Grade Five Biography Assignment
English/Language Arts
This is everyone’s first attempt at writing an essay. Each stage of the essay process (listed below) will be
modeled in class. This assignment will be done mostly in class, however, some work may need to go
home if it is not completed in class.
Part 1: Written Research Component (Essay)
Students are expected to write a biography on a famous person who has made a significant contribution
to our world.
Research Matrix: (10 marks)
Title Page: (3 marks)
 Tile
 Picture
 Created by…
Biography:
Introduction: (Paragraph Format) (5 marks)
 “Grabber sentence”
 “Have you ever wondered how airplanes were first made?”
 Name of the individual you chose to write your biography on
 Napoleon Bonaparte
 Date of Birth
 January 6, 1987
 Where they were born
 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
 The difference they made (A brief statement that will entice the reader and encourage them
to read on.)
 Wayne Gretzky: “His uniquely smart and elegant playing style redefined the image of a great
hockey champion, and his retirement in 1999 marked an end of an era in the sport.”
Body: (Paragraph Format) (25 marks)
 Family/Childhood History
 Educational Background
 Greatest Achievements/Major Contributions
 Quote (This quote must be either from the individual or someone else about the individual.)
 What does the quote mean? What message are they trying to send?
 How they died
Conclusion: (Paragraph format) (5 marks)
 Conclude your biography
 Restate how they made a difference to the world
Bibliography: (4 marks)
 You need to site at least 4 resources.
 You must have:
- 2 Internet sources
- 1 Encyclopedia resource
- 1 Book resource
Part 2: Oral Component (Interview)
As part of the biography assignment there is an oral component. Students will be asked to
participate in a mock interview as their famous person (role-play). Students are to imagine that
their famous person is retired and reflecting back on their life experience.
Evaluation Format: (Total of 21 marks)
Each area is marked out of three.
 Speaks clearly
 Speaks with confidence
 Organization of presentation
 Eye contact with audience
 Opening/closing of presentation
 Creativity
 Overall Effort
Interview Questions: (Students should be prepared to answer each of these questions
confidently and in a creative manner. Role-playing is strongly advised, dress up, have fun!!!)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
When and where were you born?
Describe the place where you were born.
Do you have any siblings?
Tell me about your family.
Was your family supportive of your life ambitions?
What was your childhood experience like?
What is your educational background? Did you finish high school? Did you go to
university?
8. What are some of your greatest personal achievements?
9. What major contributions do you feel you have made in this world?
10. What do you think people will say about you when you die?
11. Do you believe that what people will say about you would be a true account of who you
really are?
12. Is there anything else you would like to tell your viewers about yourself before we finish
this interview?
Part 3: Illustrative Timeline (Road of Life)
For this portion of the biography you need to create a “Road of Life” for the person you chose
to write your biography on. In this road of life you need to identify 20 significant events, in
chronological order, that occurred throughout this persons’ lifetime.
Directions:
1. You will need an 11 by 14 piece of paper (see teacher).
2. Draw a road on your paper that is large enough to include 20 events that occurred in
this persons’ life with the specific dates.
3. Put each event in a different square of the road in chronological order.
4. Draw and colour in scenery for the background of the road. (Example: Walt Disney- the
scenery should look like Disneyland, Tiger Woods- A golf course etc.) The scenery
should reflect their life.
5. Your Road of Life needs a title (Example: Galileo’s Road of Life) and a portrait of the
person.
6. Take your time and make sure your timeline is neat and organized.
Evaluation Format (Total 30 marks)
 Title (________’s Road of Life) (3 marks)
-Bold and creative lettering!
 Portrait (Picture of the person) (2 marks)
 Road Illustration (Scenery) (5 marks)
-Neat, creative and colourful!!
 20 events (20 marks)
-Significant events
-Dates are included