For most people, a “sketch” is a painting or kind of artwork. In writing, a “biographical sketch” is like trying to paint a “picture” of a person, but not with paint, but with words. A biographical sketch can discuss a person’s…
- birth & childhood,
- geographic region & homeland,
- family background,
- physical appearance,
- education,
- habits or idiosyncrasies
- personality,
- religion, ethics or philosophy
- clothing or hygiene
- marriage & family life
- economic status; wealth,
- travels
- significant contributions or accomplishments; why famous,
- legacy,
- what others have said about him or her, etc.
As you can see, a biographical sketch can incorporate many topics. Due to space and time restrictions, there is no way to “tell it all” about a person. As a writer, you need to make conscious choices about what is crucial to include and what to leave out. Here are a few examples of fine biographical sketches that some DreyerCoaching.com online writing students have written recently. Note how these writers make a “hook” (catchy introduction); use powerful word choice and punctuation; manage smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs; and overall paint a “picture” of someone with words. Take a look, enjoy, and learn!
Rafael Nadal
If one asks an avid tennis fan about the most spectacular feat in the sport, it is likely that he or she will reply with “Nadal on a clay court.” It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rafael Nadal is the greatest clay-court player ever and he may very well be the greatest of all-time when he hangs up his racket. His legacy, perhaps unparalleled, has continued—and will continue—to inspire all players.
Nadal was born on June 3, 1986 in Manacor, Spain. As a child, he was exposed to various sports. His uncle, Angel Nadal, was a professional footballer who played for RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona. His other uncle, and later longtime coach, Toni Nadal, was a retired tennis player. As a child and teenager, he excelled in both sports—so much so that he could have pursued a career in professional football instead. Fortunately, he ultimately chose to specialize in tennis and thus began his legendary career.
Nadal has been a tennis phenomenon since his early years on the ATP Tour (the international professional tennis circuit). At a mere 18 years old, he beat Roger Federer, who was the No.1 player in the world, at the Miami Masters. This truly defied all odds. At the age of 19, he won his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros. Little did anyone know, he would then go on to claim this title an astonishing twelve times in his career. This is arguably the single greatest accomplishment in perhaps all of sports history. His dominance on the clay court was unprecedented, but he was not satisfied to constrain his greatness within one surface. He would claim his first Wimbledon title in 2008, Australian Open title in 2009, and US Open title in 2010— completing a career Grand Slam, a feat accomplished by only eight players in tennis history, with Nadal completing it at the youngest age. After more than 14 years of competing, Nadal has nineteen Grand Slam titles, second only to Roger Federer’s twenty, and a record breaking 35 masters titles.
Nadal’s greatness is not only limited to stats and winning streaks. He is a true ambassador of the sport of tennis—an embodiment of humility, hard work, and unwavering passion. In an ATP interview involving various tennis professionals, when asked about who is the “most intense” player on the Tour, they almost unanimously named Nadal. Indeed, he chases down every ball and fights for every point like it’s his last. His unparalleled will and mental fortitude have won him respect in and out of the realm of professional tennis. Nadal once said, “I want to be remembered as a good person more than as a good tennis player.” This quotation is a testament to his incredibly humble character: his unparalleled achievements did not create an ounce of arrogance or complacency as he is forever keen to uphold his virtues. His discipline and temperament, both on and off the court, only augment his legacy as a legendary tennis player.
–Tim Lin, Grade 12; Hsinchu, Taiwan
(See Tim in our DreyerCoaching Hall of Fame!)
Henry Clay: The Great Compromiser
When everyday Americans think of their government, images of senators giving 14-hour speeches to filibuster a bill and Nancy Pelosi ripping up Donald Trump’s State of the Union address script often come to mind. These scenes don’t exactly conjure up feelings of trust, but rather a sense of disgust at party politics. However, though partisan divides have almost always dominated American politics, cross-party cooperation was once possible — all under Henry Clay, now widely referred to as the “Great Compromiser.” As a longtime senator and Speaker of the House, Clay mediated several compromises and championed his American System, ultimately leaving a legacy that reminds Americans of the spirit of cooperation and true patriotism.
