Biography Project Due: Friday, March 20, 2015 □ Step 1: Decide on a person who you find fascinating or would like to know more about. Choice: ____________________________________ □ Step 2: Research & Writing You will begin researching your chosen person. You may use books, websites, magazines, encyclopedias or any other appropriate source. You will need to use at least 2 sources for your research (they can be any combination of internet, book, etc.). If you choose to use books, make sure you have two different books; if you choose to use just websites, make sure to use two different websites. It is important that you “cite” all of your sources. To help you with this, we are working in the library to gather resources. What to research and write about… ***You will NOT be required to hand in your rough draft. You may get a parent or another adult to edit your work with you at home, or ask a teacher to edit with you at school whenever we are working on these in class. In order to have this project completed in time, your rough draft should be completed by Tuesday, March 17, 2015. □ Describe the early life of your person. -Tell about what kind of person he or she was. -What was it about your character that helped him or her to succeed? -Did your character know what he or she wanted to become in the future? -How did your character prepare for his or her future? □ Tell about the work your person did. -Tell why his/her work or contribution was important. -Did he or she invent something or teach others? -How did he or she change the world? -What lasting effects did your character have on the lives of others? □ What should we all know about your person? - How do we benefit today from him or her? - What do you think was the most impressive thing about your character? □ Tell how your person has inspired you. - In what ways would you like to be him or her? □ Step 3: Choose one of the following formats to complete your biography. ***Projects may either be type written or written neatly by hand. Mobile Cereal Box Poster board Brochure (Can also be done as a collage with written pieces) PowerPoint Presentation NOTE: Whichever format you choose, you MUST include a picture of your selected person somewhere in/on your project. NOTE: Remember to proofread, proofread, proofread! Have an adult or older sibling proofread for you as well. How to do your Bibliography Author’s last name, Author’s first name (period at the end) A book with one author: Keller, Helen. Helen Keller: The Story of my Life. New York: Watermill,1980. Author’s name: Last name, first name. Publisher, Year book was published (period) City, state, or country where book is published (followed by a colon) Indent five spaces Authors’ names in the order they appear on the title page. Only the first author’s name goes last name, first name. Put commas between each author’s name and a period at the end of the list. A book with two or more authors: Smith, Arnold, Steve Jones, and Ken Anderson. Thomas Jefferson. CA: Puffin, 1993. Encyclopedia Articles: The rest of the citation works the same as a book with one author. Title of article in quotation marks (period at the end) Block, Judy. “George Washington.” World Book. New York: Macmillan, 2004. City of publication: Publisher, Year published (period) Website: Title of the site (underlined with a period at the end) Title (underlined with a period at the end) Title of book (underlined with a period at the end) Author or Editor of the site (period at the end) The Anthony Trial: An Account. Douglas Linder. 2001. 18 January 2007 <http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials /anthony/sbahome.html>. Date you found the site Date the site was published (period at the end) The address of the website inside of < > (period at the end) (no period) If any of this information is not given, simply leave it out. Biography Rubric Level 4 Ideas & Content Lively, interesting, & memorable writing keeps the reader's attention. Ideas are supported by details. Organization Introduction is inviting. Ideas & important details & paragraphs fit well together. Level 3 •Writer knows topic •Early Life, Significant really well Events, Contributions, •Early Life, Significant Char. Traits & Events, Contributions, Conclusion all included Char. Traits & •Writer knows the topic Conclusion all included •Most details fit & are •Many interesting details interesting •Carefully organized with varied transitions •Lead grabs reader's attention •Conclusion works well •Details & paragraphs are in right order Level 2 Level 1 •Missing ONE or more of the following: Early Life, Significant Events, Contributions, Char. Traits & Conclusion •Writer doesn’t know enough about the topic •Needs more details •Missing TWO or more of the following: Early Life, Significant Events, Contributions, Char. Traits & Conclusion •Writer doesn't know topic •Details lacking •Ideas missing or don't make sense •Paragraphs and/or transitions missing •Too many details are out of order •Has some transitions •Few transitions used •Most parts of paper fit •Too many details are together out of order •Most details & paragraphs are in right order Transitions used effectively between ideas & paragraphs. Ending is effective. •Has a variety of strong words •Words create vivid Writer uses appropriate pictures in reader's mind •Has creative sentences descriptive vocabulary. of different kinds & The writing flows. Writer lengths •Sentences flow, making uses different beginnings & the writing enjoyable to lengths for sentences. read •Writing has some strong •Too many dull, ordinary •Words don't show the words words writer's meaning •Some words create •Some words just don't •Reader is confused by pictures in the reader's fit the writer's choice of mind •Sentences are too short words •Sentences are different or too long •Not enough complete lengths •Same beginnings used sentences •Sentences have varied over and over •Writing does not make beginnings •Reader is confused & sense •Sentences fit together has to re-read for well meaning •Has NO errors in •Has FEW errors in •Too many errors in •Capitalization, Conventions capitalization, capitalization, capitalization, punctuation, spelling & The writer shows a clear punctuation, spelling & punctuation, spelling & punctuation, spelling & grammar mistakes make understanding of grammar grammar grammar make the the writing impossible to capitalization, punctuation, •Writing is easy to read •Sounds correct when writing difficult to read read & understanding. spelling & grammar. read aloud •Editing needed •Major editing needed Word Choice AND Sentence Fluency Biography Bibliography 1. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 4. ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Editing Checklist This will be done at home with a parent, some other adult, or a much older sibling (after our rough drafts are finished). Student’s Name: __________________ Date: ____________________________ The editor should check items that need attention before the final draft Captials Sentences start with capital letters Names and proper nouns (cities, states, etc.) begin with capitals Each important word in the title begins with a capital Punctuation Each sentence ends with a period or other appropriate punctuation Commas are used appropriately Quotation marks are used when someone talks or if you quote directly from a book General Words are spelled correctly There are no run-on sentences There are no fragment sentences Transitions are used at the beginning of a paragraph A lot and all right are both separate words Sentences are not started with numbers (use two instead of 2) Its (shows ownership) / It’s (means it is) Their (ownership) / There (a location) / They’re (they are) Boring words are not used (good, really, very, bad, little, big, stuff, things, sad, nice, etc.) Other items that need attention Project is neat and organized. Title, your name and date is on project. Project is turned in on time. (10 points off for every day late) Checked by editor if item needs attention Student checks when correction s have been Editor’s Name: ____________________