Informational Text Book Club: Biography & Autobiography

What is a Biography or Autobiography?

A biography is a text about someone's life, written by another person. Since the life story is written by an outside source, there are often several different versions of biographies on a single person. An autobiography, on the other hand, is when the person writes their own story.

Criterion for Quality and Selection:

One criteria that is important for this genre is the organizational structure. In order for the information to make sense biographies and autobiographies should be written in chronological order according to the person's life.
A second criterion is that the text is appealing to the eye and interesting to young readers. Many biographies and autobiographies can be presented in a boring manner, that won't connect with students. By having illustrations, and presenting the text in a storyline, the students will be able to connect with the text and put themselves into the individual's life.

Use in the Classroom:

Whether it's writing an biography or autobiography, these texts are always great reference for when students are going to write they own. When they are able to refer to another text, they can find out what needs to be included in their own writing, and how to properly present the material.
These texts are also great when doing research projects on an influential individual, and they want the material presented in a way were they can pick out important moments in their lives. biographies and autobiographies are also written at many different levels, so all kinds of students can refer to them and find one at their own level.

TEXT EXAMPLES:
McDonough, Y., & Weber, J. (2005). Who was John F. Kennedy? New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap.

Throughout the text there are pages that give a brief history lesson about what was going on during a specific time in JFK's life. Some of the lessons include the Prohibition, Hitler & World War II, Pearl Harbor, Congress, and Space Exploration.
The text is divided up into chapters chronologically according to JFK's life.
At the end of the book there is a timeline that lays out JFK's life and another timeline that includes world events the correspond with the years JFK lived.

Discussion about JFK's time as president and the different things he believed in. I feel that when students have an understanding of what he stood for, they have a better understanding of the text and how his early events led to him becoming president.
I also feel it would benefit students to preteach the historic events JFK participated in because they also helped shape him during presidency.

Winter, J. (2011). The watcher: Jane Goodall's life with the chimps. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.

The illustrations are very well drawn, correlate and add to the text. They would allow struggling readers to look at the illustrations and be able to grasp what is trying to be said.
The text chronologically goes through the life of Jan Goodall, but it is written in a story so it flows very well.
There are a few quotes from Jane's journals included throughout the text. An example quote is, "You have to be patient if you want to learn about animals".

When talking about extinction and conservation; Jane's life is a prime example of what can be done to stop it. Students can get motivated from what Jane did in her lifetime, and students can look into how they can support causes that are important to them.

Talking about Africa prior to reading the text and explaining where Jane was during her research. Also talking about the climate so students can better understand what she was going through over the years.
Do some investigating into the way chimps live, and how they interact with one another, and humans. Background knowledge on the chimps themselves will help students understand what Jane was observing.

Informational Text Book Club