• AFTER reading the selection on pg. 779, select ONE of the questions on the right to answer in your composition notebook.

• From The Wright Brothers by Russell Freedman1. What clues tell you that

this is a biography rather than an autobiography?

2. How were Wilbur and Orville different? Cite details to support your answer.

Model 2: Autobiography

• AFTER reading the selection on pg. 779, select ONE of the questions on the right to answer in your composition notebook.

• From The Invisible Thread1. What clues in the boxed

sentences signal that this is an autobiography?

2. Name two things you learn about Uchida from her description of her own thoughts and fewelings.

Clues to find a GOOD biography….

• Praising the subject as “the greatest writer,” “the best athlete,” or “most brilliant scientist.”

• Using only sources that agree with the biographer’s opinion

• Leaving unexplained gaps in the story• Writing the biography right after a major event in the

subject’s life

Why would someone write about themselves?

• Brainstorm some ideas as to why someone would write an autobiography about themselves.1. To capitalize on his or her fame

2. To defend against criticism by telling their own story

3. To help others understand who he/she is or why he/she believes or feels something

from Christopher Reeve

• Select one of the following questions to answer after reading the selection on pg. 781.1. Look at the boxed details. How would you describe the

author’s attitude toward Reeve?

2. What sources does the author use for quotes by and about Reeve?

3. Based on this article, how would you describe Reeve?

from Living Without Fear

• Select one of the following questions to answer after reading the selection on pg. 781.1. Describe Reeve’s personality at this point in his life. IN

your opinion, has his attitude toward life changed or stayed the same?

2. What picture do you get of Reeve’s life as a whole? Explain how his picture would be different if you had only read one of the excerpts.

Rosa Parks

• Some Background:• In the south, in 1955, African Americans were required to

enter buses through the rear door and sit in the back. That section of the bus is nearer to the exhaust fumes, and the ride is noisier and bumpier. African Americans were also required to stand if a white person needed a seat. If they did not cooperate, they could be arrested and sent to jail.

Analyze the text

• Read both excerpts on pg. 782-783.• Choose TWO questions (on the right hand side of each

page) to answer with each selection• SO… you should have FOUR questions answered by the

end of this close reading activity.