Biography Genre Presentation

8/9/2019 Biography Genre Presentation

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Biography:Biography:An Important Literary GenreAn Important Literary Genre

A Presentation byA Presentation by

Megan Wolfe & Sarah YontsMegan Wolfe & Sarah Yonts



Biographical Excerpt fromBiographical Excerpt from

A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of GeneralA History

of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of General

George WashingtonGeorge

Washington

By Mason Locke Weems (Original text circa 1918)By Mason Locke Weems (Original text circa 1918)

" Ah, gentlemen! "—exclaimed Bonaparte—'twas just as he was about to embark for Egypt—some young Americans" Ah, gentlemen! "—exclaimed Bonaparte—'twas just as he was about to embark for Egypt—some young Americanshappening at Toulon, and anxious to see the mighty Corsican, had obtained the honour of an introduction to him.happening at Toulon, and anxious to see the mighty Corsican, had obtained the honour of an introduction to him.Scarcely were past the customary salutations, when he eagerly asked, " how fares your countryman, the greatScarcely were past the customary salutations, when he eagerly asked, " how fares your countryman, the greatWashington ?" " He was very well," replied the youths, brightening at the thought, that they were the countrymen of Washington ?" " He was very well," replied the youths, brightening at the thought, that they were the countrymen of Washington ; " he was very well, general, when we left America."—"Ah, gentlemen! " rejoined he, " Washington canWashington ; " he was very well, general, when we left America."—"Ah, gentlemen! " rejoined he, " Washington cannever be otherwise than well.—The measure of his fame is full.—Posterity will talk of him with reverence as the founder never be otherwise than well.—The measure of his fame is full.—Posterity will talk of him with reverence as the founder of a great empire, when my name shall be lost in the vortex of Revolutions!"of a great empire, when my name shall be lost in the vortex of Revolutions!"

The following anecdote is a case in point. It is too valuable to be lost, and too true to be doubted; for it wasThe following anecdote is a case in point. It is too valuable to be lost, and too true to be doubted; for it wascommunicated to me by the some excellent lady to whom I am indebted for the last.communicated to me by the some excellent lady to whom I am indebted for the last.

" When George," said she, " was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet! of which, like most" When George," said she, " was about six years old, he was made the wealthy master of a hatchet! of which, like mostlittle boys, he was immoderately fond, and was constantly going about chopping everything that came in his way. Onelittle boys, he was immoderately fond, and was constantly going about chopping everything that came in his way. Oneday, in the garden, where he often amused himself hacking his mother's pea-sticks, he unluckily tried .the edge of hisday, in the garden, where he often amused himself hacking his mother's pea-sticks, he unluckily tried .the edge of hishatchet on the body of a beautiful young English cherry-tree, which he barked so terribly, that I don't believe the treehatchet on the body of a beautiful young English cherry-tree, which he barked so terribly, that I don't believe the treeever got the better of it. The next morning the old gentleman, finding out what had befallen his tree, which, by the by,ever got the better of it. The next morning the old gentleman, finding out what had befallen his tree, which, by the by,was a great favourite, came into the house; and with much warmth asked for the mischievous author, declaring at thewas a great favourite, came into the house; and with much warmth asked for the mischievous author, declaring at thesame time, that he would not have taken five guineas for his tree. Nobody could tell him anything about it. Presentlysame time, that he would not have taken five guineas for his tree. Nobody could tell him anything about it. PresentlyGeorge and his hatchet made their appearance. " George," said his father, " do you know who killed that beautiful littleGeorge and his hatchet made their appearance. " George," said his father, " do you know who killed that beautiful littlecherry tree yonder in the garden? " This was a tough question; and George staggered under it for a moment; but quicklycherry tree yonder in the garden? " This was a tough question; and George staggered under it for a moment; but quicklyrecovered himself : and looking at his father, with the sweet face of youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-recovered himself : and looking at his father, with the sweet face of youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-

conquering truth,conquering truth, he bravely cried out, " I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know Ihe bravely cried out, " I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know I

