Literature biography project

For this project, students will learn to develop the various processes used in researching and writing a biographical research paper, including brainstorming, note taking, outlining, creating a bibliography, and writing the final draft. This project is designed to act as an independent study geared toward AG or Level 3 and Level 4 students, but each step in the research process can also be taught directly to students in the classroom.

A lesson plan for grades 6–8 English Language Arts and Information Skills

By Sandra Dail

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Related topics

• Learn more about information literacy, language arts, organization, and research skills.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• use a biographical or regular encyclopedia or other resource materials.
• develop the various processes used in researching and writing a biographical research paper. This will include: brainstorming, note taking, outlining, creating a bibliography, and writing the final draft.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

6 Weeks

Materials/resources

• List of authors
• Biographical Encyclopedia
• Regular Encyclopedia
• Question Log
• Bibliography Format Sheet

Pre-activities

Teacher will need to have previously taught students the following research skills:

• Research skills
• Note taking skills
• Outlining skills (organizing)
• Writing an expository paper

Activities

Step 1: Making a Choice (10%)

1. Choose three authors you have not done a biography on before. Use a biographical or regular encyclopedia or other sources to do initial research on these choices.
2. Write one paragraph summary of each person.
3. Choose one person and explain why you have chosen him/her to focus on.
4. Step 1 is due on _________________.

Step 2: Organizing Your Research (20%)

1. Brainstorm in class questions you will need to answer about an author in order to do a biography report on him/her.
2. Choose from the list of questions the ones you feel you need to answer through your research. Group any questions together that you think may be similar or linked.
3. Follow the Question Log format (see example) to carry out your research.
4. Your Questions-Logs need to be completed by _______________ to be checked.

Step 3: Judging Your Research (5%)

1. As you read from your sources, take notes answering your questions in column 2 of the Question Logs.
2. As you write your notes, decide if information is fact or an opinion of the author. Does every source say the same thing about the person? Is the information consistent?
3. Is information taken for granted? (”As everyone knows _______.”, “It is generally accepted as true____”, etc.)
4. Are there any stereotypes presented? Does they serve a purpose? What?
5. Does the author of a source have a point of view? Is he/she trying to make a certain point? Does it make a difference in how the information is presented?
6. Decide what you most like and most dislike about the person you are researching.
7. As you read your sources, what is the most important thing you want to say about the person.
8. Write a statement that will be the focus of your paper.
9. The check on this will be on ________.

Step 4: Concluding Research and Preparing to Write (5%)

1. Do you have enough research to write your paper? Are there any questions you still need to answer?
2. What kinds of conclusions can you make about the person? List them.
3. Is there a main conclusion you can make? Why? What conclusions make sense of the author’s life? Why?
4. What would happen if you could meet the author that you have researched and spend a day with him/her?
5. Due date of _________________.

Step 5: Writing Your Paper (Outline 10% and Paper 45%)

1. Make an organized logical (chronological, literature contributions, degree of interest, etc.) outline from your research. Outline will be checked on ______.
2. Write an opening paragraph that introduces the person and states the main focus of your paper.
3. Write an organized conclusion for your paper that states the main conclusion or conclusions and why these conclusions are impartial.
4. Write the body of the paper.

Step 6: Bibilography (5%)

1. You must make a bibliography of your sources following the correct format.
2. Your paper is due _________________.

Assessment

At the end of each step, students must turn in the assigned section. Check to see that each student has fulfilled the requirements to each step. Assign a grade for each step in accordance to the percentages given for each section.

Supplemental information

Question Log - Divide into 3 Columns

• Column 1 - Source Column (Where the students found the information)
• Column 2 - Notes Column (Notes, facts, quotes, stereotypes, opinions, and judgments of the authors)
• Column 3 - Reactor’s Column - List your questions, your judgments, and your opinions

Comments

Having students use this research process and monitoring their progress at every stage helps teachers prevent plagiarism in independent research projects.