Learn to write a narrative essay by identifying the differences between descriptive and narrative essays, knowing the difference between autobiographical and biographical narratives, recognizing the structure of narratives, and identifying and stressing the importance of personal growth in a narrative essay.

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Students will read a Who Was Book and utilize World Book Student to create a biography report.

Short video [1:11] on Abraham Lincoln animated and narrated with humor. Support materials for students include background essay on Lincoln and fact sheet to accompany video.

As part of a larger site about American railroads is this informative biography of James J. Hill, who built a rail line across the Northwest without federal assistance.

This is a collection of videos lessons, media galleries, and photographs about Pedro E. Guerrero, a Mexican-American Mexican-American Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero famous for his photos of architecture and statues and his works.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's writing career is featured in this brief biography. Click "Charlotte Perkins Gilman Activities" for related resources.

Nathaniel Hawthorne is featured in this brief biography highlighting his Puritan family background which inspired his thought provoking writings of the nineteenth century. Click on "Nathaniel Hawthorne Activities" for related resources.

A proponent of social and environmental rights, Henry David Thoreau is featured in this brief biography highlighting his contributions to literature. See Teaching Tips and Author Questions for discussion ideas.

This biography features Mark Twain as a regional realist author, world renown for his ability to portray real Americans in the late nineteenth century. Click "Mark Twain Activities" for artifacts and activities.

Thomas Wolfe is presented in this brief biography, highlighting his writings which exemplified the American culture of the 1920's-1930's. Click on "Thomas Wolfe Activities" for related resources.

Zora Neale Hurston is featured in this biography highlighting her literary contributions which focused on African Americans as whole people, celebrating their heritage, in an era when black authors tended to write about their suppression. See "Zora Neale Hurston Activities" for more resources. Links are provided for a PDF instructor guide for the unit and to artifacts, teaching tips, and discussion questions for this author.

Seventeenth century author, William Bradford, set sail on the Mayflower and embarked on a journey to the New World using his experiences for his writings. Click on "William Bradford Activities" for related artifacts and activities.

A great site by PBS that features a biography on the artist and links to art work, videos clips and interviews. On this page there are also links to lesson plans and other artist pages. In all, a very informative site.

Features a biography of Richard Serra and links to his art, videos clips, and interviews as well as links to lesson plans and other artist pages.

Susan Rothenberg is most well known for her minimalist horse paintings. PBS has included her in their series art:21 and here on the website you can see her work, read interviews, watch video clips, and read her biography.

Features a biography of the artist and links to art work, video clips and interviews. On this page there are also links to lesson plans and other artist pages.

This well-done site offers video clips of an interview with Avi, a brief biography, links to featured books and a transcript of the entire interview.

The Reading Rockets project offers this exclusive and extensive interivew with Jane Yolen. It can be watched as a series of video clips, or you can read the transcripts. There is also a brief biographical sketch. Links to some of her books are included as well.

Jerry Pinkney is interviewed in this series of video clips. Biographical details, lists of works and transcripts of the interviews are available.

Reading Rockets offers this exceptional site with video footage of an interview with Laurence Yep. There are transcripts of the interview, biographical information, and links to some of his books as well.