Biography ssss Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC‑USZ62-20901]

writing sample

Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart is one of the most famous pilots in the world, but no one knows what happened to her. Her airplane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. Some people believe she landed on an island and survived. Others

believe she crashed into the ocean. This mystery is just part of Amelia Earhart’s amazing life. Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, on July 24, 1897. As a young girl, Amelia was active and loved going on outdoors adventures. Amelia like to climb and play just like the boys, which was not something most girls were allowed to do back then. When she was 11, Amelia’s life changed a lot. Her father lost his job, and he and the family had to move many times. In 1920, Amelia Earhart went to an air show where she saw pilots do tricks and stunts in airplanes. After watching these amazing sights, Amelia knew she wanted to learn to fly airplanes. At that time, flying airplanes was new and very dangerous. But Amelia was determined. She took piloting lessons and saved money to buy her own airplane. Amelia became one of the best female pilots in the country. In 1928, a man named George Putnam asked Amelia if she wanted to become the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Amelia agreed. Even though she was just a passenger on the flight, she became famous. Then, in 1932, she flew across the Atlantic Ocean again, this time as the pilot. Now she was world famous. After finishing several long, dangerous flights on her own, Amelia decided to fly around the world. She flew from California to Australia without any problems. But the hardest part was crossing the Pacific Ocean. While she was over the Pacific Ocean, her radio messages became confusing. The airplane disappeared. Amelia and her airplane were never found. Amelia Earhart was a brave and determined person. Her accomplishments helped people understand that women could do many things. Even now, people admire Amelia Earhart for following her dreams. © Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Biography ssss Graphic Organizer sample

Introduction

Pat Johnson Name: _____________________________________________

mystery (landed on island, crash), disappeared in 1937

Event #1:

July 24, 1897 = born in Atchison, KS Event #2:

Body

1920 = went to air show, saw stunts

• active,

loved outdoors • played like the boys • dad lost job, family moved Details: • knew

she wanted to fly • flying was new, dangerous • took lessons, bought plane

Event #3:

Details: • 1928:

George Putnam became great pilot, flew over asked Amelia to be first woman to cross Atlantic Atlantic Ocean twice • 1932: flew across Atlantic Event #4:

Details: • went

attempted to fly around the world Conclusion

Details:

well for most of trip (CA to Australia) • radio transmissions confusing, lost over Pacific

brave, showed people that women can do many things, admired for following dreams

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Biography ssss Graphic Organizer

Introduction

Name: _____________________________________________

Event #1:

Details: • • •

Event #2:

Details: •

Body

• • Event #3:

Details: • • •

Event #4:

Details: • •

Conclusion

•

© Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Encyclopedia of Presidents

Barack Obama • 44

Barack Obama Forty-Fourth President of the United States Barack Obama was born in 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, to a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya, East Africa. His parents met as students while attending the University of Hawaii, separating when Barack was two and divorcing when he was four.

neighborhoods. This work fed his passion for helping to create opportunities for poor Americans. Yet over time, he concluded that becoming involved in politics and changing laws were more effective ways to better the lives of the people he sought to help.

Barack went to college in Los Angeles for two years before moving to New York City to attend Columbia University. He studied political science, focusing on international relations. Two years after earning a college degree in 1983, he became the director of an organization in Chicago that helped people in poor

as a civil rights lawyer and taught at the University of Chicago’s Law School. In 1996, he was elected to represent Chicago’s South Side in the Illinois State Senate, where he served for six years.

© 2008 Pete Souza

Barack entered Harvard Law School in 1988. He Barack’s mother later earned a law degree in married an Indonesian 1991, graduating with man. When Barack was honors. At Harvard, Barack six, the family moved became the first African to Indonesia, where American president of the his half-sister was born. At age ten, Barack moved Harvard Law Review, a President Barack Obama back to Honolulu, where student organization that his mother hoped he would receive publishes a highly respected law journal. a better education. He lived with his Following graduation, he moved to grandparents until he graduated from high Chicago, where he met and later married school in 1979. Michelle Robinson. Barack practiced

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In 2004, Barack was elected to the United States Senate by a landslide. After he spoke at the 2004 Democratic www.writinga-z.com

Barack Obama • 44

Encyclopedia of Presidents

National Convention, he became known as an inspiring leader within the Democratic Party. Senator Obama launched his presidential campaign in early 2007. In August 2008, he made history as the first African American in U.S. history to become the presidential candidate of a major political party. He made history again when he became the first African American president of the United States in November 2008.

