Curriculum into the classroom (C2C)
English
Year 7
Unit 3
Assessment task — Biography
Model response
Name:
Teacher:
Class:
Date:
Biography of a courageous person
Helen Keller
Helen Keller was a famous American who lived from 1880–1968. Although she was blind and deaf, she
overcame her disabilities, attended university and became a famous author and lecturer. Her determination
and resilience to face obstacles and courageously overcome them has made her an inspiration to many
people.
Helen Keller was born in a small rural town in the state of Alabama in 1880. Her father was the editor of the
local newspaper. She became seriously ill at the age of nineteen months and, as a result, she lost her hearing
and sight. From the age of seven, Helen was taught by Anne Sullivan who spelled out names of objects on
Helen’s hand and then let her feel what the object was so that she learned what the word meant.
Despite the restrictions her disabilities may have placed on her, Helen was an energetic young girl with an
eagerness to learn. Under Anne’s instruction, Helen learned sign language by touch and to use the Braille
system to read. She also learned to write using a special typewriter. In 1890, Helen learned how to speak by
feeling her teacher’s mouth when she talked. In 1900, she passed entrance exams and enrolled at university
and graduated with an Honours degree in 1904, becoming the first deaf and blind person to achieve a
university degree.
After university, Helen needed to find a way to make a living, so she wrote her autobiography The Story of My
Life. This became a bestseller and has since been translated into 50 languages as people around the world
find her story extraordinary and inspiring. She became keenly involved in the suffragette movement as she
had a strong interest in women’s rights and campaigned tirelessly for women to have the right to vote. She
also diligently practised using her speaking voice. As a result of her perseverance, her ability to speak and be
understood improved greatly.
Helen Keller was determined to learn about the world and improve the lives of others. Thus she travelled
extensively to visit 39 countries to raise awareness of the experiences and rights of people who were blind.
Her life was the inspiration for several films and documentaries. She received numerous awards, including the
Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest honour an American civilian can receive. Once again, she had
refused to let circumstances defeat her.
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Anne Sullivan had stayed with Helen Keller throughout her life, but when Anne died in 1936, Helen showed
that she could lead a life of her own. With her secretary, Polly Thompson, she toured the world to raise money
for people with visual impairments. Helen was an optimistic person who always looked for the positive.
Helen’s courage was admired by many eminent people, and she counted among her friends the inventor
Alexander Graham Bell and the author Mark Twain.
Helen Keller died in 1968. During her life, she showed great courage in overcoming huge difficulties to live a
fulfilling famous life. She has been an inspiration to many people, not just those who share similar
experiences. Her name has become synonymous with the power of the human spirit to achieve great
accomplishments. Helen lived her life to the full.
Text — Reference: Hardy, J, Klarwein, D, 1990, Written genres in the secondary school : copyfree text models for classroom
use, Cairns , Dept. of Education, Qld. p.35
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