Biography/Autobiography Research Project

Print and paperless: Engage and motivate your learners with this differentiated biography/autobiography project idea that could be an ideal stand-alone mini project or an extension activity when teaching the biography/autobiography genre. This document develops three ESL skills/competencies: oral interaction (speaking), reinvestment of information from text (reading) and writing.

UPDATE OCTOBER 2020: A link to the paperless version is also included in the file, so this resource is now available in PDF, PPT, and Google Slides™ options.

⭐Some preparation required: printing the online biography and making enough copies for your students, so they can complete the reading comprehension task before carrying out the biography/autobiography project.

⭐The downloaded file includes:

• Teacher directions
• Information about the biography genre (text type), so you can teach or review structure before asking learners to carry out this project.
• Reading comprehension activity: mentor text online - clickable link provided. (Please note that you need to print out the text and make enough copies for your students).
• Famous people - speaking activity (matching famous people's name with the right image - answer key provided)
• Famous people's biography - second reading comprehension activity and research work
• Project - writing activity (Students may choose from three options: presenting a famous person, presenting a person they admire or personally know, or writing a detached autobiography (Option 3 is more suitable for advanced learners).
• Planning sheet with guiding questions
• Writing sheets for rough draft and students' final copy
• Writing checklist - self, peer and teacher assessment
• Assessment grid for written production

This project booklet has been designed for individual work; however, students may carry out the activities in pairs or small teams, as well.

⭐Use this project workbook as:

• creative project assignment (Assign it as individual or group project.)
• assignment for extra credit
• extension activity
• mini research unit on the biography/autobiography genre

⭐Assessment of the written production:

• The included rubric has been designed to assess two of the ESL competencies (Québec ESL program): C2 - Reinvests understanding and C3 - Writes and produces texts. However, you might simply use the part which evaluates only writing skills (content and formulation of the message) if you do not wish to assess reinvestment of understanding.

⭐FILE DETAILS: Paper size: 8.5" x 11" (Standard US Letter). Documents are not editable unless otherwise stated. Resources are available either in a PDF or PPT file.

❤️SATISFACTION: Before downloading a product, read the product description and check out the preview document to determine if the resource is appropriate for your students. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

✨TERMS OF USE: ©️ Versatile Teacher Toolkit - ESL and ELA Resources. All rights reserved.

For personal or educational use. You may make copies for your personal or classroom use. Sharing, posting, redistributing, or selling this resource or any part of it on the Internet is prohibited.