Meet Barack Obama’s Family Barack Obama is married to Michelle Robinson Obama. Michelle is a lawyer who grew up on Chicago’s South Side. Her father worked for the city water plant, and her mother was a secretary for a department store. Michelle earned a college degree from Princeton University

and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Barack and Michelle met while she was working for a Chicago law firm, where he was hired as a summer associate. Michelle later held positions in Chicago’s city government and then became the director of an organization that encouraged young people to become involved in social issues. She developed a center at the University of Chicago that provides students with opportunities for leadership and community service. Since 2002, she has held positions at the University of Chicago Hospitals and has led programs that foster a strong relationship with the community. The Obamas have two daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7. They live in Chicago.

Courtesy of U.S. Senate Historical Office

Vice President Joe Biden

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Joe Biden has been a U.S. senator since 1972. He is an expert on foreign policy and an important voice on issues ranging from terrorism and crime to women’s rights, drug policy, and help for working families. Joe Biden and Jill Jacobs Biden, who married in 1977, have three children and five grandchildren.

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Becoming a Politician:

Obama’s Road to the White House president of the United States in 2008. Every child dreams about growing But Barack had to be convinced that up. Some children know what they being president was the best thing for want to be as adults. Others have no him and his family. He thought that he idea. Some do not find a direction for did not have enough their life until they are experience as a U.S. adults. Barack Obama “Change will not come senator. As the first is one of those people. African American As he became an adult, if we wait for some other running for president, he developed a strong person or some other time. he thought it would desire to improve the We are the ones we’ve be dangerous. He world. That desire knew that just running led him to become been waiting for. We are for president would president of the United the change that we seek.” change his and his States of America. —Barack Obama family’s lives forever. Barack became a He could no longer take lawyer to help people. a walk or get his hair But he soon saw that cut without drawing a crowd. helping people as a lawyer was a very slow process. He decided that entering politics and changing laws would be an even faster way to help. In 1996, he ran for and won a seat in the Illinois State Senate. As a state senator, he helped change laws so poor working families could pay lower taxes. He also helped change laws so children would have better education and health care. Barack ran for the United States Senate in 2004. He was asked to speak at an important meeting of the Democratic Party. He gave an inspirational speech that was a big success. People wanted him to run for © Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved.

While he thought about whether or not to run for president, Barack’s reputation grew. The two books he had written inspired many people to write to him and encourage him. He continued to give speeches and talk to people. Many more people became inspired by his words, his clear thinking, his respect for all people, and his belief in peaceful solutions to big problems. On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected the forty-fourth president of the United States.

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July 27, 2004 • E4 political soundbytes weekly

Obama Speech Uplifting at National Convention By Jamie London Barack Obama, who is running for the United States Senate, was asked to speak at the Democratic National Convention today. He delivered a hopeful speech about all Americans working together to help the United States become an even greater country. The speech was a big success, and his words sparked a great deal of inspiration among the participants. Some are already encouraging Barack to run for president in 2008. Obama’s message challenged individuals to step back and revisit the freedoms that many citizens of this country take for granted. He reminded us that such freedoms as the ability to speak freely, participate in politics, and start a business are not worldwide declarations. Obama continued by highlighting his belief in what this country can offer its citizens: incentives for companies to keep jobs in the country, health coverage, and energy independence. But his message also reminded us that, as citizens of this nation, we also assume © Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from Obama’s Speech “Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this state is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack . . . [My] mother . . . was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas . . . “My parents shared . . . an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or “blessed,” believing that in a tolerant America

certain responsibilities, such as the need to work hard to get ahead and the need for parents to be partners in the education of children. But perhaps the most compelling part of his message was the resonating theme of hope: “Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face

your name is no barrier to success . . . They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren’t rich, because in a generous America you don’t have to be rich to achieve your potential . . . “I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents’ dreams live on in my two precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story . . . and that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.”

of uncertainty . . . A belief in things not seen. A belief that there are better days ahead . . . that as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the right choices and meet the challenges that face us.” He reminds us that politics, religion, race, and any other differences aside, we are one people. We are the United States of America. www.writinga-z.com

Biography ssss revision checklist Instructions: Check each box as you read over your writing.

