How to Teach Kids to Write a Biography
Human beings--especially those in the younger generations--like to believe that their experiences are unique and that they are the first ones to ever have experienced the giddiness of winning, the agony of losing, the fear of the unknown, and the mind-numbing confusion of falling in love. The process of writing a biography not only reinforces the reality that others have traversed these very same paths--and survived--but helps to hone research, analytical and storytelling skills.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Decide whether the subject of the biography will be a living person that the young writer already knows or someone who has long since passed into the pages of history. Although one of the advantages of choosing someone who is still living is the opportunity to conduct an interview, many of the same principles of research apply to dead celebrities.
-
2
Have the students make a list of the top 15 things they'd like to find out about their subjects. The first third of the list should cover personal background, such as where the person was born, what she looked like, where she went to school, why she chose her particular field, and some of the major events that shaped her life. The next third should focus on accomplishments, awards and contributions to society, along with the setbacks and challenges that threatened to derail the individual's quest. The final third is reserved for the writer's perspective on this individual's life, how it either provided inspiration and encouragement to the writer or served as a cautionary tale to make smarter choices.
-
-
3
Encourage supplemental research on what others have had to say about the subject. For deceased icons, this means researching the comments of the person's friends, relatives and coworkers, and the media. If the subject of the essay is a living relative, such as a parent or grandmother, students will need to talk to those who know the subject intimately and can discuss what she was like as a child, as a teen, as a parent, and as a member of the community.
-
4
Explore with the young writer whether the material is better suited for a first- or third-person narrative or as a chronological account of the person's life. Determine what sort of supplemental materials, such as maps, family trees, newspaper clippings and photographs, will help fill in the full story of the person's life.
-
5
Stress the importance of identifying similarities and differences between the young creative writer and the subject of her biography. This is perhaps one of the most important components of the biography exercise because it causes students to reflect on the fact that those who went on to fame and fortune were not so different from those in contemporary times who are struggling with issues of hardship, self-confidence, trust, body image, relationships and anxiety.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It's essential that biographical material be as accurate as possible. Encourage students to always find at least three separate sources to verify any information they find.
Remind students to always keep biographical information in its proper social, historical and political context. What they might label as sexist, for instance, may have been entirely appropriate protocol for the latter half of the 19th century.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit serious student image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
