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
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Interview
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2011–2012
A Biography of Roderick Aldous by Elsa Walter
Biography
Interview
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2014–2015

A Polished Gem: a Brief Biography by Joshua Louie

Biography
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2015–2016

A Biography of William Dierkes by Maria Dierkes

Biography Interview: Pt. 1 Pt. 2
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A Biography of Aunt Bridgett by Mary Gardner
Biography Interview
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A Biography of Uncle Bob by Robert Gardner
Biography Interview
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A Biography of Rusty Leonard by Joshua Noble
Biography Interview
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A Small Biography of a Great Man by Grant Metzger

Biography Interview
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A Biography of Mr. Ed Tomkiewicz by Jonathan Noble

Biography Interview (Part 1 and Part 2).
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A Biography of Ben Callahan’s grandmother by Ben Callahan

Biography Interview Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of Interview
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A Biography of Desmond Burrowes by Hannahgrace Burrowes

Biography Interview (Part 1 and Part 2)
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A Biography of Aunt Angie by Audrey Drennen
Biography Part 1 and Part 2 of Interview
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A Biography of Robert P. Blume by Irene Thomas

Biography Interview
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2016–2017
A Biography of Scott Ashman by Ethan Tom

Biography Interview
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A Biography of Aunt Laura by Evi Sargeant

Biography Interview
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A Biography by Anna Lozano

Biography Interview (Part 1 and Part 2)
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A Biography of My Grandfather by Elizabeth Ko

Biography Interview
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A Biography of by Jacob Louie

Biography Interview (Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5)
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A Biography of My Great-Grandfather by Christian Lengkeek

Biography Interview
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A Biography of My Grandfather by Isaiah Chen
Biography Interview
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2017–2018

A Biography of Robert Schweitzer by Sophia Burrowes

Interview
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A Biography of Stephen Craig Lengkeek by Emma Lengkeek
Biography Interview
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A Biography of Nancy Milani by Gianluca Milani
Biography Interview
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A Biography of Amelia Catherine Grimm
Biography Interview
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A Biography of Violette Bushra by Elise Bushra

Biography Interview
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A Biography of Sue Tyson by Anna Rose Walter

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Interview
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A Biography of My Grandmother by Elise Bushra
Biography Interview
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A Biography of Stephen Lengkeek by Emma Lengkeek

Biography Interview
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A Biography by Gianluca Milani
Biography Interview
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A Biography of Amelia Catherine Grimm by Noah Callahan

Biography Interview
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2018–2019

A Biography of John Doman by Olivia Coppa
Biography
Interview
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A Biography of by Bridget Haselbarth

Biography
Interview
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A Biography of by Micah Volpe
Biography
Interview
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A Biography of by Bridget Sheridan

Biography
Interview
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A Biography of by Monica Levis

Biography
Interview
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A Biography of by Justice Kocher

Biography
Interview
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2018–2019

A Biography of John Doman by Felicity Sutton

Biography
Interview
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A Biography by Emilia Owen

Biography
Interview
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A Biography by Lucia Strid
Biography
Interview
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A Biography by John Wilbur
Biography
Interview
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A Biography by Saarang Anand

Biography
Interview
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A Biography by Heather Kaplan
Biography
Interview