My detailed introduction states the person’s name and grabs readers’ attention. The body includes four or more events. Each main event is in a paragraph. Each main event has three or more supporting details. Each main event and detail sentence is in my own words. Each sentence is complete and makes sense. My detailed conclusion sums up or shares a feeling about the person.

#

Biography ssss Revision checklist Instructions: Check each box as you read over your writing.

My detailed introduction states the person’s name and grabs readers’ attention. The body includes four or more events. Each main event is in a paragraph. Each main event has three or more supporting details. Each main event and detail sentence is in my own words. Each sentence is complete and makes sense. My detailed conclusion sums up or shares a feeling about the person. © Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Amelia Earhart

Introduction Amelia Earhart is one of the most famous pilots in the world, but no one knows what happened to her. Her airplane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. Some people believe she landed on an island and survived. Others believe she crashed into the ocean. This mystery is just part of Amelia Earhart’s amazing life. Body Event #1 Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison, Kansas, on July 24, 1897. As a young girl, Amelia was active and loved going on outdoors adventures. Amelia like to climb and play just like the boys, which was not something most girls were allowed to do back then. When she was 11, Amelia’s life changed a lot. Her father lost his job, and he and the family had to move many times. Body Event #2 In 1920, Amelia Earhart went to an air show where she saw pilots do tricks and stunts in airplanes. After watching these amazing sights, Amelia knew she wanted to learn to fly airplanes. At that time, flying airplanes was new and very dangerous. But Amelia was determined. She took piloting lessons and saved money to buy her own airplane. Body Event #3 Amelia became one of the best female pilots in the country. In 1928, a man named George Putnam asked Amelia if she wanted to become the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Amelia agreed. Even though she was just a passenger on the flight, she became famous. Then, in 1932, she flew across the Atlantic Ocean again, this time as the pilot. Now she was world famous. Body Event #4 After finishing several long, dangerous flights on her own, Amelia decided to fly around the world. She flew from California to Australia without any problems. But the hardest part was crossing the Pacific Ocean. While she was over the Pacific Ocean, her radio messages became confusing. The airplane disappeared. Amelia and her airplane were never found. Conclusion Amelia Earhart was a brave and determined person. Her accomplishments helped people understand that women could do many things. Even now, people admire Amelia Earhart for following her dreams. © Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.writinga-z.com

Details

Poster

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC‑USZ62-20901]

Biography ssss

Biography (All Levels) Teacher rubric

Student:  _____________________________ Date:  _____________________

Instructions: Check the box next to each number that best describes the student’s writing. A.

Introduction

4. Developed introduction in paragraph form 3. Introduction with some detail included 2. Simple beginning paragraph 1. Simple beginning sentence 0. Missing a beginning/introduction

B.

Body: Organizes main ideas

4. Three or more developed main events; each event organized into a paragraph 3. Three main events each organized into a paragraph; events somewhat developed 2. More than one main event organized into a paragraph; events are somewhat developed 1. Events organized into simple sentences; no paragraphs 0. No organization of main events; random words and/or phrases

C.

Includes supportive details

3. At least three supportive details about each main event 2. At least two supportive details about each main event 1. Basic detail included about some events 0. No details included

E.

Conclusion

4. Developed conclusion in paragraph form 3. Conclusion with some detail included 2. Simple ending paragraph 1. Simple ending sentence 0. Missing an ending/conclusion © Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved.

D.

Sources

3. Uses three or more sources 2. Uses two sources 1. Uses one source 0. No sources used

Beginning: Early Developing: Developing: Fluent:

0–5 6– 10 11–13 14–18

Score

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