Students will
1. | Have the class brainstorm a list of American authors from your prior readings, along with any other American authors that they would like to include. |
2. | Ask each student to select one author to research. Be sure that there are no duplications within a class. As students make their selections, have them sign-up on your master list. |
3. | Have students visit the school library or media center to find and select biographies on their authors, or provide a list of preapproved biographies from which students can choose. |
4. | Direct students to begin a , filling out what they about the author and what they to know. [While reading the biographies and researching their authors, they will continue filling out this chart with what they and what they want to know.] |
5. | Hand out and discuss the , previewing the project and supplying dates for the author mixer and panel presentations. |
1. | Instruct each student to keep a log while reading the biography to include important details about the author's life, interesting incidents, and at least five favorite quotes. [Logs should be collected and reviewed three times during the time allotted for reading the biographies.] |
2. | Remind students to continue updating their with information they and want to know while reading. |
3. | Direct students to create timelines of the authors' lives. Distribute and review the to make sure that students understand your expectations for this part of the project. They should begin by taking notes on key events, and then use the interactive to arrange the information on a graphic organizer. The finished timeline should be printed and brought in on the day of the author mixer. |
4. | Each student will need to create a visual display for his or her author. While reading, they can begin working on this part of the project by reviewing the and beginning to compile their materials. The visual display will need to be completed and used as part of the panel presentation. |
5. | Students should begin thinking about how they will portray their authors with costumes or props during the author mixer and panel presentation. |
6. | Students should begin supplemental research on their authors using the Internet. Depending on the students' technology level, this research may be done at home or in the media center or computer lab with guided assistance. Possible websites to explore include: . This site includes biographies of women who contributed to our culture. Searching by subject, students can narrow the list to women known for their "literature and poetry." . Students can access a collection of teacher-reviewed websites on a select group of American writers. . By searching for "American writer," this site provides a selection of close to 300 authors. . This site features slightly longer biographies and a section on each subject's most notable works or milestones. Students can browse "Literature" to find a selection of writers. Students can also use other print resources to supplement their biography research. As they are working, they should complete the form to verify the accuracy and credibility of each source, and refer to the to gather and organize their notes. |
7. | Student will write biopoems about their authors (see the sheet) and complete the for use later in the lesson when meeting with their groups about the panel presentation. |
1. | When the biography readings, timelines, and logs are complete, remind students of the author mixer. |
2. | Have the class meet in a room with plenty of space for students to walk around and mingle. Remind students to stay "in character" throughout the session. As they greet each other, they should introduce themselves as the authors, and then either quote a few significant passages or give brief information about their authors. [Note: Birth and death dates or other "dry" data should not be used during the author mixer.] |
3. | Allow students to mingle in this way for a few minutes and then call "freeze," at which time students should pair up with another author and discuss one or more of the following questions: [These questions have been prepared in advance, but you may also have students brainstorm a list of questions to use during the author mixer instead.] |
4. | After each author has shared for 1 to 2 minutes, students can begin to mingle again until they are told to "freeze." Each time the class "freezes," students must find a different author partner. |
5. | Allow a full session for this activity, or as long as it takes for students to "meet and greet" all of the other authors. |
1. | After the author mixer, instruct students to gather in groups of four to five students each (depending on class size), with other authors that they would like to learn more about or that their authors would find intriguing or controversial. |
2. | Have students in each group read aloud their biopoems and use the previously completed biography project discussion questions and timelines to share additional information about their authors. [Collect and display the biopoems and timelines on an "author wall."] |
3. | Distribute the and review the expectations for this part of the project. Ask students if they have any questions before beginning work in their groups. |
4. | Students should work together in their groups to prepare scripts to use during their panel presentations (see the ). Scripts will be collected after the presentation. |
5. | Assist groups in developing questions or topics that their authors can respond to during the panel presentation. Groups may elect to focus their discussion on a single issue such as "freedom and slavery" or the "American dream," revealing each author's attitude toward that topic. Other possible themed panel topics include: |
6. | Have each group designate one author as the host for the "show," with the other authors appearing as guests. |
7. | On the day of the presentation, students should bring their costumes or props to again portray their authors. Set up desks at the front of the room for the presenting authors to sit, and ask the "audience" to take notes on each author as the presentations are given. For further involvement, you may have students in the "audience" use a graphic organizer to compare and show relationships between authors and ideas. In addition, have students display their visuals on the "author wall" or set up an area for students to arrange their projects so that others can see them. |
Have each student write a brief biographical sketch about his or her author. The essays on the U.S. Literary Map Project website can serve as models for students' work. Allow students to explore the site, but also provide them with guidelines for their assignment (i.e., the Essay Rubric ), since the online samples vary in length and content. You might ask students to write their essays as if they were going to submit them to the site. While writing of the essay can be done for homework, set aside part of one class session for peer editing. Students should use the Peer-Editing Sheet and the Essay Rubric to guide their evaluations. A final copy of each essay should be submitted both electronically and as a hard copy. After you review the essays and have students make any further revisions, as needed, upload them to the website per the instructions provided.
