Week 6

Question 1

Complete Biography

Answer 1

covers the entire life of the subject.

Question 2

The Purpose of the Biography

Answer 2

The goal of the biographer ought to be… “to
breathe life and meaning into people and events
that are dead and gone.”
– Russell Freedman, author
Lincoln: A Photobiography

Question 3

Types of Biographies

Answer 3

Authentic Biography
Fictionalized Biography
Biographical Fiction
Picture Book Biographies
Simplified Biographies
Autobiographies

Question 4

Authentic Biography

Answer 4

Information is obtained 
through:
– Eyewitness accounts
– Written documents
– Letters
– Diaries
– Audio and videotape 
recordings
The focus is on facts; 
accuracy is of utmost 
importance.

Question 5

Fictionalized Biography

Answer 5

Is based on careful research.
Creates dramatic episodes 
from known facts.
Dialogue is usually an 
indicator or this type.
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by 
Jean Lee Lathan

Question 6

Biographical Fiction

Answer 6

Allows MUCH more artistic 
license than fictionalized 
biography.
Reports known achievements 
of the subject.
Ben and Me by Robert 
Lawson (“Me” is Amos the 
Mouse)

Question 7

Autobiographies

Answer 7

Author writes about his
or her own life.
-A Girl from Yam Hill by
Beverly Cleary

Question 8

Picture Book Biographies

Answer 8

Are intended for young 
and early intermediate 
readers.
Are brief, more 
illustration than text.
Focuses on the 
highlights of the subject’s 
life.

Question 9

Simplified Biographies

Answer 9

Are aimed at 
intermediate readers.
May be short chapter 
books.
Do not have inclusive 
content.

Question 10

Partial biographies

Answer 10

focuses on one time period of the subject’s life, typically the era for which they
are well known.

Question 11

Collected biography

Answer 11

a biography that gives brief coverage on the
lives of subjects who share a
common characteristic, such as
the presidents of the U. S.

Question 12

Evaluating Biographies

Answer 12

The writing style should be excellent.
– Criteria for good literature: plot, theme, style, point of view,
characterization, setting
Authenticity is of utmost importance. Authors must use sound research
methods to ensure accuracy.
The author should be objective in presenting information about the subject.
There should be a balance between fact and story line.
Books should be developmentally appropriate for the age of the intended
audience.
Attractive book design and layout enhance the book’s contents

Question 13

Russell Freedman

Answer 13

Russell Freedman writes using 
the format of a photobiography:
– Lincoln: A 
Photobiography
– Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt
– The Wright Brothers
– The Life and Death of 
Crazy Horse
– Eleanor Roosevelt: A 
Life of Discovery

Question 14

Jean Fritz

Answer 14

Jean Fritz uses an appropriate 
blend of facts and story as 
shown in:
– What’s the Big Idea, Ben 
Franklin?
– Will You Sign Here, John 
Hancock?
– Traitor—The Case of 
Benedict Arnold
– You Want Women to 
Vote, Lizzie Staton?

Question 15

Diane Stanley

Answer 15

Authors intermediate 
picture book biographies:
– Peter the Great
– Good Queen Bess
– Michaelangelo

Question 16

Informational Book

Answer 16

Books:
whose text is composed of documented 
facts.
whose purpose is to inform. 
which utilize expository writing.

Question 17

Structure

Answer 17

Description – characteristics of the topic
Sequence – lists items in order, chronologically or
numerically
Comparison – compares two or more items and
lists similarities and differences
Cause and effect – states an action then shows
the effect or result
Problem and solution (also q and a) author states
a problem and its solution or solutions

Question 18

THEME

Answer 18

The main point made in the book. Answers

the question, “What’s the point?”

Question 19

STYLE

Answer 19

How authors and illustrators express themselves
in their own media: sentence length and
complexity, word choice, and formal versus
conversational tone. Also the use of photographs,
diagrams, etc.

Question 20

Quality informational

books should include:

Answer 20

clear writing, 
current and accurate facts,
personification and 
stereotyping are avoided
attractive format
a simple to complex, 
known to unknown, 
general to specific 
progression.

Question 21

NCTE’s Orbis Pictus

Answer 21

promotes and recognizes excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.

Question 22

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book

Medal

Answer 22

awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.

Question 23

Research about nonfiction tells us …

Answer 23

The presence of nonfiction texts and the use
of nonfiction in classes were rare. (Duke, 2000)
U. S. students’ comprehension of nonfiction is
significantly lower than reading fiction. (Mullis,
Martin, Gonzalez & Kennedy, 2003)
Students with experience reading nonfiction
had higher average reading proficiencies than
those who never read nonfiction. (Campbell,
Kapinus, & Beatty, 1995)