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Biographical Biographical Narrative Narrative

EssayEssayMs. WellmeyerMs. Wellmeyer

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Step 1:Step 1:Pre-WritingPre-Writing

Select a PersonSelect a Person

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Important!!!Important!!!When you see text in When you see text in YELLOWYELLOW, either follow , either follow the directions or copy itthe directions or copy it

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First, Select a First, Select a person…person…

Think of someone important to youThink of someone important to youSomeone you have known for a Someone you have known for a

long timelong time Write their name on the top of your Write their name on the top of your

paperpaper You may use their actual name (Mary) You may use their actual name (Mary)

or a title (Mom) or nick name (Bugs)or a title (Mom) or nick name (Bugs)

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Think about the Think about the personperson

Think about the following:Think about the following:What does the person look like?What does the person look like?Why is this person important to Why is this person important to

you?you?What have you experienced What have you experienced

together?together?

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Now write…Now write… Write in detail at least one specific Write in detail at least one specific

incident that characterizes your incident that characterizes your chosen personchosen personcharacterizes means: an incident characterizes means: an incident

that is an example of what this that is an example of what this person is like, or what this person person is like, or what this person means to youmeans to you

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Ms. WMs. W’’s Examples Example Dad…Dad…

We went camping and I made him We went camping and I made him blow up my air mattress because I blow up my air mattress because I refused to sleep on the groundrefused to sleep on the ground

He got so light-headed because we He got so light-headed because we were way up high in the mountainswere way up high in the mountains

And I ended up sleeping in the car And I ended up sleeping in the car because I was cold and it rainedbecause I was cold and it rained

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More to write…More to write… Write down physical Write down physical

characteristics about the personcharacteristics about the person Especially ones that contribute to Especially ones that contribute to

the person being unique or differentthe person being unique or different Examples: type of clothes, a Examples: type of clothes, a

particular hat, friendly eyes, big particular hat, friendly eyes, big nose, etc…nose, etc…

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Ms. WMs. W’’s examples example My dad…My dad…

Big bellyBig belly Always wears golf shirtsAlways wears golf shirts And weird golf hats from the And weird golf hats from the ““sharshar

kk”” guy guy Prickly beardPrickly beard StrongStrong Funny laugh…almost like a snickerFunny laugh…almost like a snicker

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More writing…More writing… List a few more things that makes List a few more things that makes

the person important to youthe person important to you Example: ability to listen, ability to Example: ability to listen, ability to

make you laugh, always there for youmake you laugh, always there for you What has this person done to What has this person done to

affect youaffect you

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Ms. WMs. W’’s examples example Always caringAlways caring Tries to help me outTries to help me out Stayed up all night to wash paint off Stayed up all night to wash paint off

my car…let me go to sleepmy car…let me go to sleep Took me out to a Took me out to a ““business lunchbusiness lunch”” so so

I could see what he did for a livingI could see what he did for a living Helped me with all of my science Helped me with all of my science

projects in elementary schoolprojects in elementary school

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Must-Haves…Must-Haves… The following are things you MUST The following are things you MUST

write in your essay in order to get a write in your essay in order to get a passing grade passing grade

(make sure to write them down)(make sure to write them down)

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1. well-described incident (one or more)1. well-described incident (one or more) showing the personality or character of showing the personality or character of the personthe person

a. Describe the setting of the a. Describe the setting of the incidentsincidents

Example: It was so cold that evening that Example: It was so cold that evening that I could see the air flow from my lips. I I could see the air flow from my lips. I pressed my cold hand into the open pressed my cold hand into the open pocket of my dadpocket of my dad’’s feather jacket.s feather jacket.

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2. dialogue (if possible) to make the 2. dialogue (if possible) to make the character character ““alivealive”” and and ““talkingtalking””

Example: Example: ““Are you cold?Are you cold?”” he had he had asked.asked.““NoNo”” I whispered from my half-frozen I whispered from my half-frozen lips.lips.

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3. Specific names of people, places, 3. Specific names of people, places, objects, and actionsobjects, and actions

Example: His name was Ed, or Eddie, Example: His name was Ed, or Eddie, according to my grandmother.according to my grandmother.

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4. A clear indication of the significance4. A clear indication of the significance of the personof the person

a. in other words, do not hide thea. in other words, do not hide the reasons why this person is reasons why this person is important to you…tell it directlyimportant to you…tell it directly

Example: I admire my father because Example: I admire my father because he was always there and put my he was always there and put my feelings before his own.feelings before his own.