As extensions to this project, you can have students use the online Bio-Cube tool to summarize what they have learned about their authors. They can then:
Students generate descriptive timelines and can include images in the description.
Customstyles.
“There is properly no history; only biography.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson The capstone offers an opportunity for students to engage in the challenges of writing historical biography. We reflect on the ways that biographers explore individual lives in the context of wider historical forces – how biographers connect the public and private lives of their subjects, and how they engage in careful historical research to craft engaging narratives. We begin by reading and discussing award-winning historical biographies alongside more theoretical discussions of the craft of biography. Students then undertake original historical research on an individual of their own choosing. Together, through our weekly meetings, we form an enthusiastic and supportive writing workshop. — Ariane Liazos, Faculty
This course builds on the work done in HIST E-597b . Students use the research and writing skills they have developed to produce a sample chapter of a biography, one that could be submitted as part of a book proposal, or a biographical article for an academic journal. Students include a bibliography and endnotes with their final submission. This semester predominantly consists of workshops of student writing-in-progress; students are evaluated on the feedback they provide for each other.
Ariane Liazos, PhD Lecturer in Extension, Harvard University
Precapstone Course: HIST E-597b Precapstone: Historical Biography Capstone Course: HIST E-599b Capstone: Historical Biography
U.S. News & World Report
June 25, 2024, 8:00 PM
A professional bio can help you stand out from the crowd by showcasing who you are and what you strive for in your work. However, writing a professional biography for potential employers, clients, colleagues or networking is easier said than done. It can feel awkward to write about yourself and fluently express your contributions.
Here are essential elements for any professional bio:
— Your name and professional title
— What you do in your current position
— Your branding statement
— One to two outstanding professional accomplishments with measurable results
— One to two details to describe your personality
You may post your professional bio on your personal website, your personal blog, your company’s website, your professional portfolio, your LinkedIn “about” section, your Facebook business page or another social media site such as Instagram.
While the length of your bio will vary depending on where you aim to publish it, this outline of elements will help you create a complete bio. For example, if you post your bio in your “about” section on LinkedIn , you are limited to about 2,000 characters. Your website might include a lengthier bio, but a short professional bio works best on social media pages.
[ READ: Job Skills to List on Your Resume (And What to Exclude) ]
How to Start a Biography
You may know who you are professionally, but it can be hard to articulate this clearly and precisely, especially in writing. To start, outline what you want to include in your bio using the elements above. You can use your resume and other documents where you’ve tracked professional accomplishments to help you, but avoid copying and pasting.
You can also look up the professional bios of successful professionals whom you admire. What impresses you about their bios? Take note of the elements that stand out to you and use them as inspiration for your own bio.
To help you come across authentically, think about what you would say out loud to someone if they asked you about the items on the list above. For example, how would you explain your job or branding statement? Write it down. This can help you to “see” your voice on paper.
Generally, a professional bio should be written in third person , especially if it’s for a company website. However, there are exceptions. For example, your “about” section on LinkedIn should be written in first person.
Here are some additional details to include on your professional bio.
Your Name and Professional Title
Include your full name and your title. For example: John Doe, Marketing Director. If you don’t have a job, list your last job title or certifications .
What You Do in Your Current Position
This helps the reader understand if your experience would be a good fit for their organization. For example: John specializes in all forms of digital marketing, including social media marketing, online advertising and search engine optimization.
Your Branding Statement
A branding statement is a sentence or two that reflects your professional values and how you stand out from others in the industry. For example: John is diligent and adapts seamlessly to evolving processes and technologies. This allows him to provide the best service to his customers.
Outstanding Professional Accomplishments
Listing a few accomplishments allows readers to understand your level of expertise and how you positively contribute to your organization or industry. Examples could include how you helped your company save money, increased visibility or attained positive results for your clients.
Personal Details
Including a few personal details can help a reader connect with you on a more personal level. This may make them more likely to reach out to you. Examples could include hobbies, pets or interesting details about your background that you feel comfortable sharing.
[ See: Red Flag Phrases to Leave Off Your Resume. ]
How to Write a Bio for Work
If your company has asked you to write a professional bio for its website, make sure you include the requested elements. If you are unsure, ask your supervisor for additional information. Also, check your company’s “about” page and note what others have included in their bios. Try to follow the same format and order of information. Once you have finished your professional bio, ask someone you trust to proofread it for grammatical errors and clarity.
