A biography is a life story. Often about famous people, a biography can also be about someone ordinary. A biography can vividly recreate past times, historical events or personal accomplishments.
Instructions
1. Choose a person to write about. Consider what makes a person special or interesting. This could be a person who changed the world or an ordinary person who overcame personal obstacles. Write about an ancient person long ago dead or about a person still alive.
2. Determine whether the biography is a short or long one. A short biography is only going to give facts about the person's life. It may include the key or important events. A long biography is a much more detailed and interesting story with a plot. It describes thoughts and feelings experienced at different times.
3. Research the person. Biographers use primary and secondary sources. Primary sources come straight from the person or time. Primary sources are things like interviews, diaries or letters. Secondary sources are things like other biographies, history book and encyclopedias.
4. Interview those who have knowledge of the subject. If the subject is still alive, try to get an interview. Interview people who knew the subject personally. If the subject passed away long ago, interview experts about the subject or historical time.
5. Consider other important things in the person's life. This will help find the interesting story. Think about the effect this person had on the world, what events shaped their life, what obstacles had to be overcome and risks that had to be taken.
6. Write the biography. Most biographies are written in chronological order. Remember all the conventions of writing. If it is a long biography, try to put it into the form of a story, with a climax and resolution at the end.
Tags: about person, interesting story, long biography, person life, Primary sources