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: ____________________