Biographies Autobiographies Memoirs *A biography is a of a *An autobiography is also the A memoir is form of narrative writing which the person’s life told by someone story of a person’s life told by writer explores a particular part of his/her life – else that person. (From the root Focused on one event at one point in the *Written from the words meaning SELF and LIFE author’s life person point of view. and STUDY) A memory; a description of an from the past. *Typically organized in *Written from the first- person Think Snapshot. chronological order point of view. *The writer, or biographer, *Typically organized in It describes the events and then shows, either usually gets information about chronological order directly or indirectly, why they are significant. the subject by doing detailed *Most of the information is research using a number of from the subject’s mind but he Often more about the author’s experience more reliable sources. or she may consult others for than about the event itself Factual information used to tell help in remembering details Is focused in time; doesn't cover a great span of a true account of the subject’s about his or her life. years -- that's an autobiography life. *Unlike memoirs, typically *Sometimes, the biographer covers a larger span of the A good memoir…… might even interview the person’s life. Connects to the audience subject directly. photo album 1st person point of view *Usually mentions challenges Based on the truth faced by the subject as well as doesn’t just - uses “Shows” “tell” accomplishments. descriptive language Uses dialogue Expresses the author’s thoughts and feelings (emotional) Reveals the importance of the memory to the reader typically shows what the – author learned from the experience.
Biographies Autobiographies Memoirs *A biography is a of a person’s life told by someone else *Written from the person point of view. *Typically organized in chronological order *The writer, or biographer, usually gets information about the subject by doing detailed research using a number of reliable sources. Factual information used to tell a true account of the subject’s life. *Sometimes, the biographer might even interview the subject directly. *Usually mentions challenges faced by the subject as well as accomplishments. *An autobiography is also the story of a person’s life told by that person. (From the root words meaning SELF and LIFE and STUDY) *Written from the first- person point of view. *Typically organized in chronological order *Most of the information is from the subject’s mind but he or she may consult others for help in remembering details about his or her life. *Unlike memoirs, typically covers a larger span of the person’s life. photo album A memoir is form of narrative writing which the writer explores a particular part of his/her life – Focused on one event at one point in the author’s life A memory; a description of an from the past. Think Snapshot. It describes the events and then shows, either directly or indirectly, why they are significant. Often more about the author’s experience more than about the event itself Is focused in time; doesn't cover a great span of years -- that's an autobiography A good memoir…… Connects to the audience 1st person point of view Based on the truth “Shows” doesn’t just “tell” - uses descriptive language Uses dialogue Expresses the author’s thoughts and feelings (emotional) Reveals the importance of the memory to the reader – typically shows what the author learned from the experience.
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