BiographyBiography

Different types of BiographiesDifferent types of Biographies

First-hand biographyFirst-hand biography AutobiographyAutobiography Collective BiographyCollective Biography Unauthorized BiographyUnauthorized Biography

Characteristics of a Biography Characteristics of a Biography

A story about a real personA story about a real person Describes the person’s environmentDescribes the person’s environment Such as, where, when and how they Such as, where, when and how they

livedlived

Characteristics of a BiographyCharacteristics of a Biography

Provides details that show the person Provides details that show the person in actionin action

Such as, their accomplishments, Such as, their accomplishments, goals, behavior, etc.goals, behavior, etc.

Characteristics of a Biography Characteristics of a Biography Shows how the person affects other Shows how the person affects other

peoplepeople Such as, changes that they made in Such as, changes that they made in

a person’s life which could include a person’s life which could include new discoveries in science and new discoveries in science and medicine or changes in laws; helping medicine or changes in laws; helping people, and includes the artistspeople, and includes the artists

First Hand BiographyFirst Hand Biography

Reveals another person though the Reveals another person though the eyes of a writer who has had an eyes of a writer who has had an ongoing, face-to-face, personal ongoing, face-to-face, personal relationship with the person. An relationship with the person. An example would be writing about your example would be writing about your grandma.grandma.

AutobiographyAutobiography

The main character is the authorThe main character is the author The Diary of a Young Girl is an The Diary of a Young Girl is an

example.example.

AutobiographyAutobiography Recounts key incidents/events in the Recounts key incidents/events in the

author’s lifeauthor’s life

AutobiographyAutobiography Describes major influences (people, Describes major influences (people,

events, places) on the writerevents, places) on the writer

A teacher Home A Speech

AutobiographyAutobiography Describes interactions between the Describes interactions between the

writer and significant people in his or writer and significant people in his or her lifeher life

A teacher A pastor A father A mother

Finding an AutobiographyFinding an Autobiography The call number is 921The call number is 921 Under 921 are the first three letters Under 921 are the first three letters

of the person’s last name that the of the person’s last name that the book is aboutbook is about

Remember the person that the book Remember the person that the book is about is also the authoris about is also the author

Collective BiographyCollective Biography Has many different biographies that Has many different biographies that

are all contained in one bookare all contained in one book An example, An example, Portraits of African-Portraits of African-

American HeroesAmerican Heroes by Tonya Bolden by Tonya Bolden This book would be found in This book would be found in 920 BOL920 BOL This book is about many different This book is about many different

African-Americans.African-Americans.

Unauthorized BiographyUnauthorized Biography Biography about a person that was Biography about a person that was

not approvednot approved by the subject that by the subject that the book is aboutthe book is about

These are usually about celebrities. These are usually about celebrities. Risk of suit is greatRisk of suit is great Purpose is the entertainPurpose is the entertain