Images of Greatness Biography Project
Family Information and Overview
*If you have ANY questions about these requirements, please contact
Mrs. Wojciechowski at or for further information please see my classroom website at: http://www.dvusd.org/Page/7858
Please keep this guide for your reference through the project.
Overview
*Images of Greatness (IOG) is an investigative unit designed to help
students develop study habits and learning skills as well as understand human
characteristics that have the power to change. This project will require depth
of research and thought.
*The time allotment for IOG is approximately Eight weeks. Skills to support
the required research and completion of other work requirements will be taught
in class. However, much of the research and additional tasks will require
additional support from home.
*Each student will select a famous, eminent person in whom s/he is
interested. These persons may be men and women from any field and time
period. The person chosen must be someone the student believes has made an important and positive contribution to society.
*By completing extensive research, students will become experts on the
chosen person. The activities they complete and the products they create will
help them demonstrate and convey the knowledge they have gained.
While more than one student may wish to choose the same person to
study, the class as a whole will most benefit from learning about a wide variety
of eminent figures. Therefore, whenever possible, it is preferred that each
student choose a different subject to study. Since each student is responsible for
his/her own independent study, team projects will not be allowed.
Objectives
§ Students will become more aware of personalities that have the power to
affect change.
§ Students will learn how other people use their gifts and talents to benefit
mankind.
§ Students will improve their research skills by utilizing both primary and
secondary resources in writing biographies.
§ Students will demonstrate knowledge of the people they are researching
by assuming the voice of their subjects in an oral presentation before an
audience.
§ Students will utilize multiple intelligences by choosing a creative display
from a product menu.
§ Students will gain understanding of and will practice and demonstrate
skills, concepts, and attitudes related to lifelong learning.
Project Requirements
§ Research, record notes, and study about the life of a selected eminent
person
§ Write a 5-paragraph biography of that person, including a bibliography
§ Plan and prepare a costume that “suggests” that person (does not have
to be elaborate)
§ Plan and present a short oral presentation of that person “in character”
before an audience
Point Values
§ Research worksheet—50 classwork pts
§ 5 paragraph biography—100 writing pts
§ Oral presentation and costume-75 project pts
Timeline
Dates: January 9th-March 10th, 2017
January 9th-10th
Introduction to the project. Select a person to research. Have a biography or autobiography in class by the 17th of January.
January 17thth--Proposal Due—Reliable resources, plagiarism definitions, and online research of biography information
Dates: January 31st- Continue research and begin working on rough draft essay.
Dates: February 7th-Continue working on rough draft essay
Dates: February 14th-Continue working on rough draft essay
Dates: February 21st-Rough draft due/bibliography page in class
Dates: February 28th- Bibliography/final draft
Dates: March 10th-Final draft and all components due today
Dates: March 13th-Begin in class presentations
*Please note: Students should be reading their chosen biographies for approximately 30 minutes a day the first two weeks. Time will not be allotted in class unless the student has finished their apportioned work for the class period; student may use their DSS/Homeroom time to read have no other work to complete or the reading must be done AT HOME.
Research person inside and outside of class
Take notes about person’s history for report
ONGOING IN CLASS: Compose 5-paragraph report rough draft essay using the ChromeBooks given above dates. While essays may be saved online using GoogleDocs, use of a flash drive may be wise to avoid loss of work.
Date: February 21st
Rough draft of biography due at the end of class. Students are expected to review their papers and make necessary edits/modifications. Adult support in editing the rough draft at home is suggested and appreciated.
Suggested format of the five-paragraph report:
q Title page (MLA Format)
Name
Teacher
Class
Date
q Introduction paragraph (paragraph #1 minimum: 5 sentences): Why this person is important
q Early life paragraph (paragraph #2 minimum: 6-8 sentences): Family background, important childhood experiences, family life (2 quotes are required)
q Education paragraph (paragraph #3 minimum: 6-8 sentences): Early education, higher education, important/significant events (2 quotes are required)
q Accomplishments paragraph (paragraph #4 minimum: 6-8 sentences): Important events, challenges, career information (2 quotes are required)
q Conclusion paragraph (paragraph #5 minimum: 4 sentences): Why this person is remembered as a creative producer, a change agent, or a positive contributor to society.
q Works Cited Page (on a separate page)
Be certain to use easybib.com for correct MLA formatting.
Dates: Monday, March 13th, 2017
Outside of class:
Continue to practice/polish oral presentation.
Gather costume and prepare anything else necessary for the presentation.
In class:
Practice presentation in front of a peer support group
Date: Tuesday, March 14th, 2017
FINAL PROJECT DUE. In class presentations.
Some TIPS before students begin IOG…
Students may need some help to decide whose biography they will research
and write.
They will need to learn enough about the person initially to make a wise choice.
Students will be spending a good deal of time on this person, so his/her life
should be intriguing.
Students will want to see if there is enough good information readily available
(school/public library, internet) on the person BEFORE they make their choices
and begin.
The Research Process
To help organize the information, students may utilize their interactive student notebook (ISN).
Students need to use a MINIMUM of four sources to gather information.
AT LEAST one source must be a book. No Wikipedia.
Research Requirements
Books: Find and read printed books in the library that are devoted to the
person. As you read, make notes on information in the various categories you
have chosen to research.
Electronic Encyclopedia: Do a keyword search (not a topic search) for the
person and read more than the main introductory article. See where the person
is mentioned in other articles. Summarize key findings and record them on note
cards.
Internet: Visit sites on the Internet. As a starting point, sites are linked from the
Biomaker website www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/biomaker.htm
Speech Format
During the presentation day, students will prepare for an in-character presentation wearing a costume.
To prepare for the interactive speech, students should write three juicy questions on a note card (to be passed out to the audience) and be able to answer each question (student may use note cards for support in answering the questions).
The speech should include:
ü Three pre-formed questions (from audience) and answers (from student)
ü Students should be in-character and speak in first person as the subject of
their study
ü The speech should be a summary of their essay. Students may utilize a significant quote and a short explanation of it as an opening or introduction to their speech.