Essential Questions:
1. How did the author's personal life influence his/her writing?
2. How did the times in which the author lived influence his/her writing?
3. How did the author influence the genre of literature for which he or she is best known?
Explore the following sources in the order in which they are listed. You are to explore at least one source in each section. Take notes on the appropriate Source Notes pages.
(If you need help finding bibliography information, please raise your hand and your teacher or librarian will help you locate the answer. To define unfamiliar terms or find out more information about your subject, please use dictionary.com and Encyclopedia Britannica.)
Pre-Research Activity: Bonding with Your Author
(Search Encyclopedia Britannica or Google for the official website for your author to find a photograph or painting)
Source 1: Biography of Author
(This can be a biographical essay from a database, a biography from the DRMS Media Center, or a resource from the cart in your classroom. Use this Word Document to assist you while you research your author.)
Source 2: Encyclopedia article about a Major Event that took place during the author's life that the author had a connection to or interest in.
Source 3: Image of a Major Event that took place during the author's life (Photograph or Painting). This should be a picture of the event you researched for Source 2.
Source 4: Examples of the Author's Work
Source 5: Find THREE Quotes from Author (quotes can be either something your author said OR a quote from their writing)
**Now that you've finished exploring these resources, look at your research findings and see if you have enough support to answer the essential question. If not, then search for additional QUALITY sources that will help you fill in the gaps.
Product Rubrics:
Source Notes:
(If you need help finding bibliography information, please raise your hand and your teacher or librarian will help you locate the answer. To define unfamiliar terms or find out more information about your subject, please use dictionary.com and Encyclopedia Britannica.)
Pre-Research Activity: Bonding with Your Author
(Search Encyclopedia Britannica or Google for the official website for your author to find a photograph or painting)
- Find a picture of your author.
- Write down what your initial thoughts are of this author in your composition books. What does this picture make you think about him/her at first? Is there anything in the picture, or from books you have read about the author that you want to know more about? ...What are you Wondering when you look at the picture?
Source 1: Biography of Author
(This can be a biographical essay from a database, a biography from the DRMS Media Center, or a resource from the cart in your classroom. Use this Word Document to assist you while you research your author.)
- Encyclopedia Britannica
- Book on your author from the media center collection
- Factmonster
- Harper Collins Children's
- Kids Reads
- Scholastic
Source 2: Encyclopedia article about a Major Event that took place during the author's life that the author had a connection to or interest in.
- Encyclopedia Britannica
- Grolier Online (please ask us for the username and password)
Source 3: Image of a Major Event that took place during the author's life (Photograph or Painting). This should be a picture of the event you researched for Source 2.
- Encyclopedia Britannica
- Grolier Online (please ask us for the username and password)
Source 4: Examples of the Author's Work
- DRMS Media Center Catalog
- Literary Reference Center
- Search Google for the official website for your author
Source 5: Find THREE Quotes from Author (quotes can be either something your author said OR a quote from their writing)
- Bartleby Quotations
- Review the links under Source 1
- Or search Google for the official website for your author to find a quote
**Now that you've finished exploring these resources, look at your research findings and see if you have enough support to answer the essential question. If not, then search for additional QUALITY sources that will help you fill in the gaps.
Product Rubrics:
Source Notes: