Exploring the Art of Biography (Grade 12 ELA)
This worksheet explores the genre of biography, focusing on its purpose, conventions, and the critical analysis of biographical texts.
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Exploring the Art of Biography
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Read each question carefully and provide thoughtful, detailed responses. This worksheet will assess your understanding of biographical writing.
Excerpt from 'Steve Jobs' by Walter Isaacson:
“His parents were both graduate students at the University of Wisconsin. His father, Abdulfattah Jandali, was a Syrian Muslim who had grown up in Homs before immigrating to the United States for graduate studies. His mother, Joanne Schieble, was an American Catholic of Swiss-German descent. They met in a political science class. Schieble became pregnant in 1954, and her parents, who were conservative, forbade her from marrying Jandali. She traveled to San Francisco to give birth, and on February 24, 1955, she delivered a boy whom she put up for adoption. A few days later, he was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs of Mountain View, California.”
1. Based on the excerpt, what key detail about Steve Jobs' birth parents is highlighted?
They were both successful entrepreneurs.
They were graduate students from different cultural backgrounds.
They were married and living in San Francisco.
They decided to raise Steve Jobs in Wisconsin.
2. A biography is a detailed account of a person's life, written by .
3. One key element of a compelling biography is the use of primary and secondary to ensure accuracy.
4. Autobiographies are written by the subject themselves, while biographies are written by someone else.
True
False
5. Discuss the ethical considerations a biographer must navigate when writing about a living person versus a deceased person.
Match the term with its definition:
6. Hagiography
a. A biography that focuses on the subject's professional achievements.
7. Biography
b. A biography that idealizes its subject, often overlooking flaws.
8. Memoir
c. A detailed account of a person's life written by another.
9. Professional Biography
d. A narrative written from personal memory, often focusing on a specific period or theme.
10. Analyze how a biographer's perspective, research methods, and narrative choices can shape the reader's understanding of the subject. Provide examples from biographies you have read or are familiar with.