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.