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5. Let the reader know how you feel5. Let the reader know how you feel about the person….and directly writeabout the person….and directly write it.it.

Example: I love my dad; he is the Example: I love my dad; he is the greatest person in my world. He is greatest person in my world. He is intelligent, caring, and honest. He is intelligent, caring, and honest. He is the reason I am the person I am the reason I am the person I am today.today.

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6. Use transitions to let the reader know 6. Use transitions to let the reader know you are changing subjects, continuing you are changing subjects, continuing on with the story, concluding an idea, on with the story, concluding an idea, etc…etc…

First, Second, Next, Furthermore, First, Second, Next, Furthermore, Moreover, However, One time, In fact, Moreover, However, One time, In fact, Like I said, Although, Another, Like I said, Although, Another, Nowadays, Eventually, etc…Nowadays, Eventually, etc…

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Student Student Example…Example…I admire my cousin David because he is I admire my cousin David because he is

very funny, and it seems like nothing can get very funny, and it seems like nothing can get him down. He doesnhim down. He doesn’’t care what others think t care what others think about him, and when I asked him why, he said, about him, and when I asked him why, he said, ““ThatThat’’s just the bottom line, s just the bottom line, ‘‘cause I said so!cause I said so!”” Because of that attitude, someone could walk Because of that attitude, someone could walk up and give him the worst insult ever and he up and give him the worst insult ever and he would make a joke out of it. In fact even though would make a joke out of it. In fact even though he does not remember it, he made up his first he does not remember it, he made up his first joke when he was five.joke when he was five.

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David, a.k.a David, a.k.a ‘‘BroBro’’ He has brown eyes and He has brown eyes and dark brown hair, and he dreams of becoming a dark brown hair, and he dreams of becoming a comic. He even made up his own super hero comic. He even made up his own super hero and sidekick. He is always trying to come up and sidekick. He is always trying to come up with good, new material. Sometimes he with good, new material. Sometimes he amuses me and others with funny little routines amuses me and others with funny little routines he has made. My favorite one is about killing he has made. My favorite one is about killing cockroaches.cockroaches.

Besides that, his style of dressing is all Besides that, his style of dressing is all his own. He buys his clothes at discount his own. He buys his clothes at discount stores and his shirts are always striped with stores and his shirts are always striped with weird colors. weird colors. ““He looks like a comic I guess, He looks like a comic I guess, he could be onehe could be one”” says my friend Anne. says my friend Anne.

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David and I bonded when he started David and I bonded when he started going to the same school as me. He going to the same school as me. He entered when I was in the fifth grade and entered when I was in the fifth grade and he was in sixth. We started hanging out he was in sixth. We started hanging out together. He always came up to my house together. He always came up to my house after school and would teach me stuff after school and would teach me stuff about his favorite cartoons, and he would about his favorite cartoons, and he would tell me jokes. I started referring to his as tell me jokes. I started referring to his as my big brother in the seventh grade, my big brother in the seventh grade, because he is like the big brother I never because he is like the big brother I never had. Now I just call him had. Now I just call him ‘‘bro.bro.’’

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Moreover, David is very important to Moreover, David is very important to me. Without him I would not have all the me. Without him I would not have all the friends that I do.friends that I do.

David spends his spare time playing David spends his spare time playing his Game Boy Color and acting aloof. his Game Boy Color and acting aloof. That gives the impression he doesnThat gives the impression he doesn’’t care, t care, though, if he tried, he is quite intelligent though, if he tried, he is quite intelligent and he helps me out a lot. He teaches me and he helps me out a lot. He teaches me how to work my Game Boy and how to how to work my Game Boy and how to play and win the games.play and win the games.

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In addition, he is teaching me how to work my In addition, he is teaching me how to work my cell phone. When I call him on the phone, he cell phone. When I call him on the phone, he always answers it with always answers it with ““Hey, hey, hey, oh.Hey, hey, hey, oh.”” The way he says it seems to get a smile out of The way he says it seems to get a smile out of me. When he calls me sometimes he tries to me. When he calls me sometimes he tries to make me think he is someone else, so he will make me think he is someone else, so he will not say the usual things. But I always know it not say the usual things. But I always know it is him because of his voice.is him because of his voice.Like me, David loves animals, and every few Like me, David loves animals, and every few years he changes his favorite animal. First it years he changes his favorite animal. First it was bears. Then it was eagles. And now he was bears. Then it was eagles. And now he likes tigers.likes tigers.