Sean McLoughlin, vice president of operations at the executive search firm HireMinds, recommends always writing your corporate bio with the company in mind. “If you have been with the company for a significant amount of time, your short professional bio should highlight achievements within the company. If you’re new to the organization, they should be written highlighting why you’re going to be successful in your new role,” he said in an email.
Professional Bio Examples
Here are a few examples of what a short professional bio could look like:
1. Physician Sample Bio
James Oliver is an empathetic family medicine physician leveraging 10-plus years of experience promoting health and improving the quality of patients through changes in research, medical education and patient care across organizations and the community. He’s known for his innovative, tactical thinking and authentic, influential leadership style. He’s also skilled in building the relationships, consensus and strategic partnerships needed to move large-scale and challenging initiatives forward.
2. Graphic Designer Sample Bio
Amy Lin is a freelance graphic designer known for her creative thinking and attention to detail. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Amy specializes in translating complex ideas into compelling visual narratives. She has a background in visual arts and has worked on diverse projects ranging from logo designs to website layouts. In her free time, Amy likes to find inspiration for her art in nature, travel, dance and music.
3. Software Engineer Sample Bio
Lucy Michaels is a senior software engineer at Meta who works closely with product and design teams to build innovative application experiences for the iOS platform. Her technical prowess spans from backend systems architecture to frontend user interface design, with a strong focus on optimizing performance and usability. She’s also well-versed in various programming languages and frameworks like C++, Ruby on Rails, Python and Java. On the weekends, Lucy enjoys going on hikes and training Muay Thai.
4. Human Resources Sample Bio
Michael Sanchez is a human resources professional with three years of experience in talent acquisition and HR operations. His empathetic approach and strong communication skills make him a go-to person for resolving issues and boosting team morale. He’s also played a key role in building high-performing teams and is known for his strong interpersonal skills and ability to create a supportive work environment. With him on board, you can expect a workplace where people feel valued and empowered to shine.
5. Sales Sample Bio
Sarah David is a tech sales specialist known for her talent in building strong client relationships and driving revenue growth. She has a solid background in the tech industry and excels at understanding customer needs and consistently exceeding quota each month. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys doing yoga and roller skating.
6. First-Person Sample Bio
Hi! My name is Tracy Jones. I’m a content marketing specialist passionate about helping brands connect authentically with their audiences through compelling storytelling and well-defined content strategies. Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of working with leading brands, including tech giants like Microsoft and startups like Airbnb, to help them create engaging blog posts and social media campaigns. In my free time, I enjoy learning Spanish and spending time with my three cats.
[ Read: How to Highlight Interpersonal Skills in Interviews and Resumes. ]
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your Professional Bio
— Being too generic. Always tailor your bio to reflect your unique skills and avoid using clichés or generic statements that don’t differentiate you from others in your field. “Nobody expects a generalist to solve their issues,” Sharon Rose Hayward, a women’s career coach and founder at Winning at Work, said in an email.
— Exaggerating or misrepresenting. Exaggerating your accomplishments or misrepresenting your achievements won’t do you any good and could damage your reputation. Be truthful when describing your skills and experiences.
— Not updating regularly. Don’t use outdated information that no longer reflects your current professional status and make sure to update your professional bio periodically.
— Committing grammar mistakes. A bio riddled with errors gives the impression that you’re careless and lack attention to detail. Always triple-check your professional bio before publishing, and consider asking a friend or colleague to proofread it.
— Using industry or location-specific abbreviations or acronyms. Industry jargon and location-specific abbreviations or acronyms likely mean nothing to your readers. “Leaving someone wanting to know more because they’re interested is different than creating confusion,” Hayward said.
— Making your bio too long. Laurie Cure, executive coach and CEO at Innovative Connections, a consulting company that provides organizational solutions, warns against writing a long bio. “Have you ever sat at a conference and spent the first five minutes of a session listening to the moderator read a two-page bio of how great someone is? It’s a bore. Always keep your bio short and sweet,” she said in an email.
Be Authentic
Focus on highlighting your unique strengths and showcasing your personality. “Your word choice and language will say a lot about who you are and how you want to be represented,” Cure said. “Your personality will show in how you describe yourself and your experiences, as well as what you choose to highlight.”
Don’t be afraid to embrace your individuality and emphasize what truly matters to you. Whether you choose to tell your story with a polished professional tone or a more conversational approach, always let your bio reflect your authentic self.
