Name _____________________________________________
Date Due __________________________________________
Biography/Autobiography Book Reports
The book you choose for this project will either be a biography or an
autobiography of a famous person. Examples of people you could read
about are presidents, inventors, sports figures, scientists, explorers or other
historical figures or heroes. The person you choose to read about can
either still be alive or someone who has already passed away. The book
you select must be a chapter book that is appropriate fifth grade reading
material. Your report will be five paragraphs as outlined below. I expect
you to use proper grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Along with the written report, you will be dressing up as the person
you learned about and present a two minute speech given from the point
of view from that person. You will be using information from your report for
the speech. Separate grades will be given for the report and for the
speech. We will be working on the speeches at school.
Please do not buy a costume – just use what you have or can find
at home. You will be given a grade for effort and participation, not
authenticity.
Paragraph #1 – Introduction
This paragraph should include the title of the book, the author, the
genre (biography or autobiography), and who the book is about if it’s not
listed in the title. This paragraph should introduce your famous person, tell
why he/she is famous and why you chose to read about him/her.
Paragraph #2 – Early Life/Background Information
You should include information on most of the following topics:
●
●
●
●
Date and place of birth
Family members – parents, brothers and sisters, etc.
Education
Other important people that helped influence this person
● Any early careers (jobs) the person had
● Marriages and/or children
● List any other information you found to be interesting about this
person
Paragraph #3 – Accomplishments/Major Life Events
● What did this person accomplish? Why are they famous?
● Were any obstacles this person faced as he/she tried to
accomplish their goals?
● Did anyone help this person achieve his/her goals?
● Did this person make any differences to society?
● How did he/she effect the lives of others?
If you choose a President also include:
● His political party
● Years in office
● Who his Vice-President was
Paragraph #4 – Late Life
● What happened to the person later in life after his/her goals were
accomplished?
● If the famous person is still alive, what is he/she doing today?
● If the famous person is deceased, give the date and cause of
death.
● How can we remember him/her in the future?
Paragraph #5 – Closing Paragraph
This paragraph will be a summary of what you have written and
read about the famous person you chose. It should be a minimum of 5
sentences long. It should have a strong closing sentence about why this
person is famous and how he/she will be remembered.
Paragraph
#1
Introduction
Paragraph
#2
Early Life
Paragraph
#3
Major Life
Events
Paragraph
#4
Late Life
Paragraph
#5
Closing
Spelling &
Grammar
Presentation
Timeliness
Beginning
1
Developing
2
Proficient
3
Advanced
4
Not
organized.
Does not give
the required
information.
Gives too little
information.
Summarizes
the report.
Gives most of
the
information.
Well written
and concise.
Includes all
the required
information.
Does not
cover the
information
Covers some
of the required
information
Covers most
of the
required
information
Covers all of
the
information
and gives
interesting
facts
Does not
cover the
information
Covers some
of the required
information
Covers most
of the
required
information
Covers all of
the
information
and gives
interesting
facts
Does not
cover the
information
Covers some
of the required
information
Covers most
of the
required
information
Covers all of
the
information
and gives
interesting
facts
Summary is
too short
Summary has
some of the
required
information
Summary has
most of the
required
information
Summary is
clear and
concise and
contains all of
the required
information
Many errors
A few errors
Only one or
two errors
No errors
Illegible,
messy
Illegible in
spots
Legible
handwriting
Well
organized.
Typed or has
illustrations
Over a week
late
No more than
a week late
A day late
Handed in
early or on
time
Score
Speech
Requirement
Description
Written notes on
cards
Makes eye
contact with the
audience
Speech is mostly
memorized
Speaker is loud
enough to hear
Speaker has a
costume that
represents the
famous person
Speech was the
correct length
Total Score _______________________
Score
_____/5 points
_____/5 points
_____/5 points
_____/5 points
_____/10 points
_____/5 points
Biography/Autobiography Project
I have read the outline and rubrics for the
biography/autobiography reading project and I
understand the requirements.
Student Name ____________________________________
Famous Person ________________________________________
Parent signature ________________________________________
Paragraph 1
Introduction
Title: _______________________________
Author: _____________________________
Genre: ______________________________
Why did you choose this person to read about?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Paragraph 2
Background/Early Years
Date and place of birth:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Family:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Education:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Did anyone else influence this person?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Early jobs:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Marriages and children:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Other important information:
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Paragraph 3
Accomplishments/Major Life Events
What did this person accomplish?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Why is he/she famous?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
What problems did this person face when trying
to accomplish his/her goals?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Who helped him/her achieve his/her goals?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Did this person make any difference to society?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
How did he/she effect the lives of other people?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
If you chose a president:
What years was he in office?
_______________________________________
What was his political party?
_______________________________________
Who was his vice president?
______________________________________
Paragraph 4
Late Life
Did this person accomplish his/her goals?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
What happened to him/her after he/she was
famous?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Is this person alive or dead?
_______________________________________
If he/she is alive what is he/she doing today?
_______________________________________
If he/she has died, give the date and place of
death.
______________________________________
How will we remember this person?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Paragraph 5
Conclusion
What did you learn about this person?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Do you think he/she is a role model for others?
Why?
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Ohio Content Standards Covered
RP 5.1 Establish a purpose for reading
RP 5.4 Summarize a text
RP 5.6 Use a graphic organizer to interpret information
RP 5.7 Answer literal, inferential and evaluative questions to demonstrate
comprehension of the text
RP 5.8 Monitor own comprehension by adjusting speed of text including
skimming and scanning to find information
IT 5.1 Use text features such as chapter titles and table of contents to find
information
IT 5.4 Summarize main idea and important details
IT 5.8 Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information in a text
LT 5.6 Describe the defining characteristics of biographies and
autobiographies
WP 5.2 Conduct background reading for writing
WP 5.4 Determine purpose and audience
WP 5.5 Use organizational strategies to plan writing
WP 5.8 Organize writing ideas into paragraphs
WP 5.12 Add and delete information to elaborate on a central idea for
writing
WP 5.15 Proofread writing, edit to improve conventions and identify
fragments
WP 5.16 Apply tools (rubric) to judge quality of writing
WA 5.4 Write informational essays or reports that organize information with
a clear introduction, body and conclusion and includes important facts and
details
WC 5.1 Spells words correctly
WC 5.2 Spells contractions correctly
WC 5.4 Uses commas and end marks appropriately
WC 5.5 Uses correct capitalization
SL 5.6 Uses clear tone, pitch, tempo and volume to stress important ideas
SL 5.8 Deliver information that demonstrates clear understanding of the
topic