Orchard Farms Elementary School Library: Grade 4: Biography

What is a biography?

A biography is a detailed description of someone's life written by someone else. 

A biography is an extended piece of writing that details the life of a specific person, that they did not write themselves.

Biographies that are written by the subject themselves are called autobiographies.

Features of a Biography

Biographies can be written in a variety of ways, focussing on the whole life of the person or just on a specific event.

However, most biographies share common features:

• They should be factual and accurate
• They should explore some of the context of that person's life, including their family situation, childhood and any events that influenced them.
• Explore wider context where relevant, including cultural events, political figures and anything else that could relate to their future success or stature
• They are written in the present tense.