BIOGRAPHY.

 

I. Definition 

A biography is an account of somebody's life written by somebody else, complete with details of the most important parts.

II. Purpose

The purpose of a biography is to share the life of another person with an audience.

III. Generic Structure 

A biography typically starts with the subject's birth (it's surprising how many begin with a description of the weather) and continues in a roughly chronological order until their death

IV. Types of Biography:

1. Contemporary Biography

Authorized or Unauthorized

Sometimes these are authorized–written with permission or input from the subject or their family

2. Historical Biography

3. Biography of a Group

When a group of people share unique characteristics, they can be the topic of a collective biography.