Lives of Influence: Biographies and Memoirs

The online course, "Only Human: Biographies and Memoirs", is a engaging and thought-provoking English literature exploration that delves into the lives of diverse individuals through biographies and memoirs. Students choose four books, two memoirs and two biographies, each fulfilling specific parameters such as time period and geographical setting. The course covers the distinction between biographies and memoirs, analyzing text, voice and identity, crafting personal narratives, themes, and research methods. Key assignments include a formal essay, presentation, creative writing piece, unit test, a peer biography project, and a final memoir submission. Students also compare historical drama depictions with factual accuracy through activities like analyzing Hamilton.