BIO: Facts & Details
BIO: What is the person’s name?
Rita Moreno
BIO: In 1 sentence, what is this biography mostly about?
The biography is mostly about Rita Moreno’s life and how she became a successful performer through hard work.
FIC-BIO: Who is the main character?
Louis (Louis Armstrong)
What is the character’s goal?
To play music / get a horn and become a musician.
Which one is more factual: BIO or FIC-BIO? Why?
Biography is more factual because it sticks to real facts (dates/places/awards) rather than story scenes.
BIO: Name one important accomplishment.
-Won an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Supporting Actress for playing Anita in West Side Story (1961 film).
-Won an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).
BIO: What is one lesson we can learn from the person?
Don’t give up / perseverance pays off.
FIC-BIO: Where does the story mostly take place?
New Orleans (Louis’s childhood and early music journey).
What is the biggest problem?
-He is poor and life is difficult, so it’s hard to get opportunities/instruments.
-He ends up at the Colored Waifs’ Home, changing his life and forcing him to adapt.
Name 1 similarity between BIO and FIC-BIO.
Both are about real people and show how they worked toward success.
BIO: Name one obstacle the person faced.
-Moving from Puerto Rico to New York City as a child (big life change).
-Having to work hard to break into performing (dance/acting training leading into career).
BIO: What detail best supports the main idea?
She moved to NYC, trained, and built a long career with major awards like EGOT or Oscar.
FIC-BIO: Name one character trait of the main character.
Determined / hard-working / hopeful (he keeps pursuing music even when life is hard).
One important event that changes the story.
Joining the marching band at the Colored Waifs’ Home / getting serious training.
Name 1 difference between BIO and FIC-BIO.
Biography = mostly facts/information. Fictionalized biography = told more like a story with scenes to entertain while still being based on truth.
BIO: What is one detail that proves it’s nonfiction (real facts)?
It gives real-life details like birthplace/date (Humacao, Puerto Rico; Dec. 11, 1931) and real achievements/awards.
BIO: Why did the author write this biography? (inform / inspire / entertain—choose one and prove it)
Inform (and often inspire) — it shares facts about her life and achievements (dates/places/awards).
FIC-BIO: What is one important event that changes the story?
“Find one detail that shows how the character is feeling + name the feeling.”
How does it end + what does it show?
He becomes a stronger musician—he even becomes leader of the Home’s brass band, showing growth and perseverance.
Which one would help more on an ILEARN test—and why? (use 2 reasons)
Biography often helps more for tests because:
It clearly states main idea + key details, and
It has facts that are easy to cite as evidence.
(But accept “both” if they give 2 strong reasons.)