Name-_________________________________
Biography Book Report
Presentations begin ____________________________________
Please note that the requirements for this book report are very specific; please
read carefully and pose all clarification questions to the teacher.
This book report will be based on the biography or autobiography of a
historically and/or culturally significant individual. Students are strongly
encouraged to do preliminary research before choosing their subject, and of
course, all persons/books should be approved by the teacher by
_______________________________________ at the absolute latest. Please note that
subjects will be approved on a first come, first served basis and that there may
be no repetitions within the class. That is, duplications of projects are not
allowed. Please be very conscientious when selecting a book. Fictional
accounts are not acceptable. That is, if the book tells a story, it’s not right.
The book must be an actual biography or autobiography.
The report will consist of TWO parts: a visual history and an oral
presentation. This book report will be very in depth; therefore, the point
values will reflect the amount of work done by the student.
Visual History Guidelines
1. The visual display will be presented on a “visual display backboard,”
which is most often used for science projects. Students are encouraged
to select a colored backboard for visual appeal, and this color is a
personal choice. Lettering on the backboard may be computer
generated, stenciled, or from ready-made letters. Students are strongly
discouraged from writing directly on the backboard, as this is often
messy and quite difficult.
2. The following TITLE should be prominently displayed on the
backboard:
Person’s Name: A Life of ___________________________. The student shall fill
in the blank, based upon what he/she has learned through the study of
their individual. An example could read: Mother Teresa: A Life of
Sacrifice
3. A picture of the selected individual must be displayed as well. This
picture may be sketched, generated from the computer, or copied, but it
must be clearly displayed. One picture is the minimum to be
displayed on the board.
4. The following background requirements can be arranged in any way on
the backboard, but the arrangement should make sense. Students are
strongly encouraged to type this information, then to frame all items on
the backboard with coordinating construction paper or other type of
paper. The overall visual display will be graded for creativity, neatness,
and thoroughness. That is, the backboard should be filled with
information and bare spots should be minimal.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
A time line of important events in the life of the selected individual
10 fast facts about the selected individual
The three greatest accomplishments of the selected individual
10 questions the student would ask the person if they could
An acrostic with the letters of the person’s name as they are known
(For instance, don’t just write the poem for George if George
Washington is the selected individual-do his whole name.)
f. The actual name of the book, author, copyright date, publishing
company, and number of pages. If multiple sources are used,
these should be cited as well.
5. These requirements should not be the only things on the backboard.
Students are encouraged to fill in the rest of the space with information
that they deem interesting, important, or unique, based on their study of
the selected individual.
Students should consider all aspects of the person when selecting
information. For instance, if the individual is famous for a quote, the
student should present the quote on the backboard. The purpose of the
backboard is to tell a complete story of one person in a way that is as
unique as he or she is.
6. The student’s name should be written on the back of the backboard.
Oral Presentation Guidelines
The oral presentation will be assessed on many points which include, but
are not limited to: dramatic effect, presence, preparation, and
thoroughness.
The presentation must be no shorter than 5 minutes or longer than 10
minutes. THIS IS NOT A SPEECH, so note cards are irrelevant, and may
NOT be used.
Interview: The student is interviewed as their person. The student has
supplied the interviewer with enough questions to thoroughly inform and
to adhere to time guidelines, and has prepared answers that have been
committed to memory. The student “becomes” the person. Please be
certain that the interviewer and interviewee have practiced.
*Please be aware that all topics will be discussed at length in class and
examples will be given. This report requires much advanced preparation,
so please begin working as soon as possible.
**You are encouraged to explore this report creatively and artistically
while remembering to be totally aware of the requirements and to work
and prepare accordingly.
***Please note that, as there is no written report, the backboard and
presentation must encompass solid, meaningful information about the
selected individual.
Sterling Biography/Autobiography Children’s books or DK
Biographies are an excellent resource.
Examples of historically and/or culturally significant individuals:
Anne Frank
Davy Crockett
Thomas Edison
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln
Geronimo
Helen Keller
Jackie Robinson
Albert Einstein
Jesse Owens
Leonardo Da Vinci
Neil Armstrong
Joe Louis
Alexander Graham Bell
Christopher Columbus
Annie Oakley
Eleanor Roosevelt
Amelia Earhart
Frederick Douglass
George Washington
Harry Houdini
Harriet Tubman
Jacques Cousteau
Joan of Arc
John F. Kennedy
Babe Ruth
Sacagawea
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Benjamin Franklin
Cleopatra
Name-______________________________
Parent Signature-____________________________
Biography Book Report
Backboard:
1. ______ backboard correct; lettering neatly applied; all prominent wording
spelled correctly (5)
2. ______ title prominently displayed; form correct (10)
3. ______ clear picture included (5)
4. ______ required elements neatly and logically arranged; information clearly
typed or handwritten; no Internet-generated information displayed;
minimal bare spots (overall appearance, 20)
a. ______time line information sufficient; actual line, not just a list;
all events correctly labeled with the year (10)
b. ______Fast Facts thorough and creative; vary in subject matter; at
least 10 included (10)
c. ______accomplishments relevant, minimum of three listed (10)
d. ______questions listed are logical and thoughtful; no repetition of
subject matter; minimum of 10 listed (10)
e. ______acrostic poem shows depth of understanding of individual;
few to no one-word descriptions; no grammatical errors; correct
name has been described (10)
f. ______name of book; author; copyright date; publishing company
and pages correctly listed (5)
5. ______student has thoughtfully included extra information; information is
relevant, interesting, and not repeated elsewhere on board; effort to be
creative and conscientious is obvious (10)
6. ______name clearly written on the back of the backboard (5)
Total Points in History: _________/110
Oral Presentation:
Dramatic Effect:
______ student is comfortable with the role that he/she has assumed (10)
______ presentation holds the audience’s attention (10)
______presentation is unique; creative expression is obvious (10)
Presence:
______ student is in command of his audience; prepared (10)
Preparation:
______information presented demonstrates study (20)
______student is well-versed; no lulls or stammering; information clearly
learned and/or memorized (20)
Thoroughness:
______time limit honored; time taken is appropriate for the option chosen;
student effectively teaches about selected individual (10)
______information presented is relevant, engaging, and enlightening (10)
Total Points in Literature: _____________/100