Biography Boot Camp!

Welcome to Biography boot camp! For the next two weeks, your job will be to write a rough then revised biography which incorporates multiple sources and paints a complex picture of the subject you have chosen.  Within this timeframe, I would like you make a plan that allows you to finish a complete rough draft by deadline.
Deadlines and Requirements:
Rough draft due Monday, May 6th
Final draft due Monday, May 13th
Word count requirement: 4,000-5,000 words
Sources: Total of five sources are needed. Minimum of three people, including primary subject. At least two secondary sources are recommended.
Appendices: For final draft, an appendix of your transcriptions are required. You may also submit a second appendix for photos or documents not within the paper.
Here is the rubric: Biography rubric
In addition, your appendix will be worth 75 points.

Here are the steps I would suggest for drafting in the next two weeks:
1. Come up with an inquiry or focus question for your paper. This will have to be included in your final paper.
2. Revise your outline to ensure you have an introduction, sub-sections which adhere to your question or focus and some concluding thoughts about the subject.
3. Review your transcripts and find DIRECT quotes, both from your subject and secondary interviews and begin to organize those quotes according to subject/subhead.
4. Review your secondary sources and take notes on information that will enhance each section.
5. Draft your works cited page. This will make your drafting process smoother.
5. Begin drafting. I would suggest beginning with the section that feels most important to your focus. For the drafting, I don't think it is necessary to go in order. You may find that one section becomes two or one section gets cut because it is not that important to your focus.
6. As you draft, weave in the evidence you have selected. I would suggest citing your sources as you go. Ideally, each section should contain direct evidence from primary and secondary sources. (And each paragraph should contain at least one direct quote.)
7. If you find you do not have enough material, return to interviews (or schedule a quick follow-up) and secondary sources.

Please look at exemplars at blog link here:
http://herlihy12aclasses2.blogspot.com/search/label/research%20project
Or check out the exemplar in the workspace on First Class.

Editing and Revision help:
If you would like me to look at part of your draft, you will need to make an appointment with me. If you would like me to look at a section of your draft for written feedback, you will need to have that completed by Thursday, May 2nd. I am willing to look at up to four pages. I am happy to consult with you in person the week of May 6th, but I won't be able to provide written feedback to you.

Homework for week of 4/8

Monday: Complete rough draft by Tuesday, including evidence. I know this is a quick turnaround, but it is good practice for college!
Here is the assignment and rubric again:
Final Assessment for The Kite Runner
Revision and peer editing work guidelines
Tuesday: Revise The Kite Runner essay for block day.
Over vacation: Looking at your information so far, think about a guiding question for your subject's life that will begin your writing. Also, organize a structural outline of your biography. Ideally, this would include the sections of your paper and a focused idea for each sub-head. Be prepared to go into Biography Boot Camp when we return!
Mrs. Guimond's survey

Homework for week of 4/1

This is the last week of the quarter, so make sure you are up to date on assignments and you pass journals in on time. Also, make sure you are editing your journals. Points will be taken off for errors in conventions, including capitalization, spelling, and run-on sentences.
Also, note there will be a long reading assignment over next weekend (about 60 pages). Please manage your time well this week, reading ahead if necessary.

Monday: Read chapters19-20 (and annotate). Journals due tomorrow, 4/2!
Here are the guiding questions from last week through tomorrow: Guiding questions for chapters 11-22
Here are the rest of the guiding questions: Guiding Questions chapters 23-25
Tuesday: Read chapters 21-22 (and annotate)
For class: Read this article in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/world/asia/afghan-debts-painful-payment-a-daughter-6.html?_r=0
Block day: Read chapter 23 (and annotate)
Friday: Finish The Kite Runner for Monday (and annotate).
Final Assessment for The Kite Runner