Among the many ideologies he managed to reconcile, Clay was instrumental in allowing legislators across the aisle to see eye to eye. Perhaps the most notable of his accomplishments is his work with the Missouri Compromise, a deal that allowed the integration of Maine and Missouri into the United States (with Maine admitted as a free state and Missouri as a slave state) without tipping the senatorial balance of free and slave states. As the chief negotiator between the two sides, not only did this bill lead to decades of non-violent engagements between the slave and free states, it goes to show Clay’s influence as a leader within the US government. What’s noteworthy is that even after more than thirty years, Clay continues to defuse heated situations in government. The Compromise of 1850, which settled border disputes in Texas and slave escapees during the Mexican-American War, was among Clay’s last achievements. Alongside his Democratic senator Stephen Douglas, Clay once again championed his talent as a master of communication and temporarily appeased both sides within an ever-escalating governmental crisis.
But more than just a negotiator, Henry Clay is also remembered for his accomplishments as a legislator. By far his most recognizable vision is the American System: a list of policies aimed at improving domestic industries and reducing reliance on Great Britain. With the four key goals of increasing tariffs, stabilizing the financial system, increasing federal investment in internal improvements, and carefully-managed expansion, Clay sought to domestically uplift many Americans and secure his country a name on the international stage. Despite receiving criticism from southern farmers, Clay’s American System was still mostly successful, marking the beginning of a robust American manufacturing sector that still thrives today.
The year 1852 marked the end of Henry Clay’s almost half a century’s service to US politics, and many others continue to admire Clay as a leader. To Abraham Lincoln, he was “my ideal of a great man.” To the Senate, Clay was voted as the greatest senator in US history. And even though he lost his run for the presidency five times, he was still ranked as the 31st most influential American of all time. Clearly, historians and politicians alike all admire Clay for his unwavering dedication to his country and his everlasting belief in cooperation. Perhaps everyone can take a bit from Clay’s service as Speaker of the House, Secretary of State, and Senator: a reminder of the importance of tolerance and patriotism.
–Aaron Chen, Grade 12; Hsinchu, Taiwan
(See Aaron in our DreyerCoaching Hall of Fame!)
Arthur Conon Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle, a British writer, is most known for creating the character of Sherlock Holmes in the 19th century. As well as creating his companion, Dr. John Watson, Doyle wrote about fifty short stories about the pair as well as four novels. These novels are often seen as instrumental in the development of the genre of crime fiction. Not only was Doyle famous for Holmes and Watson, he also dabbled in other genres, such as fantasy, science fiction, romance, poetry, non-fiction, and historical novels. One of his other most famous characters includes the aggressive Professor Challenger, who is the opposite to the calm and collected Holmes. Professor Challenger is featured in a series of stories which fall into the fantasy and science fiction category, which follow his adventures to exotic places. Doyle also helped popularize other events, such as the mystery of Mary Celeste, which was an American merchant ship discovered abandoned and drifting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Doyle also wrote a short story about that event, which sparked interest among the general public.
Doyle was born on May 22nd, 1869 in Scotland, to Charles Altamont Doyle and Mary Doyle. His family dispersed across Edinburgh in 1864, due to his father’s alcoholism, and the children were separated. During this time, Doyle wrote many letters to his mother, many of which can still be read today. Doyle then went on to school in Lancashire, England, supported by his wealthy uncles. He then went on to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh, during which time he began writing stories. He also wrote academic articles, such as “Gelsemium as a Poison,” which appeared in the British Medical Journal in 1879. He then became the doctor and surgeon onboard ships until about 1882; however, he later left and set up his own medical practice, but it was largely unsuccessful.
His most famous stories, such as those of Sherlock Holmes, were published in 1886. A Study in Scarlet, the first of many of Sherlock Holmes’ adventures, first appeared in Beeton’s Christmas Annual, and received good reviews. A sequel was written, The Sign of Four, in 1890, and in 1893, Doyle decided to kill off Holmes to make time for his historical novels. This book was entitled The Final Problem. Public outrage led to the writing of the next novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, in 1901, and also the short story The Adventure of the Empty House, in 1903. The Sherlock Holmes Adventure was published in 1921, nine years before his death. He died of a heart attack at the age of 71, in his house in East Sussex. His gravestone stands at Hampshire, and a statue of Sherlock Holmes to commemorate his work has been erected at Picardy Place, in Edinburgh.
–Katie Chen, Grade 10; Hsinchu, Taiwan
Nikola Tesla
Despite being one of the greatest scientists of the modern world, he died in poverty and neglect. When people are asked to name the greatest scientists of all time, they may answer Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Isaac Newton. Though these prominent figures influenced the modern world, none of those pioneers had as great of an impact on everyone’s everyday life as he does. Nikola Tesla, a man who seemingly came from the future, was able to memorize books and visualize inventions with pure precision.
