Famous Person Report Guidelines

1. Your famous person report is due on ________________________.

2. Students have a choice to do an oral report or a written report. All GATE students MUST
do an oral report.
3. You must choose someone from the attached list or get approval from Mr. Buss first.
4. You should use at least 1 encyclopedia, 1 biography, and 1 internet source for obtaining
your information.
5. You must use your own words in taking notes.
6. You should keep a running bibliography of the books youve used.
7. Your notes should be organized, have a table of contents and be neat.
8. You will work on your report both at home and at school. Have your materials with you at
all times.
9. Everyone must make a drawing of your famous person. You may use pastels, markers,
drawing pencils, water colors, crayons, etc. Be sure to include appropriate clothing for the
time period.
10. Everyone must do a personal reflection page on his/her report experience.
Oral Report Guidelines
a. Be in costume. Usually the better the costume, the better you will feel about your
presentation. (You do not need to go out and buy something special.)
b. You will have a minimum of 8 minutes to present a basic life history and about 10 minutes
of questioning about important aspects of your life and times. Know what was going on in
America and other places when your famous person was alive.
c. Get a feel for the character and try to adopt it during your presentation. For example, if
your person was deaf or had an accent, try to do those variations.
d. Expect to do presentations in other classrooms, especially if you were good.
e. Use your own list of questions to help prepare yourself.
f. Get at least one friend or parent to grill you ahead of time.
g. Turn in your note cards, table of contents (note card key), bibliography, and drawing.
h. You must turn in a written personal evaluation (section 5) based on the section
guidelines.
i. You must turn in a reflective journal page.
Written Report Guidelines

a. Your report must have 5 sections and include the information specified under the
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

guidelines section.
You must have a cover, table of contents, and bibliography.
You must turn in all of your note cards.
Your report should be between 10 and 20 pages, written neatly or typed.
You must have a title page with an illustration (this picture is the only one that can be
computer generated).
You must include 2 drawings with your report: one of the person and one showing an
example of one of their accomplishments. Both must be drawn by hand. (Can be traced
and then colored.)
You should type the report yourself.
You must turn in a reflective journal page.

Famous Person Report - Section Guidelines

Use these questions to guide you in what to look for. Do NOT answer these one-by-one. Write
out a few paragraphs for each section. Some students will have difficulty finding information
about their persons youth. Do the best you can. If your person has not died yet, you obviously
will not do that section.
1. Youth
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.

Where and when was he/she born?

Did he have any brothers or sisters?
What was his schooling like?
Was his childhood easy or hard?
What was the home like?
What did his parents do?
What hobbies and activities did he like?
Who were his heroes?
What did his parents do?
Other interesting facts and stories about his youth?

2. Adult Life
a. When did he/she leave home?
b. What adventures did he/she have?
c. What did he do on these adventures?
d. How did he become famous?
e. Was he ever married?
f. How many children did he have?
g. What did he do that was worthwhile or harmful to the human race?
h. Was he the first to do anything or to invent something?
i. What kind of lifestyle did the person live? Was he a traveler, an adventurer, a quiet
person, etc.
j. What was his personality like? Was he quiet, shy, bold, a leader, a follower, easygoing, or cruel?
k. Did he accomplish some, all or none of the things he wanted to ? What did he
succeed in and what did he fail to do?
l. Was your person a soldier, a public leader, a ruler, a thinker, an inventor, a scientist,
an artist, etc.
m. What was the greatest challenge he ever faced?
n. Did he have any sicknesses, illnesses, disabilities, or other severe physical
problems?
o. Other interesting facts about his life.
3. End of Life
a. What year did he/she die?
b. How old was he?
c. What was the cause of death?
d. Did he have any last words?
e. Did he leave an epitaph?
f. Was he rich, poor, famous, unknown, popular, or hated at the time of his death?
Why?

g. Other interesting facts about his death

4. The Life and Times (www.thepeoplehistory.com - pick a decade to explore)

a. Who else of importance was alive in your country at the time of your famous
person?
b. Know how people lived, traveled, worked, went to school and were governed
during the time of your famous person.
c. Know what major events were going on in the world at the time of your persons
life.
d. Know some of the customs, cultures, and beliefs of his or her time.
e. Know the clothes, fashions, foods, etc. of the time/place.
5. Personal Evaluation (must be written for students doing oral report)
a. Why did you pick this person?
b. What did you admire about him/her?
c. What did you dislike about him?
d. Would you ever want to do what he did? Why/why not?
e. In your opinion, what was the most interesting or important thing he did?
f. What questions would you ask him if you could? You should have at least 5
questions.
g. Would you trust this man/woman in your house? Give reasons.
h. Were you happy you chose this person or were you disappointed with what you
found out?

Famous Person Report Scoring Rubric

Oral Report (120 points possible)

1. In character (clothing, presentation)

(20 pts.)

_______

2. Appropriate information about youth

(20 pts.)

_______

3. Appropriate information about adult life

(20 pts.)

_______

4. Appropriate information about death

(10 pts.)

_______

5. Good knowledge of life and times

(10 pts.)

_______

6. Table of contents (key to note card arrangement)

(5 pts.)

_______

7. Note cards (organized)

(10 pts.)

_______

8. Drawing (done by hand)

(5 pts.)

_______

9. Personal evaluation page (section 5)

(10 pts.)

_______

10. Bibliography (book, encyclopedia, internet, alpha order)

(5 pts.)

_______

11. Reflective Journal page

(5 pts.)

_______

Total

(120)

_______

Famous Person Report Scoring Rubric

Written Report (120 points possible)

1. Neat folder and contents

(10 pts.)

_______

2. Title Page with illustration (name, due date, teacher, grade)

(5 pts.)

_______

3. Table of Contents and organization

(5 pts.)

_______

4. Youth Section

(20 pts.)

_______

5. Adult Section

(20 pts.)

_______

6. End of Life Section

(10 pts.)

_______

7. Life and Times Section

(10 pts.)

_______

8. Personal Evaluation Section

(10 pts.)

_______

9. Illustration of famous person (by hand)

(5 pts.)

_______

10. Illustration of his/her accomplishments (by hand)

(5 pts.)

_______

11. Bibliography (book, encyclopedia, internet, alpha order)

(5 pts.)

_______

12. Reflective Journal page

(5 pts.)

_______

13. Note cards

(10 pts.)

_______

Total

(120)

_______