More from U.S. News
10 Communication Skills for Your Resume
How to Write an Objective for a Resume
15 Best Jobs for Remote Workers
How to Write a Short Professional Bio originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 06/26/24: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
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Expert Tips for Writing. When crafting a compelling biography essay, consider these expert tips to make your writing stand out: 1. Start with a captivating introduction that sets the tone for the rest of the essay. 2. Research thoroughly to gather accurate information and interesting anecdotes about the subject. 3.
Students should know that a good biography is more than a timeline of events in a person's life. The context of a person's life is important. Students should include information about the historical time period in which a subject lived and did her/his work. In addition, the student should have a purpose for researching another person's life.
Conduct relevant interviews. Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person's character and experiences.
Whether you want to start writing a biography about a famous person, historical figure, or an influential family member, it's important to know all the elements that make a biography worth both writing and reading. Biographies are how we learn information about another human being's life. Whether you want to start writing a biography about ...
A biography is the story of someone's life as written by another writer. Most biographies of popular figures are written years, or even decades, after their deaths. Authors write biographies of popular figures due to either a lack of information on the subject or personal interest. A biography aims to share a person's story or highlight a ...
7. Get feedback and polish the text. If you're going to publish your own biography, you'll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and edit your own manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs.
A biography is an account of someone's life written by someone else.While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction. Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject's life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.
A good writing routine can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. Choose a Writing Space: Find a quiet, comfortable place free of distractions. Set a Time: Write at the same time each day to build a habit. Prepare Mentally: Take a few minutes before writing to clear your mind and focus on the task ahead.
1. Go for a chronological structure. Start chronologically from the subject's birth to their death or later life. Use the timeline of the person's life to structure the biography. Start with birth and childhood. Then, go into young adulthood and adulthood.
When writing a biography, research effectively and gain the support of the publishing house. Write a biography with tips from an author in this free video on...
Step 1: Read a Biography. The first step for students before writing a biography is to read one. They need to see a real-life example before tackling their own biography assignment. Elementary students can read biography picture books or Who Was? biography novels. Biography picture books are especially interesting to students as the splendid ...
Take careful notes and write down the source of each piece of information. Organize your notes. Organize your notes into categories or themes to make it easier to catch subtle patterns and connections. Create an outline of the paper to organize your thoughts. The outline also ensures that your paper flows logically.
1. Review the Definitions. Take a moment to review the definition of a biography. You can also use this time to focus on the differences and similarities between a biography and an autobiography. This leads nicely into a short discussion about word parts (auto, bio, and graph). 2. Start with a Mentor Text or Example.
Wondering how to write a biography? We've constructed a simple step-by-step process for writing biographies. Use our tips & tricks to help you get started!
Completing a biography research guide will help your students remain focused and on task. The format and structure of the research guide is based on the needs of your students. Hopefully, the items listed below will point you in the right direction. Cover Page: It's important to review the meaning of the term biography and require students to ...
Including Basic Details. Date and place of birth and death. Family information. Lifetime accomplishments. Major events of life. Effects/impact on society, historical significance. While this information is necessary to your project, these dry facts, on their own, don't really make a very good biography.
2. Get clear on the basicfacts of the person's life. Reading a few short articles—Wikipedia- or encyclopedia-style articles, obituaries, feature articles, or academic articles, for example—should help you to form a short profile of your subject. 3. Start digging a little deeper to learn more about the person and their life.
Read our article to know the secrets of effective biography essay writing. Whoever you decide to write a biography essay about, don't try to include random information at once. The person you describe would not like it. Instead, read our article about how to write a biography essay correctly and, more importantly, take pleasure in composing it.
Overview. Set the stage for high-interest reading with a purpose through a biography project. Students work together to generate questions they would like to answer about several well-known people, then each student chooses one of these and finds information by reading a biography from the library and doing Internet research.
Assignment Ideas. Use biography writing assignments in conjunction with current events, a literature unit, a research paper, or a history project. Use the following ideas to get you started: Short Story Unit: Write a magazine article describing a meeting with a character from any story you've read this semester. Be sure your article portrays ...
Role-play is one technique that has the potential to generate excitement and engagement as students explore the past. The process of studying a person's life story and performing as if one were that person is rooted in the institution of Chautauqua. The Chautauqua institution began as an adult education movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Pre-capstone. This course teaches students the research and writing skills they need to write historical biography. It is interdisciplinary, drawing on the research skills of history and political science as well as narrative writing skills. Together, we read and discuss excerpts from biographies as well as articles on the craft of biography.
On the first page of Sarah Ruden's biography of Vergil, she states the problem that any biographer of the ancient poet and author of the Aeneid faces: We know almost nothing about him. "The ...
How to Write a Bio for Work. If your company has asked you to write a professional bio for its website, make sure you include the requested elements. If you are unsure, ask your supervisor for ...