can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet."—"can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet."—"Run to my arms, you dearest boy,"Run to my arms, you dearest boy,"cried his father in transportscried his father in transports, " run to my arms; glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a, " run to my arms; glad am I, George, that you killed my tree; for you have paid me for it athousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son is more worth than a thousand trees, though blossomed with silver, andthousand fold. Such an act of heroism in my son is more worth than a thousand trees, though blossomed with silver, andtheir fruits of purest gold." It was in this way by interesting at once both his heart and head, that Mr. Washingtontheir fruits of purest gold." It was in this way by interesting at once both his heart and head, that Mr. Washingtonconducted George with great ease and pleasure along the happy paths of virtue. But well knowing that his belovedconducted George with great ease and pleasure along the happy paths of virtue. But well knowing that his belovedcharge, soon to be a man, would be left exposed to numberless temptations, both from himself and from others, hischarge, soon to be a man, would be left exposed to numberless temptations, both from himself and from others, hisheart throbbed with the tenderest anxiety to make him acquainted with that great being, whom to know and love, is toheart throbbed with the tenderest anxiety to make him acquainted with that great being, whom to know and love, is topossess the surest defence against vice, and the best of all motives to virtue and happiness. To startle George into apossess the surest defence against vice, and the best of all motives to virtue and happiness. To startle George into alively sense of his Maker, he fell upon the following very curious but impressive expedient:lively sense of his Maker, he fell upon the following very curious but impressive expedient:

Direct quote from Google Books: See bib.



What makes a BiographyWhat makes a Biography“Good”?“Good”?



How did we do?How did we do?(“Official” characteristics of a good biography)(“Official” characteristics of a good biography)

Authentic and HonestAuthentic and Honest

More than a chronologyMore than a chronology

Avoids stereotypesAvoids stereotypes

Historically accurate and authenticHistorically accurate and authentic

Provides a vehicle for activismProvides a vehicle for activism

Appropriate for adolescent readersAppropriate for adolescent readers

Quoted from Boucher p. 201



BreakingBreaking it down…it down…

Basic subdivisions of the biographyBasic subdivisions of the biography

genre….genre…. Biography/AutobiographyBiography/Autobiography

Partial/CompletePartial/Complete

Individual/CollectiveIndividual/Collective

Pure/Authentic

Biography

Fictionalized

Biography

Biographical

Fiction

Quoted from Boucher pp. 191-193



Categories of BiographiesCategories of Biographies

Politicians and LeadersPoliticians and Leaders George Washington and the Founding of a Nation by Albert MarrinGeorge Washington and the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin

(2001)(2001)

Religious LeadersReligious Leaders Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths by Bruce Feiler by Bruce Feiler

(2002)(2002)

Scientists and InventorsScientists and Inventors Inventing the Future: A Photo biography of Thomas Alva EdisonInventing the Future: A Photo biography of Thomas Alva Edison byby

M.F. Delano (2002)M.F. Delano (2002)

Explorers and AdventurersExplorers and Adventurers Sir Walter Raleigh and the Quest for El DoradoSir Walter Raleigh and the Quest for El Dorado byby

Marc Aronson (2000)Marc Aronson (2000)




Categories of Biographies (cont’d)…Categories of Biographies (cont’d)…

Artists and WritersArtists and Writers Shakespeare: His Work and His World Shakespeare: His Work and His World

by Michael Rosen (2001)by Michael Rosen (2001)

AthletesAthletes Lance Armstrong: A Biography Lance Armstrong: A Biography by Billby Bill

Gutman (2003)Gutman (2003)

Entertainers and MusiciansEntertainers and Musicians Jimmy Hendrix Jimmy Hendrix by Rita J. Markel (2001)by Rita J. Markel (2001)

Uncommon IndividualsUncommon Individuals Elizabeth Cady Stanton: The Right IsElizabeth Cady Stanton: The Right Is

OursOurs by Harriet Sigerman (2001)by Harriet Sigerman (2001)

Coming of AgeComing of Age Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography

of a Shifting Self of a Shifting Self by Rebecca Walker by Rebecca Walker (2002)(2002)




Why are Biographies Important?Why are Biographies Important?



