Features of Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs

What is the definition of the biography, autobiography, and memoir genres?

• About real things

• Made up

• Only contain true information

• True stories about real people's lives

A written account of an individual's life written by someone else is called (a)   .

• a memoir
• an autobiography
• a historical fiction
• a biography

In a biography of George Washington, what might you read about?

• George Washington fighting against slavery.

• George Washington fighting dinosaurs.

• George Washington being abducted by aliens.

• George Washington becoming the first president.

This book is by Michelle Obama and tells about her entire life.

The genre of this book is (a)   .

• Biography

• Autobiography
• Memoir

True or False: Memoirs often focus on the factual timeline of a person’s entire life.

True or False:

Memoir is another name for autobiography.

This book was written by Dinah Brown and is about Malala Yousafzai. Which genre is it?

• Biography

• Autobiography

• Memoir

• None of the above

A memoir is written about a person's entire life, whereas an autobiography is about a specific time or a series of events in someone's life.

The above statement is (a)   .

• False
• True

Match the type of text to its feature:

• Focuses on the author's own life

• Biography

• Written by someone else

• Autobiography

• Focuses on specific events/experiences

• Memoir

Nancy: This book is written by Dave Pelzer and tells the story of his childhood. The genre is Personal Narrative.

Karen: No it isn't Personal Narrative. It is (a)   .

• a Biography
• an Autobiography
• a Memoir