Born in 1856, Serbian engineer Nikola Tesla was famous for his life-altering inventions. In his early years, Tesla started studying engineering and physics without obtaining any degree. A decade after his intensive research, he began working in telephony and at Continental Edison. While working at that company, Tesla not only began observing how the company functioned, but he also began building practical working experience. In 1884, Tesla decided to emigrate to America, where he became an American citizen. Soon after his arrival, he began working at Edison Machine Works for a short time, before he started his own business. With the help of his friends, Telsa was able to establish laboratories and companies in New York to invent various electrical and mechanical devices. His alternating current induction motor earned him great wealth and became the foundation of the polyphase system which his company eventually marketed.
While Edison studied electrical direct current (DC), Tesla studied the other type, which is alternating current (AC). Telsa’s success slowly developed a rivalry between his company and Edison’s. Attempting to innovate more products he could patent and market, Telsa conducted wide ranges of experiments: electrical discharge tubes, early X-ray imaging, and mechanical generators. He also built one of the world’s first wireless-controlled boats, but one of his most famous innovations was the Tesla Coil, which can be seen in several video games as an echo of its importance. As time went on, he became a renowned inventor, demonstrating his achievements to famous figures and wealthy patrons at his laboratories. In competition with Edison, Telsa pursued his aspiration of creating a network of wireless lighting across the globe. Even though Telsa has tried to put the idea into practical use, he ran out of funds before he completed the project.
Even without completing the project, Tesla continued experimenting with his inventions in the 1910s and 1920s and had various degrees of success. However, his wealth started to drain rapidly, causing him to move around the hotels of New York while leaving unpaid bills. One night in 1937, when he was eighty-one years old, Tesla left the Hotel New Yorker, as usual, to commute to the cathedral and library to feed pigeons. While he was crossing the road, he was unable to evade an oncoming taxi and was thrust to the ground. Even though he had severe back pain and three broken ribs, Tesla refused to see a doctor, and the wound never healed. Five years later, Tesla died in his hotel room due to coronary thrombosis; a maid later found his body. As a brilliant electrical engineer, Tesla left a legacy of more than 300 inventions, numerous enterprises and organizations, and a story of a man who impacted the world remarkably.
–Ian Lin, Grade 10; Hsinchu, Taiwan
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard, who is 29, is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. Lillard played basketball his whole life; he played during high school for the St. Joseph Notre Dame Pilots, in college for the Weber State Wildcats, and with the Portland Trail Blazers after being picked with the sixth overall draft in the 2012 NBA Draft. In his 2012-2013 season –his first season– Lillard won Rookie of the Year. In the following year, the 2013-2014 season, he became the franchise’s first player to participate in five events in the All-Star Festivities: the Rising Stars Challenge, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest, and the All-Star Game. What’s more spectacular is his 2019-2020 season.
This season, over the last ten games, he has scored 61, 47, 50, 36, 48, 51, 21, 26, 42, and 33. Despite the fact that the Blazers have been struggling all season and are trying to achieve the eighth seed of the Western Conference finals, Lillard’s performance in-game has been spectacular. As a matter of fact, since January 1, 2020, his Points Per Game Average is 34.2; he has thirteen 30-point games, six 40-point games, and three 50-point games, all of which are the best in the NBA seasonal rankings. However, while playing against the Memphis Grizzlies, Lilliard unfortunately suffered a right groin strain injury, which caused him to miss the 2020 All-Star festivities. On the bright side, with twenty-six remaining games in the season and Lillard expecting to come back in about two weeks, the Blazers’ hope of achieving the eighth seed is still possible.
Aside from basketball, Lillard has immersed himself in a side career of rap. He goes by the name Dame D.O.L.L.A.. Currently, he has three published albums with the label Front Page Music, The Letter O, released in 2016; Confirmed, released in 2017; and Big D.O.L.L.A., released in 2019. The Letter O ranked thirteenth, Confirmed ranked eighteenth, and Big D.O.L.L.A. ranked twelfth during peak chart positions in the US Indie category. Despite being injured and missing the All-Star festivities as a result, he, alongside Lil Wayne and Jeremih, performed on-stage at the 2020 NBA All-Star Saturday Night. It just seems that no matter what, Lillard will always stick around for the All-Star week! Not only are fans eager for the games with Lillard after his recovery, but they are also looking forward to his rap album to come.
–Alex Chen, Grade 10; Hsinchu, Taiwan
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