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I hope this is enough to prove to you I hope this is enough to prove to you that David is the greatest cousin ever and that David is the greatest cousin ever and that people understand what a great that people understand what a great cousin I have. I think I am very lucky. I cousin I have. I think I am very lucky. I hope I never lose him. I know that he and I hope I never lose him. I know that he and I will be friends forever.will be friends forever.

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Step 2:Step 2:Begin Begin

Outlining and Outlining and Planning for Planning for your Essayyour Essay

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Tips to Tips to remember…remember…

You are having a conversation with You are having a conversation with the person reading your essay.the person reading your essay. Use first person…Use first person…

I think that, I think that, My dad and I, My dad and I, I feel that, I feel that, Now you see what Now you see what I mean when I say…I mean when I say…

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ParagraphsParagraphs This is a more informal way of This is a more informal way of

writing, so your paragraphs DO writing, so your paragraphs DO NOT have to be exactly 4-5 NOT have to be exactly 4-5 sentences longsentences long

Each paragraph should have ONE Each paragraph should have ONE topic or ideatopic or idea

Paragraphs can be long or shortParagraphs can be long or short

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However, However, Avoid the following things when Avoid the following things when

writing your biographical writing your biographical narrative:narrative: Do not use only long or short Do not use only long or short

paragraphs…use a mixture of bothparagraphs…use a mixture of both If your paragraph reached 8 If your paragraph reached 8

sentences, it is too long. Break it sentences, it is too long. Break it into 2 paragraphsinto 2 paragraphs

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Intro. ParagraphIntro. Paragraph This paragraph should introduce the This paragraph should introduce the

person you are writing aboutperson you are writing about Something to show the reader that this Something to show the reader that this

person is interesting or importantperson is interesting or important Examples:Examples:

When my dad was in high school…When my dad was in high school… I admire my cousin David…I admire my cousin David… My brother is a great person…My brother is a great person… Right across the street from me lives Sue...Right across the street from me lives Sue...

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Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs These paragraphs get into the story and These paragraphs get into the story and

are about the person are about the person Have at least ONE big, important story Have at least ONE big, important story

AND many little ones and smaller factsAND many little ones and smaller facts Think about how you would explain this Think about how you would explain this

person to a friend…and write that wayperson to a friend…and write that way Have a conversation with the readerHave a conversation with the reader

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Final ParagraphFinal Paragraph Remind the reader what you really Remind the reader what you really

think and feel about the person you think and feel about the person you wrote aboutwrote about

Restate the traits, qualities, Restate the traits, qualities, personality, interesting facts, etc. personality, interesting facts, etc. about your personabout your person

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A final note…A final note… Even though this writing should be Even though this writing should be

informal, try to tell a story from informal, try to tell a story from beginning to end. Do not randomly say beginning to end. Do not randomly say things. If you are describing an event, things. If you are describing an event, describe it in one paragraph then move describe it in one paragraph then move on. Do not remember something you on. Do not remember something you forgot to mention earlier and just write it forgot to mention earlier and just write it in—the comment should in—the comment should ““fitfit”” in your in your essay.essay.

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Create some type of outline where you Create some type of outline where you decide where and when you are going to decide where and when you are going to writewrite

Ms. WMs. W’’s examples example Example OutlineExample Outline

Paragraph 1: introduce my dadParagraph 1: introduce my dad Paragraph 2: talk about his weird clothes & carParagraph 2: talk about his weird clothes & car Paragraph 3: camping tripParagraph 3: camping trip Paragraph 4: how I felt after the tripParagraph 4: how I felt after the trip Paragraph 5: the ice cream incidentParagraph 5: the ice cream incident Paragraph 6: why he is special, concludeParagraph 6: why he is special, conclude

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Step Three:Step Three:Write your Write your

essayessay

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Writing StepsWriting Steps1.1. WriteWrite2.2. ReadRead3.3. Re-readRe-read4.4. 2 others read2 others read5.5. ReviseRevise

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AssignmentAssignment You will write a biographical narrative You will write a biographical narrative

about an ordinary person that you about an ordinary person that you admire.admire.

Must be typedMust be typed 12 point font12 point font Times New RomanTimes New Roman Double-spacedDouble-spaced Dark blue or black inkDark blue or black ink 11”” borders borders

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To receive full credit:To receive full credit:

Turn in these items in the following order:Turn in these items in the following order: Final copy, typedFinal copy, typed Notes from this Power PointNotes from this Power Point Your rough draft with 2 signatures with Your rough draft with 2 signatures with

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