Ten Elements of BiographyTen Elements of BiographyMrs. YouseMrs. Youse

Non-Fiction Books about Non-Fiction Books about PeoplePeople

BiographyBiography AutobiographyAutobiography MemoirsMemoirs

BiographyBiography

bi·og·ra·phybi·og·ra·phy : : n.n. pl.pl. bi·og·ra·phies bi·og·ra·phies An account of a person's life written, An account of a person's life written,

composed, or produced by another: composed, or produced by another: a film a film biography of Adlai Stevenson; an oral biography of Adlai Stevenson; an oral biography.biography.

Biographies considered as a group, Biographies considered as a group, especially when regarded as a genre. especially when regarded as a genre.

The writing, composition, or production of The writing, composition, or production of biographies: biographies: a career entirely devoted to a career entirely devoted to biography.biography.

AutobiographyAutobiography

n.n. pl.pl. au·to·bi·og·ra·phies au·to·bi·og·ra·phies The biography of a person written by The biography of a person written by

that personthat person

MemoirsMemoirs

mem·oirmem·oir     (m m wär , -wôr )     (m m wär , -wôr )n.n.

An account of the personal experiences of an An account of the personal experiences of an author. author.

An autobiography. Often used in the plural. An autobiography. Often used in the plural. A biography or biographical sketch. A biography or biographical sketch. A report, especially on a scientific or scholarly A report, especially on a scientific or scholarly

topic. topic. memoirsmemoirs The report of the proceedings of a The report of the proceedings of a

learned society. learned society.

The 10 ElementsThe 10 Elements

Birthdate and placeBirthdate and place Family MembersFamily Members Childhood and School LifeChildhood and School Life Hobbies, Interests, and ActivitiesHobbies, Interests, and Activities AnecdotesAnecdotes CareerCareer Reason for FameReason for Fame Later Life/Old AgeLater Life/Old Age DeathDeath Photos and LikenessesPhotos and Likenesses

Birthplace and dateBirthplace and date

When was the person born?When was the person born? Where was the person born?Where was the person born? Why was the family in that location Why was the family in that location

at that time?at that time?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthplace, Atlanta, GA

Family MembersFamily Members

Birth OrderBirth Order Spouse, ChildrenSpouse, Children Any other members of the family Any other members of the family

who were notable in some waywho were notable in some way

Childhood and School LifeChildhood and School Life

Interesting stories Interesting stories about childhood or about childhood or schoolschool

Early achievementsEarly achievements Any events that Any events that

had an impact on had an impact on their later lifetheir later life

Hobbies, Interests, and Hobbies, Interests, and ActivitiesActivities

Do the person’s hobbies or activities Do the person’s hobbies or activities make them more interesting?make them more interesting?

Do the hobbies/activities have a Do the hobbies/activities have a bearing on why they have a bearing on why they have a biography about them?biography about them?

Do the hobbies/activities relate to Do the hobbies/activities relate to other aspects of their life?other aspects of their life?

AnecdotesAnecdotes

Interesting stories about why they Interesting stories about why they are famousare famous

Interesting stories about the impact Interesting stories about the impact they have had on othersthey have had on others

CareerCareer

Is their career why they have a book Is their career why they have a book written about them?written about them?

Is their job similar or different from Is their job similar or different from their hobbies and activities?their hobbies and activities?

Have they made significant Have they made significant contributions to mankind through contributions to mankind through their job? their job?

Reason for FameReason for Fame

What did they do What did they do that caused that caused someone to want someone to want to write a book to write a book about them?about them?

At what point in At what point in their life did they their life did they become famous?become famous?

Later Life/Old AgeLater Life/Old Age

What did they do near the end of What did they do near the end of their life?their life?

Did they contribute to society, enjoy Did they contribute to society, enjoy life, continue working?life, continue working?

Were they honored in their lifetime Were they honored in their lifetime for their achievements?for their achievements?

Commodore Grace Hopper, USN

DeathDeath

When and where did When and where did they die?they die?

Was there anything Was there anything unusual or significant unusual or significant about their death? about their death? (Ex. Thomas Jefferson (Ex. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826)died on July 4, 1826)

Photos and LikenessesPhotos and Likenesses Photographs or artists’ Photographs or artists’

renderings of the person renderings of the person may be includedmay be included

Where are Where are biographies biographies

found in found in the library?the library?

The The 900’s900’s

The 10 ElementsThe 10 Elements

Birthdate and placeBirthdate and place Family MembersFamily Members Childhood and School LifeChildhood and School Life Hobbies, Interests, and ActivitiesHobbies, Interests, and Activities AnecdotesAnecdotes CareerCareer Reason for FameReason for Fame Later Life/Old AgeLater Life/Old Age DeathDeath Photos and LikenessesPhotos and Likenesses