7th Grade Biography Research Project:
Great Minds of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and the Age of Enlightenment
Your performance task will be a research report of 500-700 words. The paper will be a biographical sketch on the person of your choice from the list provided. Your project will cover the following:
Common Core Standards Addressed:
• W.7.7. Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.
• W.7.8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
• W.7.9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Biography Choices with Links to Websites
Artists/Writers
1. Leonardo da Vinci
http://www.biography.com
http://www.leonardoda-vinci.org
2. Michelangelo
http://www.biography.com
http://www.biographyonline.net/artists
3. Shakespeare
http://www.biography.com
http://www.imahero.com/herohistory/bard_herohistory.htm
Royalty
4. Queen Elizabeth I
http://www.biography.com
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/index.php
5. Henry VIII
http://www.biography.com
http://www.biographyonline.net
6. Mary Queen of Scots
http://www.biography.com
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/index.php
Scientists/Inventors/Explorers
7. Guttenberg
http://www.biography.com
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/gutenberg.html
8. Galileo
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/hawking/cosmostar/html/cstars_galileo.html
http://www.biography.com
9. Magellan
http://www.biography.com
http://www.notablebiographies.com
10. Columbus
http://www.biography.com
http://www.kidsfront.com/biography
http://www.biographyonline.net
Outline
TITLE
I. Introduction
A. Who is your biography about?
B. What is the most important reason this person is famous?
II. Childhood
A. When was this person born?
B. What was one famous event that happened in the world when
he/she was alive? How did this affect this person?
C. Describe one or more experiences he/she had as a child.
III. Influences and/or problems
A. What was the greatest influence on him/her?
(people, ideas, events)
B. What is one important decision he/she made?
C. What was one problem he/she had in his/her life?
D. How did he/she solve that problem?
IV. Accomplishments and Achievements
A. What was one thing he/she did that was important?
B. How did he/she prepare and create his/her success?
(education, practice, never gave up)
V. Conclusion
A. What is one way he/she affected or changed the world?
B. How are you affected by this important person?
VI. Bibliography
A. Three or more correct citations
Great Minds of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and the Age of Enlightenment
Your performance task will be a research report of 500-700 words. The paper will be a biographical sketch on the person of your choice from the list provided. Your project will cover the following:
- What he/she has discovered, invented, or achieved that makes him/her significant in history.
- A summary of the important events in his/her life
- You will include the courageous actions or decisions made by this person to achieve such importance in history.
- A picture or sketch of this person with a caption.
- A bibliography with correct MLA citations
Common Core Standards Addressed:
• W.7.7. Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.
• W.7.8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
• W.7.9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Biography Choices with Links to Websites
Artists/Writers
1. Leonardo da Vinci
http://www.biography.com
http://www.leonardoda-vinci.org
2. Michelangelo
http://www.biography.com
http://www.biographyonline.net/artists
3. Shakespeare
http://www.biography.com
http://www.imahero.com/herohistory/bard_herohistory.htm
Royalty
4. Queen Elizabeth I
http://www.biography.com
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/index.php
5. Henry VIII
http://www.biography.com
http://www.biographyonline.net
6. Mary Queen of Scots
http://www.biography.com
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/index.php
Scientists/Inventors/Explorers
7. Guttenberg
http://www.biography.com
http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/gutenberg.html
8. Galileo
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/hawking/cosmostar/html/cstars_galileo.html
http://www.biography.com
9. Magellan
http://www.biography.com
http://www.notablebiographies.com
10. Columbus
http://www.biography.com
http://www.kidsfront.com/biography
http://www.biographyonline.net
Outline
TITLE
I. Introduction
A. Who is your biography about?
B. What is the most important reason this person is famous?
II. Childhood
A. When was this person born?
B. What was one famous event that happened in the world when
he/she was alive? How did this affect this person?
C. Describe one or more experiences he/she had as a child.
III. Influences and/or problems
A. What was the greatest influence on him/her?
(people, ideas, events)
B. What is one important decision he/she made?
C. What was one problem he/she had in his/her life?
D. How did he/she solve that problem?
IV. Accomplishments and Achievements
A. What was one thing he/she did that was important?
B. How did he/she prepare and create his/her success?
(education, practice, never gave up)
V. Conclusion
A. What is one way he/she affected or changed the world?
B. How are you affected by this important person?
VI. Bibliography
A. Three or more correct citations