““History is actually the recordHistory is actually the recordof great men. The key toof great men. The key to

understanding society isunderstanding society is

through the lives of thethrough the lives of the

individuals who shaped it”individuals who shaped it”

~Thomas~Thomas

CarlyleCarlyleQuoted from Boucher p. 191



Biographies are important because they….Biographies are important because they….

Satisfy an adolescent’s need to know more about peopleSatisfy an adolescent’s need to know more about peopleand events.and events.

Personalize history.Personalize history.

Help adolescents to see that while social constructs can beHelp adolescents to see that while social constructs can be

harmful to some individuals and helpful to others, theseharmful to some individuals and helpful to others, theseconstructs can be challenged and changed.constructs can be challenged and changed.

Help adolescents realize that they, too, can make chooseHelp adolescents realize that they, too, can make choosetheir own actions, and that their decisions will influencetheir own actions, and that their decisions will influencetheir future.their future.




How can biographies be usedHow can biographies be used

across the curriculum?across the curriculum?



ACTIVITIES!!!!ACTIVITIES!!!!

Picture from: http://a2.vox.com/6a00d09e46363bbe2b00fae8cd7c8a000b-500pi



ConsiderationsConsiderations

for selecting YA biographies:for selecting YA biographies:What are the author’s credentials/experience/backgroundWhat are the author’s credentials/experience/background

Is the bio authentic or fictional?Is the bio authentic or fictional?

If fictional...are fictionalized parts rational?If fictional...are fictionalized parts rational?

Is it accurate?Is it accurate?

Is it free from bias?Is it free from bias?Is it objective?Is it objective?

Is it realistic?Is it realistic?

Is it relevant?Is it relevant?

Is the style attractive to YA audience?Is the style attractive to YA audience?

Is there a bibliography?Is there a bibliography?Are there special features?Are there special features?




BibliographyBibliography

Bucher, K. T., & Manning, M. L. (2006).Bucher, K. T., & Manning, M. L. (2006). Young adult literature: Exploration, evaluation,Young adult literature: Exploration, evaluation,

and appreciationand appreciation. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.

Google image result for Google image result for http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Images/SiteTools/woohoo.gif http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Images/SiteTools/woohoo.gif ..

Retrieved 4/27/2009, 2009, fromRetrieved 4/27/2009, 2009, from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=

http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Images/SiteTools/woohoo.gif&imgrefurlhttp://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Images/SiteTools/woohoo.gif&imgrefurl==

http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/TrainingProgram.aspx&usghttp://www.baycounty-mi.gov/TrainingProgram.aspx&usg

=__U15Zc6whhZ3HcGuxRFJSj9wdKlE=&h=322&w=243&sz=10&hl==__U15Zc6whhZ3HcGuxRFJSj9wdKlE=&h=322&w=243&sz=10&hl=en&starten&start

=2&sig2=S-tZ-2IuyHfB_TKc9zH(TRUNCATED)=2&sig2=S-tZ-2IuyHfB_TKc9zH(TRUNCATED)

Weems, M. L. (1918).Weems, M. L. (1918). A history of the life and death, virtues and exploits of general A history of the life and death, virtues and exploits of general

george washington: With curious anecdotes, equally honourable to himself and george washington: With curious anecdotes, equally honourable to himself and

exemplary to his young countrymenexemplary to his young countrymen. Philadelphia, Pa.: J. B. Lippincott Company.. Philadelphia, Pa.: J. B. Lippincott Company.Retrieved fromRetrieved from http://http://books.google.com/books?idbooks.google.com/books?id==kQEJhFWnyLUCkQEJhFWnyLUC

http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Images/SiteTools/woohoo.gif




http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/Images/SiteTools/woohoo.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.baycounty-mi.gov/TrainingProgram.aspx&usg=__U15Zc6whhZ3HcGuxRFJSj9wdKlE=&h=322&w=243&sz=10&hl=en&start=2&sig2=S-tZ-2IuyHfB_TKc9zH%28TRUNCATED%29












http://books.google.com/books?id=kQEJhFWnyLUC


















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Biography Genre Presentation