Initial Steps in the Drafting of Biographical Texts and Their Structure

The first step in composing a biography text. (Pixabay)

YOGYAKARTA - Biography is one example of a literary work that contains information about a person's life and journey. The initial step in composing a biography text begins with the determination and knowledge of the figure who will be written in the work.

This type of literary work includes all the scope of the life of the figure to be written. This ranges from the place and date of birth, personal identity, information regarding the background of education, and so on.

The Meaning of Biography

Quoted from the book Politics of the Educator, H. Djamian Kathmir BA, Salim Bella Pili et al. (2022: 2), biography is a historical writing that contains the life history of a figure of his time.

Writing biographies is very useful in helping historians reconstruct events. The event in question is the historical events of the figures related to the social situation or the spirit of a certain era from a period or region.

In writing a biography, there must be factual and reliable data. This is because biographies have the same function as the function of history.

The Structure of Biographical Texts

Before you write a biography, you need to understand the structure of the biography text first. Reported from 'Kemdikbud Bahasa Indonesia Module: Things to Learn from Biographical Figures', the biography text is structured in three structures, including orientation, important events, and reorientation.

Orientation, contains an introduction to the background of the life of the figure, which can be started from the story of childhood or family circumstances. Important events, in the form of a series of events that are arranged chronologically or according to the order of time. This section can be filled with a series of events of the work that is written, the awards received, and the conflicts faced. Reorientation, contains evaluative comments or conclusions about the series of events that have been told before. Reorientation is optional so that it can be there or not in the biography text.First Steps in Writing a Biographical Text

Biography is a history of a person's life that can be written by others. The initial steps to writing a biography are as follows.

Specify the Character to be Written

The first step, namely determining the figure to be discussed or told in the biography. In this initial step, you must study the figure, whether the figure has an interesting life story, whether the figure is able to provide inspiration or benefits for readers, and so on.

Collect Data as Much as Possible

The second step, find data on as many figures as possible. The data in question is accurate and official data, not myths or issues.

These data have the function of determining who the other involved figures will be interviewed. This also includes the materials needed as supporting materials.

Set the Interview Schedule

After determining the figure and getting as much data as possible, the next step is to arrange an interview schedule with the figure or people who have a relationship or have ever come into contact with the figure.

This applies if the person concerned is still alive and can still be interviewed.

Searching for a Comparative Biography Book

Before you pour the data obtained as a biography, you need to find a comparative biography book with the same figure. This needs to be done in order to determine the style of speech that is more interesting before it is written in the biography text.

Framing and Writing a Biography

The next step is to create a biography framework that will be written, and then write it according to the framework. After this step is passed, review the writing so that revisions can be made later.

That's the review of the initial steps in compiling a biography text. Hopefully this information is useful! Visit VOI.id to find other interesting information.