BLACK HISTORY MONTH
BIOGRAPHY REPORT
In order to explore the genre of “biography” in written work, the
Biography Book Report will be assigned during Black History Month
in Grade 6 Literacy class.
You have been assigned an individual who has made a mark in
society. You will research your individual and then take your
information and submit a report.
This project was issued on Monday, February 2, 2009
This project will be DUE on Monday, March 9, 2009.
Your project will have 3 parts: a written report, a visual poster, and
an oral report. Use the requirements that follow to complete your
report and visual. Check off each requirement after you have
completed it.
Part One: Written Report
Book Report Cover
Create an interesting book cover for your Biography Book Report.
This may be hand drawn or computer generated, provided it is your
original work.
 Include your name, group, the title of the book, and the
author in an imaginative way.
 Include a creative illustration that shows something
important about the book.
 The source for all computer generated clip art must be
appropriately cited.
Book Report Contents: Your report should follow the
format below:
First paragraph (introduction) should include:
 The title, author, and a brief description of why the
subject of the book is important.
Middle paragraphs should include:
 Identify at least one, but no more than three,
character trait this person possessed and explain
how it contributed to his/her success.
 Explain how this person began in his/her field.
 Were there any obstacles he/she had to overcome?
Name any weaknesses, failures, or disappointments
the subject had.
 Who were (if any) the important people in this
person’s life. Did the subject have a hero or role
model who set an example?
 Facts (details) about how this person contributed to
his/her field or specialty.
 What is the achievement(s) for which he/she is best
known?
 The part of this person’s life you admire the most,
and why.
 Something that surprised you the most about this
person.
Concluding paragraph(s) should include:
 A summation of the body of the report, including
whether or not you think this book gives an honest
account of your subject.
Part Two and Three: Poster and Oral Report
Poster: Use a standard-sized poster board which includes:
 Title of the biography and name of the author
 A timeline showing important achievements
 A direct quote from the book which you feel
accurately portrays the subject of your biography
 2-3 pictures related to your subject. These may be
hand drawn, photocopied, or from the Internet.
You must cite your source
 All work must be neat and visually appealing
Oral Report: Prepare a 3-5 minute oral report on your subject.
Note cards are required.
Use your poster as an aide to guide you during the
oral report.
 Be prepared to answer questions from the audience
 Review the rubric for the oral presentation
carefully as you practice your delivery of the oral
presentation.

Name______________________
Group_____________________
Grade 6
Black History Month Biography Book Report
Graphic Organizer
Subject Name:___________________________
Important Characteristics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Important Contributions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Things you admire about this person
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reason this person is famous
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Events that made this person important
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
List any obstacles, weaknesses, failures or
disappointments suffered by the subject and how
they overcame them.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Important people in the subject’s life
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Grade 6
Black History Month Biography Book Report
Grading Rubric
Written Book Report: Topic Development Rubric
6
 Rich topic/idea development
Outstanding
 Careful organization throughout essay
 Effective/rich use of language (includes all
elements, topics and areas spelled out in
instructions).
5
Proficient




4
Intermediate
 Moderate topic/ idea development and
organization
 Adequate, relevant details
 Some variety in language
3
Novice
 Rudimentary (basic) topic/idea development
and/or development
 Basic supporting details
 Some variety in language
2 Needs
Improvement
 Limited or weak topic/idea development,
organization, and/or details
 Limited awareness of audience and or task
1
Unsatisfactory
 Little topic/idea development, organization,
and/or details
 Little or no awareness of audience and/or
task
Full topic/idea development
Logical organization throughout essay
Strong details
Appropriate use of language
Biography Book Report Standard English
Convention Rubric
4 Outstanding
3 Intermediate
2 Novice
1Unsatifactory
 Control of sentence structure, grammar
and usage, and mechanics (length and
complexity of essay provide opportunity
for student to show control of standard
English conventions).
 Errors do not interfere with
communications and/or
 Few errors relative to the length of essay
or complexity of sentence structure,
grammar an usage, and mechanics
 Errors interfere somewhat with
communications and/or
 Too many errors relative to the length of
the essay or complexity of sentence
structure, grammar and usage and
mechanics
 Errors seriously interfere with
communication and
 Little control of sentence structure,
grammar and usage, and mechanics
Biography Book Report-Poster Rubric
Category
4
3
Required
Elements
Title,
Author’s
name,
Timeline,
Quotation,
and any
Picture
Captions
Graphic
Relevance
2
1
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
Outstanding
Proficient
The poster
includes all
required
elements as
well as
additional
information
All written
work is neat,
bold
(stands
out), and
large enough
to be read
from at least
3 feet away
All graphics
are related to
the topic and
make it
easier to
understand.
All borrowed
graphics
have a source
citation
All required
elements are
included on
the poster
Most of the required
Several
elements are included on required
the poster
elements
were missing
Most
written
work is neat,
bold, and
large
enough to
be read from
at least 3
feet away
All graphics
are related
to the topic
and most
make it
easier to
understand.
Some
borrowed
graphics
have a
source
citation
The poster
is attractive
in terms of
design,
layout and
neatness
Some written work is
neat, bold, and large
enough to be read from
3 feet away
Written work
is too small or
messy to be
read from 3
feet away
All graphics relate to the
topic. Not all borrowed
graphics have a source
citation.
Graphics do
not relate to
the topic OR
several
borrowed
graphics do
not have a
source
citation
The poster could be
neater and better
organized
The poster is
Unacceptably
messy.
There are few
grammatical/
Mecha-nical
mistakes on
the poster
There are several
The
grammatical/mechanical grammatical/
mistakes on the poster.
Mechanical
mistakes
make the
poster
difficult to
understand
Attractiveness
The poster is
exceptionally
attractive in
terms of
design,
layout and
neatness
Grammar
There are no
grammatical
/mechanical
mistakes on
the poster
Biography Book Report Oral Presentation Rubric
Category
3 Exceptional 2 Satisfactory 1 Needs
Audibility
All parts of the
audience can
easily hear the
presentation
Speaker
enthusiasm highly
visible
Speaker displays
no distracting
mannerisms
Speaker displays
eye contact with
all sections of the
audience
Speaker
Enthusiasm
Speaker
Mannerism
Eye Contact
Improvement
Speaker cannot
Audience can’t
clearly be heard by hear any part of
all of the audience the report
Speaker
moderately
enthused
Speaker displays
some distracting
mannerisms
Speaker displays
some eye contact
with the audience
No display of
enthusiasm by
speaker
Audience totally
distracted
Speaker displays
no eye contact
with the audience