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Understanding Biography Texts Explained

The document discusses the definition and characteristics of a biography text. It defines biography as a detailed description of someone's life written by someone else. It outlines the types of biographies, social functions, characteristics, generic structure, language features, and use of simple past tense in biography texts.

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Novitriani Irene
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117 views2 pages

Understanding Biography Texts Explained

The document discusses the definition and characteristics of a biography text. It defines biography as a detailed description of someone's life written by someone else. It outlines the types of biographies, social functions, characteristics, generic structure, language features, and use of simple past tense in biography texts.

Uploaded by

Novitriani Irene
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

 This is a Biography text!

Biography is a subgenre of narrative nonfiction/historical nonfiction. Sometimes it is also


called biographical recount.

 Definition of biography text


Biography text is a detailed description or account of a person’s life and written by someone
else, it is nonfiction text.

Biography consists of two words, namely:


Bios  life
Graphia  writing

Biography, it can simply be said to be a story of a person’s life story.

 Types of biography text


1. Short biography (focuses only on highlights of a person’s life)
2. Long biography (about life and times of someone in a lot more detail)

 Social Function of Biography


1. To know a person’s story about his/her life outside of any accomplishments this
person   may be known for.
2. To give many information easily and educate the readers

 Characteristics of biography
1. Biography is not written by subject and always written in the third person.
2. Based on research.
3. Describes the person’s surroundings (where, when and how the person lived).
4. Implies or notes how the writer feels about the person
5. Use vivid language to narrate events.

 Generic structure of biography text


1. Orientation (Introduction)
It is the opening paragraph, gives the readers the background information of the
person.
2. Events
In events, should be in chronological order.
3. Re-Orientation (Closing)
It consists of a conclusion or comment or the writer. Tell about the achievement or
the contribution of the person.

 Language Features
1. Use temporal sequence and temporal conjuction (after,before,then,until,by the
time)
2. Use specific participant (Indische Partij, Budi Utomo, Stovia, Pangandaran beach)
3. Use of action verbs (took,writing,run,walk)
4. Use adverb
o Time : always, later, after, then, sometimes
o Place : Yogyakarta, Sulawesi, there, around, in front of

 Simple past tense


Simple past tense is a simple form of the verb to indicate that an event occurred in the past.
In the simple past tense, the time of the event (yesterday, last two days, last year) or the
time period (for two months, for a day, for an hour) can be specified.

 Subject + Verb 2 + object


 Subject + to be (was/were) + adjective/adverb

Example :

1. He used his time in exile to learn more about education


2. Ki Hajar Dewantara was born in the royal family of Yogyakarta on 2 May 1889
3. He joined the English club class at school yesterday

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