Biography and Autobiography

Report by Group 1

BIOGRAPHY

- It is a true story of a person’s life that is written by someone else. On the whole, biographies
are written about famous individuals or someone who has made an important impact on
society.
- Biographies are written in third-person point of view which means the narrator is outside
the story. This, the narrator uses pronouns like he, she, him and her to refer to the subject.
(When we say third person point of view, the author narrates the story about the characters
referring to them by their name, or with the use of he, she, him, and her.)
- The subject is the person who’s life is being described in the biography. While the
biographer is the one who writes the biography.
- In writing a biography, the biographer interviews or research the subject’s life. This could
mean reading various types of information on the subjects, or even interviewing other people
in the subject's life.
- The purpose of a biography is to present an accurate account of the subject’s life. The best
biographers try to include the strengths and successes of the subject, as well as the
weaknesses and failures. In this way, most biographers try to be unbiased towards their
subject.

Steps in writing Biography

1. Choose a Subject
- In writing a biography, it would be best if the person is someone you’re interested in.
2. Gain Permission
- If the subject is willing to be biographized, they may provide significant details about their own
story which can help you in writing a biography.(Take note: there are some cases na Hindi
mo na kailangang kumuha Ng permission from your subjecto9999, but make sure na Yung
isusulat Mong biography ay Walang kasinungalingan na nakalagay na pwedeng ikakasira Ng
imahe Ang iyong subject.)
3. Research the Life of Your Subject
- Regardless of how much you know about your subject, an extensive amount of research is
necessary to paint a thorough picture of this person.
4. Form your Thesis
- The first chapter or paragraph should info the reader what they will learn about this person.
5. Make a Timeline
- Knowing the order of key events before you start writing can save you the hassle of having to
recognize your whole story.
6. Use Flashbacks
- You can intercut between an experience from your subject’s adult life and one from their high
school days. Using flashbacks allows the author to introduce relevant part information to the
reader.
7. Include your Thoughts
- A biographer can share their own feelings and opinion about their subject’s life.

Examples of Biographies:

1. A Beautiful Mind by Slyvia Nasar

2. Alexar Hamilton by Ron Chernow
3. Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston
4. Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert
AUTOBIOGRAPHY

- It is the same as biographies except for one key difference: the story of the person’s life is told
by that person. This means that in an autobiography, a person tells the story of his or her own
life.
- Autobiographies are told in first-person point of view. This means that the narrator is in the
story and uses the pronouns I, me and my.
- In writing an autobiography, not only do authors need to recall all memories and decide on
milestones to include, but they also spend time and energy organizing and structuring all the
material into a narrative.

Steps in writing Autobiography

1. Write out your life timeline

- Creating a timeline of your life is a good way to make sure you include all the most important
dates and events, and it gives you a structure to build upon.
2. Identify the Main Character
- Think beyond your immediate family to other who have affected your life and should play a
role in your autobiography.
3. Pull out the best stories
- Begin drafting your manuscript by writing out the main stories that will be woven together to
create a picture of your life.
4. Write in your own voice
- People read autobiographies to gain insight on what it’s like to be someone else. Being
authentically you is a sure way to keep people engaged.
5. Be Revealing
- You don’t have to be explicit, but it’s important to reveal truths about yourself and your life in
an autobiography.

Examples of Autobiographies:

1. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

2. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
3. The Story of My Experiment with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi
4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Similarities between Biography and Autobiography

1. The primary purpose of both types of books is to give an account of a person’s life.
2. Both biographies and autobiographies are works of nonfiction that represent events that occur
during a person’s life.
3. The people whose stories are told in biography or autobiography form tend to be people who
are widely known for their accomplishments, such as celebrities, athletes, business leaders,
political leaders, and other high-profile individuals.