Homework for week of February 24

Monday: You will continue to read two hours by Friday. We'll have some time in class to complete this work. In addition, you should catch up/Revise journals. They are due Friday.  Lastly, begin outline. Due block day.
Tuesday:
1. Finish reading and annotating or taking notes on one profile from the New Yorker:
 Profile on Taylor Swift
Profile on Taylor Swift
Profile on Manny Ramirez
Profile on Barack Obama
Profile on J.K. Rowling
Think about what the writer is doing to portray the subject and, again, what "moves" the writer uses to move the story along. Where does it begin? How does the writer create suspense or tension? How does the writer incorporate "backstory" or history?

2. Outline due on block day.
Block day: Complete biography journals.
Friday: Read! Complete at least 500 words on your biography draft.

Biography samples and reminder of timeline and requirements

As we get ready to write, I thought I would post some exemplars here. If you need the overview of the project, as well as the timeline, here it is: Overview and Timeline

Here is a sample from a college course on Feature Writing:
Short sample mentor text

Here are samples from last year of students who exceeded the standard in both research and writing:
Biography Exemplar A
Biography Exemplar B
Biography Exemplar C

Before you write, you will generate a question which will frame your biography. It may be centered around an event or it could focus on the role that person played in the family. Usually the question begins with "How" or "Why". Here are a few examples:

How does a person overcome addiction?
How does tragedy impact a person's relationships with others?
How does a close-knit family affect a person's response to life's challenges?
 

Then, you will write a detailed outline, thinking about the sections of your paper and then what key points or ideas you will cover. The more detailed this outline is (specific quotes and evidence), the easier the drafting will become.

Homework for the week of February 10

Monday: Continue to read a total of two hours for Friday. (If you read over the weekend, this counts towards your goal.)
Block day:
1. Find two articles from a reliable source that could enhance your biography. Annotate or take notes. (Make sure to add this entry to your works cited page. )
Read two hours. Both assignments are due Friday.
Friday: Work on outline for biography paper. Due Monday, February 24.

Homework for week of February 3

Your work this week is an extension of last week:
1. You will need to read a total of two hours on your independent reading book. Due block day.
2. The remaining interviews and transcriptions are due Friday. You should have about 90 minutes from your primary subject and two 30 minute interviews from secondary sources.  Due Friday.