7th Grade Biography Book Report

1st Trimester Book Report
Biography or Autobiography

Each student is required to complete one book report per trimester. Presentation of the book reports for 1st trimester will be on the following Fridays: 10/8, 10/13 (WEDNESDAY), 10/22, 11/5, or 11/12. You must sign up for your date of choice by 9/10.

The report will have two components; an organizer (this sheet) which will be graded as homework and the completed report which will count as a test score.

ORGANIZER (Homework Score)

_____ 5 points Book Choice
_____ 5 points Parent Signature
_____ 5 points Check-In Day
_____ 5 points Book Notes (Post-It notes)
_____ 5 points Historical Research

_____ 25 points TOTAL

Biography Reading Notes

Directions: As you read your biography, you are expected to take notes every time you read. Notes should be put in the book-not somewhere separate. For note taking you should:

 Put Post-It notes directly in the book (on the pages where you found the information).
 Write on the Post-it note before you place it in the book and include a page number in case it falls out of its location.

You should be looking for the following things to take notes on...
• Important life events of your subject.
• Funny or interesting stories about your subject.
• Events directly related to the main career of your person.
o EX: Reading about an actor and you read that they were the star of the Kindergarten play.
• Events that were occurring in the world that affected your person's life, if not their career.
o EX: Reading your subject had to move because there country was at war. (the war is a significant world event for your timeline)
• Significant quotes from your person's own mouth.
• Personal Reactions:
o Confusing information (questions)
o Things that relate or differ from your own life
o Other connections you make

TIPS:
• Use the larger sized Post-it notes so that you have room to record your thoughts on them before you place them in your book.
• Put the page number (based on where you found the detail or fact or made the connection) to help you keep track of where the notes belongs if you should take it out.
• YOU SHOULD put your ideas in your own words. Do not copy word for word from the book, unless it is a quote.
• You do not need to write everything on the Post-it, just the main points (you can fill in the details later when you do the time line because you have placed your note on the page with the extra information.
• Use a code in the bottom corner of your Post-it to tell you what it deals with. Examples:
o LE - Life event of your person
o C - Personal connection
o A star - for your favorite facts about the person

CRITERIA (Test Score)

_____ 30 points 5-Paragraph Essay (use your Post-It notes)
Paragraph 1: Introduction - give basic background information on the person. Consider using a direct quote from the person.
Paragraphs 2, 3, 4: Body of the essay that discusses the events of the person's life.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion - explain why you believe this person should be remembered.

_____ 30 points Timeline
Include at least 10 events from the biography/autobiography and at least 5 historical events that also took place during the person's life. Each of the events on your timeline needs to be in the correct order and fully explained. You should use your own words.

_____ 20 points Interview
Write an imaginary interview between you and the person the biography/autobiography was based on.
1. Think of 4 (or more) questions you would like to ask that person.
2. Write the question you would ask, and then write imaginary answers as if you were the person from the biography. 2 points for each question and 3 points for each answer.

_____ 10 points Pictures
You must have 10 pictures. Each picture should have a caption.

_____ 10 points Presentation to the Class
Your oral presentation should be well rehearsed showing that you know your material! I will be watching and listening to be sure you have appropriate eye-contact and volume. (Extra credit - dress as your character for your presentation).