Biography and autobiography

Mountain Rescue Teams

Synopsis

This lesson explores biography and autobiography, with particular focus on comparing and contrasting the two forms. Extracts and writing activities focus on the work of explorers and RAF Mountain Rescue Teams.

The opening activity asks students to partake in a decision making activity that will generate plenty of debate and refresh prior learning, based on a selection of sentence level extracts of biographies and autobiographies. Students go on to analyse two longer extracts in detail, looking specifically at person and viewpoint and using a stimulus sheet to aid them in their identification. Extracts concern themselves with exciting and emotive circumstances which will engage and stimulate.

Using a set of dynamic information about an RAF mountain rescuer's experience, students build their own biographical account, employing the techniques they have identified in the previous reading exercise. Pair work allows for comparison between forms and discussion.

MOD Topic

Mountain Rescue Teams

Curriculum Checklist

1.1b, c; 1.2a, b, c; 1.3b 2.2g, i, j, k, m, n; 2.3a, b, f, m, n, o; 3.2b, c, j, k; 3.3d, e; 4.2d, e, i; 4.3d, e, h.

Curriculum Links

• Maths
• Citizenship

Prior Knowledge

No prior knowledge required.

Learning Outcomes

Lower ability students will:

• Understand the difference between autobiography and biography.
• Show a fundamental understanding of grammatical tools employed in relation to writing in biographical style.
• Have an appreciation of the work of RAF Mountain Rescue Teams by writing a biographical account of RAF personnel.

Average ability students will:

• Identify the difference between autobiography and biography and recognise that there are advantages and limitations to each style.
• Understand and demonstrate how to write in either style acknowledging the importance of grammatical tools in depicting viewpoint.
• Have an appreciation of the work of RAF Mountain Rescue Teams by writing a biographical account of RAF personnel.

Higher ability students will:

• Recognise immediately the difference between autobiography and biography by the grammatical tools employed in each and understand the specific advantages and disadvantages of both styles.
• Fully understand and demonstrate how to write in either style, utilising grammatical tools to depict viewpoint.
• Recognise the content of the viewpoint (the opinions expressed) through the choice of words and understand that readers may be influenced without realising why.
• Have an appreciation of the work of RAF Mountain Rescue Teams by writing a biographical account of RAF personnel.

Lesson code

EN2