Writing
Biographies
Learning to use primary-source information
to write a biography.
Writing Biographies
Biographical writing is one of the most popular form of nonfiction. The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell (pictured above), is considered one of the best biographies written in the English language. From the details of Johnson’s uncouth eating habits, his moral sensibilities, and aphoristic wit, Boswell was able to make the famous lexicographer come alive. The following library of student works includes a written biography as well as the interview that preceded the writing of it.
Student Examples
1998–1999
A Short Biography of John Fry by Karl Mason
Interview
2011–2012
A Biography of Roderick Aldous by Elsa Walter
Biography
Interview
2014–2015
A Polished Gem: a Brief Biography by Joshua Louie
Biography
2015–2016
A Biography of William Dierkes by Maria Dierkes
Biography Interview: Pt. 1 Pt. 2
A Biography of Aunt Bridgett by Mary Gardner Biography Interview
A Biography of Uncle Bob by Robert Gardner Biography Interview
A Biography of Rusty Leonard by Joshua Noble Biography Interview
A Small Biography of a Great Man by Grant Metzger
Biography Interview
A Biography of Mr. Ed Tomkiewicz by Jonathan Noble
Biography Interview (Part 1 and Part 2).
A Biography of Ben Callahan’s grandmother by Ben Callahan
Biography Interview Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of Interview
A Biography of Desmond Burrowes by Hannahgrace Burrowes
Biography Interview (Part 1 and Part 2)
A Biography of Aunt Angie by Audrey Drennen Biography Part 1 and Part 2 of Interview
A Biography of Robert P. Blume by Irene Thomas
Biography Interview
2016–2017
A Biography of Scott Ashman by Ethan Tom
Biography Interview
A Biography of Aunt Laura by Evi Sargeant
Biography Interview
A Biography by Anna Lozano
Biography Interview (Part 1 and Part 2)
A Biography of My Grandfather by Elizabeth Ko
Biography Interview
A Biography of by Jacob Louie
Biography Interview (Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5)
A Biography of My Great-Grandfather by Christian Lengkeek
Biography Interview
A Biography of My Grandfather by Isaiah Chen Biography Interview
2017–2018
A Biography of Robert Schweitzer by Sophia Burrowes
Interview
A Biography of Stephen Craig Lengkeek by Emma Lengkeek
Biography Interview
A Biography of Nancy Milani by Gianluca Milani
Biography Interview
A Biography of Amelia Catherine Grimm
Biography Interview
A Biography of Violette Bushra by Elise Bushra
Biography Interview
A Biography of Sue Tyson by Anna Rose Walter
Interview
A Biography of My Grandmother by Elise Bushra Biography Interview
A Biography of Stephen Lengkeek by Emma Lengkeek
Biography Interview
A Biography by Gianluca Milani Biography Interview
A Biography of Amelia Catherine Grimm by Noah Callahan
Biography Interview
2018–2019
A Biography of John Doman by Olivia Coppa Biography
Interview
A Biography of by Bridget Haselbarth
Biography
Interview
A Biography of by Micah Volpe
Biography
Interview
A Biography of by Bridget Sheridan
Biography
Interview
A Biography of by Monica Levis
Biography
Interview
A Biography of by Justice Kocher
Biography
Interview
2018–2019
A Biography of John Doman by Felicity Sutton
Biography
Interview
A Biography by Emilia Owen
Biography
Interview
A Biography by Lucia Strid
Biography
Interview
A Biography by John Wilbur
Biography
Interview
A Biography by Saarang Anand
Biography
Interview
A Biography by Heather Kaplan
Biography
Interview