Biography Project Step 1: Report Due: Tuesday, May 17, 2016

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1 Biography Project Step 1: Report Due: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Step 1: Decide on a person who you find fascinating or would like to know more about. Choice 1: Choice 2: Choice 3: Step 2: Research & Writing You will begin researching your chosen person. You may use books, websites, magazines, encyclopedias or any other appropriate source. You will need to use at least 2 sources for your research (they can be any combination of internet, book, etc.). If you choose to use books, make sure you have two different books; if you choose to use just websites, make sure to use two different websites. It is important that you cite all of your sources. To help you with this, there is an example of a bibliography included. What to research and write about ***You will NOT be required to hand in your rough draft. You may get a parent or another adult to edit your work with you at home OR ask a teacher to edit with you at school. In order to have this project completed in time, your rough draft should be completed by TUESDAY, May 10, Describe the early life of your famous American. -Tell about what kind of person he or she was. -What was it about your person that helped him or her to succeed? -Did your person know what he or she wanted to become in the future? -How did your person prepare for his or her future? Tell about the work your person did. -Tell why his/her work or contribution was important. -Did he or she invent something or teach others? -How did he or she have a positive influence or provoke change? -What lasting effects did your person have on the lives of others? Describe the later life of your famous American -Where was the person living at the end of their life? -What was their life like at this time? -What other things did they do in their life? -When/Where did they die? -Where are they buried? -How are they remembered today?

2 What should we all know about your famous American? - How do we benefit today from him or her? - What do you think was the most impressive thing about your character? Tell how your person has inspired you. - In what ways would you like to be him or her? Step 3: Type and publish! (if typing is not an option for you, please write your report in your neatest handwriting)

3 Step 2: Body Board Due: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 Extra Credit! and arm holes cut NOTE: Remember to proofread, proofread, proofread any information you include on your body board! Have an adult or older sibling proofread for you as well. **see example on next page

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5 Biography Report Rubric Ideas & Content Lively, interesting, & memorable writing keeps the reader's attention. Ideas are supported by details. Organization Contains a thorough Cover Page. Introduction is inviting. Ideas & important details & paragraphs fit well together. Transitions used effectively between ideas & paragraphs. 4 - Excellent 3 - Good 2 - Fair 1 - Needs Improvement Writer knows topic really well Early Life, Significant Events, Contributions, Later Life, Char. Traits & Conclusion all included Many interesting details Contains a thorough Cover Page (see example in packet) Carefully organized with varied transitions Lead grabs reader's attention Conclusion works well Details & paragraphs are in right order Early Life, Significant Events, Contributions, Char. Traits & Conclusion all included Writer knows the topic Most details fit & are interesting Cover Page is missing or unclear Has some transitions Most parts of paper fit together Most details & paragraphs are in right order Missing ONE or more of the following: Early Life, Significant Events, Contributions, Char. Traits & Conclusion Writer doesn t know enough about the topic Needs more details Cover Page is missing or unclear Few transitions used Too many details are out of order Missing TWO or more of the following: Early Life, Significant Events, Contributions, Char. Traits & Conclusion Writer doesn't know topic Details lacking Ideas missing or don't make sense Cover Page is missing or unclear Paragraphs and/or transitions missing Too many details are out of order Ending is effective. Word Choice AND Sentence Fluency Writer uses appropriate descriptive vocabulary. The writing flows. Writer uses different beginnings & lengths for sentences. Has a variety of strong words Words create vivid pictures in reader's mind Has creative sentences of different kinds & lengths Sentences flow, making the writing enjoyable to read Writing has some strong words Some words create pictures in the reader's mind Sentences are different lengths Sentences have varied beginnings Sentences fit together well Too many dull, ordinary words Some words just don't fit Sentences are too short or too long Same beginnings used over and over Reader is confused & has to re-read for meaning Words don't show the writer's meaning Reader is confused by the writer's choice of words Not enough complete sentences Writing does not make sense Conventions The writer shows a clear understanding of & grammar. Has NO errors in & grammar Writing is easy to read Has FEW errors in & grammar Sounds correct when read aloud MANY errors in & grammar make the writing difficult to read Editing needed Capitalization, & grammar mistakes make the writing impossible to read & understanding. Major editing needed Bibliography Completed on a separate page (at the end of the report) All citations have all the required elements Most citations have all the required elements Some citations have all the required elements None of the citations have all the required elements

6 Biography Bibliography What is Plagiarism??? According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own to use (another's production) without crediting the source to commit literary theft to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source. In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward. To avoid plagiarism: take citation notes on every source you use put quotation marks around anything you copy exactly and include the author s name and the title of the publication. Paraphrase, according the Merriam- Webster Student Dictionary, is a way of stating something again by giving the meaning in different words. ALWAYS cite your sources Bibliography A bibliography is a list of the sources you used to get information for your report. It is included at the end of your report, on the last page (or last few pages). This can also be called a Bibliography page. You will find it easier to prepare your final Bibliography page if you keep track of each book, encyclopedia, website, or article you use as you are reading and taking notes. Start a preliminary, or draft, bibliography by listing on a separate sheet of paper all your sources. Note the full title, author, place of publication, publisher, and date of publication for each source. Also, every time a fact gets recorded on a note card, its source should be noted in the top right corner. When you are finished writing your paper, you can use the information on your note cards to doublecheck your bibliography. When assembling a final bibliography, list your sources (texts, articles, interviews, and so on) in alphabetical order by authors' last names. Sources that don't have authors (encyclopedias, movies) should be alphabetized by title. There are different formats for bibliographies/ bibliography, we will be using MLA format. A website that is very helpful if you are unsure is: librarians/shared%20do cuments/middle%20school%20mls.pdf

7 My Sources