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Unit 2: Nonfiction Biography Autobiography Memoir Biography • A biography is the story of a person’s life, written by someone else. • Biographies are often written about wellknown people. • Biographies can also be written about littleknown people who have had interesting lives. • In all cases, biographers must select the best details to convey what is remarkable about their subjects. Primary Sources • Writers of biographies rely on many sources to tell the story of a person’s life. • Primary sources provide first-hand accounts of the life experiences of the subject. • Primary sources of information – are original – come straight from individuals who experienced, witnessed, or participated in an event or activity. Primary Sources • Examples of primary sources include – – – – – – – – letters diaries/journals interviews photographs, films, or artwork genealogy records autobiographies business papers court documents Secondary Sources • Primary sources are not the only sources used to create a biography. • Secondary sources are second-hand accounts of the life experiences of the subject. • Secondary sources are based on the interpretation and analysis of primary sources. • Secondary sources are written by people who are removed from the life experiences of the subject. Secondary Sources • Examples of secondary sources include – – – – – – interviews other biographies specialized dictionaries encyclopedias textbooks newspaper and magazine articles Example of Biography • To write the biography of world-famous composer Hikari Oe, author Lindsley Cameron drew from primary sources, including – a book written by Hikari’s father – a memoir written by Hikari’s mother – interviews with Hikari’s parents and piano teacher • To see how Cameron wove information from her interviews with Hikari’s mother into the biography, go to the next slide. Example of Biography Hikari has been hearing music all his life. During her pregnancy, his mother listened to lots of Mozart. …And after he was born, to alleviate her depression, she played recordings of the works of her other favorite classical composers—Chopin and Beethoven, chiefly—over and over. “When he [Hikari] was a toddler, he loved Western classical music. He would listen to it for hours, perfectly absorbed. Whenever we wanted some peace, we’d just put a few symphonies on the record player, and we could be sure Pooh-chan [Hikari] wouldn’t bother us at all. All that time, I had no idea how unusual that was.” —from “Becoming a Composer,” by Lindsley Cameron Organization of Biographies • Biographies are typically organized chronologically. – This format allows readers to understand how life experiences have shaped the individual. • The chronological format can be seen in “Becoming a Composer.” – Cameron uses transitional phrases that move readers through Hikari’s life. – Examples include “when he was an infant,” “by the time he was a toddler,” and “at age eleven.” Understanding Biographies • A graphic organizer, such as a Time Line or Sequence Map, can help readers to better understand and analyze biographies. – A Time Line can help readers recognize the chronological order of the events in the subject’s life. – A Sequence Map can help readers follow and connect those events. • Consider the sample Sequence Map on the next slide. • The Sequence Map below has been filled out for “Becoming a Composer.” Hikari’s mother listens to music while pregnant. As a toddler, Hikari loves classical music. Hikari’s mother teaches him to play the piano. Hikari shows that he has perfect pitch. Hikari gets a new music teacher, Ms. Tamura. Hikari begins to compose his own music. Autobiography and Memoir • An autobiography is the story of a person’s life, written by that person. – This written account includes all or most of the significant experiences of the individual’s life. • A memoir is also the story of a person’s life, written by that person. – This written account extracts and focuses on one or more significant experiences of the individual’s life. Organization of Autobiography and Memoir • Like biographies, autobiographies typically follow chronological order. • Memoirs, however, may have less structured organizations. They often use – flashbacks, which interrupt time sequence and present events that occurred earlier or in the past and – foreshadowing, which provides a clue to events that will occur in the future or later in the story Example of Autobiography • In her autobiography Swimming to Antarctica, author Lynne Cox uses flashbacks to tell her story. – She begins in present time, describing her treacherous swim across the Bering Sea as it is happening. – She then flashes back to her childhood to explain her early interest in marathon swimming. • This format builds suspense and keeps readers wondering if Cox will be successful. Example of Memoir • In his memoir “The Teacher Who Changed My Life,” author Nicholas Gage traces his life as an immigrant. • Gage does not always describe the events in chronological order. • To keep track of the major events in an autobiography or memoir, readers can use a Sequence Map or a Time Line. • This Time Line outlines the events that Gage describes in his memoir. Gage is born in a Greek village. Gage moves to America to live with his father. 1948 1939 Gage’s mother is killed. Gage’s essay about his family’s experience wins a medal. 1957 1949 Gage meets Marjorie Hurd, his mentor and muse. Gage becomes editor of his high school paper. 1957 1957 1963 1960 Gage resolves to one day write his mother’s story. Gage wins the Hearst Award for College Journalism. If you were to write an autobiography, what major events would you want to include? Place them on the Time Line below. SUMMARY: Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir • Whether they are reading a biography, an autobiography, or a memoir, readers can – find out more about a person’s life – learn more about a person’s character – gain insight into themselves and the world around them