Biography
1
Focus on the Genre
Biography
What is a biography?
A biography
tells the person’s
date and place of
birth.
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What is the purpose of biographies?
A biography tells
about the person’s
family, childhood,
and important
events.
A biography
starts with a
strong “hook.”
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How do you read a biography?
A biography
describes the
person’s impact
on the world.
Features
of a
Biography
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A biography
describes
the person’s
personality and
characteristics.
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A biography
quotes the
person and/or
people who knew
the person.
o m p a n y
Who writes biographies?
d u c a t i o n
c
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e n c h m a r k
e
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The reader learns something
about Alvarez’s early years.
in the universe is made up of
always loved science. During high
subatomic particles. A bubble
school, he worked in the machine
chamber is a machine that enables
shop at a medical center. There,
people to study these particles.
Alvarez learned that he loved to
Alvarez helped build a bigger
build machines, too.
bubble chamber. For that, he won
Alvarez became a physicist. He
studied matter, energy, force, and
The author tells about Alvarez’s
major achievement.
the Nobel Prize.
In his acceptance speech,
motion. He built machines that
Alvarez talked about why people
measure energy and developed
study physics. He said one reason
radar systems to help planes land
was the “dream of finding new
safely. Alvarez worked with nuclear
secrets in nature as important and
energy. Interestingly, Alvarez
as exciting as those uncovered
x-rayed a pyramid to see if a
by our scientific heroes.” Today,
treasure was hidden inside. Maybe
physicists must feel that way
you’ve read Alvarez’s theory about
about him!
The author quotes Alvarez’s
powerful words.
o m p a n y
The reader learns about
Alvarez’s passion for science.
in 1911. He died in 1988. Alvarez
c
The author tells the reader where
and when Alvarez was born.
seen with a microscope. Everything
d u c a t i o n
Alvarez was born in California
particles, which are too small to be
e
highest honors for a scientist.
Alvarez also studied subatomic
e n c h m a r k
won the Nobel Prize. It is one of the
why the dinosaurs disappeared.
B
The hook grabs the reader’s
attention.
Luis Alvarez was a physicist who
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Biography
2
Luis Alvarez
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Benjamin Franklin
Biography
3
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding
Fathers of the United States. Franklin was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1706. He died in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1790. He helped
the colonies break away from England and
helped bring democracy to America. But did
you know that he was also an inventor?
Franklin was busy, but he always found time
to invent things. Some of his inventions are
still used today. He invented the Franklin stove,
A wire connects the rod to the ground. The rod
of eyeglasses. Bifocals have two lenses in each
attracts lightning, which contains electricity.
frame. The bottom lenses help people see things
Lightning hits the rod and electricity travels
up close; the top lenses help people see things
safely down the wire and into the ground.
far away. Franklin invented bifocals because he
Lightning rods are still used today to protect
needed them himself!
buildings from being damaged by electricity or
was always experimenting!
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is how he invented the lightning rod, a
catching on fire. It’s good for us that Franklin
e n c h m a r k
Franklin was always experimenting. That
c
If you have bifocals, you don’t need two pairs
d u c a t i o n
metal rod that attaches to the top of a building.
e
than a fireplace. He also invented bifocals.
o m p a n y
which provides more heat and uses less wood
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Biography
4
Make Connections Across Texts
Luis Alvarez
Benjamin Franklin
How are the subjects of
each biography alike?
How are the subjects of
each biography different?
What features of the
genre does each biography
o m p a n y
include?
d u c a t i o n
c
Why should people
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B
e n c h m a r k
e
read these biographies?
©©2010
2010 BBenchmark
enchmark eeducation
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company
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LLc •• GWP087
GWP021
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