Unit IV.

BIOGRAPHY TEXT

A. Definition of Biography Text

A biography is the story of a person's life that is more complex than just a curriculum vitae and

work data. Generally, biographies tell more about the feelings a person faces in dealing with an

event or a person's life until death.

Biographies are non-fiction works, because they tell a person's real life. However, along with

the times and the extent of social media, there have been many biographical works in the form

of literature or films that are fictional to entertain.

(Biografi merupakan kisah kehidupan seseorang yang lebih kompleks dari sekadar daftar
riwayat hidup dan data-data pekerjaanya. Umumnya, biografi bercerita lebih dalam lagi
tentang perasaan yang dihadapi oleh seseorang dalam menghadapi suatu kejadian atau
kehidupan seseorang hingga kematian.)

(Karya biografi merupakan karya non-fiksi, karena menceritakan kehidupan nyata seseorang.
Namun seiring perkembangan zaman dan luasnya media sosial, sudah banyak terdapat karya
biografi berbentuk literatur atau perfilman yang sifatnya fiktif untuk menghibur.)

B. Struktur Umum Biography Text

Biography text uses a general structure of recount text because it tells events in the past.
(Orientation – Events - Reorientation)

1. Orientation (Pengenalan)| contains an introduction by providing information about who,

what, where, and when the event or activity that has occurred in the past.
(berisi pengenalan dengan memberikan informasi tentang siapa, apa, di mana, dan kapan
peristiwa atau kegiatan itu yang telah terjadi di masa lampau.)

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
2. Events (Peristiwa-peristiwa) is a series of events that occur, usually presented in
chronological order such as, "In the first day, I ..., And in the next day ..., And In the last day ...".

(merupakan runtutan peristiwa yang terjadi, biasanya disampaikan dalam urutan secara
kronologis (chronogical order) seperti, “In the first day, I … (pada hari pertama, aku….), And in
the next day … (dan di hari kedua……..), And In the last day … (dan di hari terakhir aku…..).

3. Re-orientation (Kesimpulan teks) namely the repetition of the introduction in the orientation

and the events that are told. It can be said that this section is the conclusion of the whole text.
(yaitu pengulangan pengenalan yang ada di orientation dan events yang diceritakan. Bisa
dibilang pada bagian ini adalah kesimpulan secara keseluruhan teks.)

C. The Example of Biography Text

Judul : B.J. Habibie

Sumber : Britannica

B.J. Habibie, in full Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, (born June 25, 1936, Parepare, Indonesia—died
September 11, 2019, Jakarta), Indonesian aircraft engineer and politician who was president of
Indonesia (1998–99) and a leader in the country’s technological and economic development in
the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Brilliant in science and mathematics from childhood, Habibie received his postsecondary
education at the Bandung Institute of Technology in Bandung, Indonesia, and furthered his
studies at the Institute of Technology of North Rhine–Westphalia in Aachen, West Germany.
After graduating in 1960, he remained in West Germany as an aeronautics researcher and
production supervisor.

Suharto took power as Indonesia’s second president in 1966, and in 1974 he asked Habibie—
whom he had known for 25 years—to return to the country to help build advanced industries.

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
Suharto assured him that he could do whatever was needed to accomplish that goal. Initially
assigned to the state oil company, Pertamina, Habibie became a government adviser and chief
of a new aerospace company in 1976. Two years later he became research minister and head of
the Agency for Technology Evaluation and Application. In these roles he oversaw a number of
ventures involving the production and transportation of heavy machinery, steel, electronics and
telecommunications equipment, and arms and ammunition.

Habibie believed his enterprises ultimately would spawn high-tech ventures in the private
sector and allow the country to climb the technology ladder. In 1993 he unveiled the first
Indonesian-developed plane, which he helped design, and in the following year he launched a
plan to refurbish more than three dozen vessels bought from the former East German navy at
his initiative. The Finance Ministry balked at the cost of the latter endeavour, while the armed
forces thought that its turf had been violated. Nevertheless, Habibie got more than $400 million
for refurbishing.

Meanwhile, in 1990 Habibie was appointed head of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals
Association, and during the 1993 central-board elections of the country’s ruling party, Golkar,
Habibie helped the children and allies of President Suharto rise to top positions, easing out
long-standing military-backed power brokers. By the late 1990s Habibie was viewed as one of
several possible successors to the aging Suharto.

In March 1998 Suharto appointed Habibie to the vice presidency, and two months later, in the
wake of large-scale violence in Jakarta, Suharto announced his resignation. Thrust unexpectedly
into the country’s top position, Habibie immediately began to implement major reforms. He
appointed a new cabinet; fired Suharto’s eldest daughter as social affairs minister as well as his
longtime friend as trade and industry minister; named a committee to draft less-restrictive
political laws; allowed a free press; arranged for free parliamentary and presidential elections
the following year; and agreed to presidential term limits (two five-year terms). He also granted
amnesty to more than 100 political prisoners.

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
In 1999 Habibie announced that East Timor, a former Portuguese colony that had been invaded
by Indonesia in 1975, could choose between special autonomy and independence; the territory
chose independence. Indonesia held free general elections (the first since 1955) in June, as
promised. Later that year Habibie ran for president, but he withdrew his candidacy shortly
before the October election, which was won by Abdurrahman Wahid. After Wahid took office,
Habibie essentially stepped out of politics, although in 2000 he established the Habibie Center,
a political research institute.

EXAMPLES AND THE MEANING IN BAHASA INDONESIA

Example 1: Thomas Alva Edison

Thomas Alva Edison as Inventor who was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. Thomas
Edison was the youngest of seven children Samuel and Edison. His father was an exiled political
activist, while his mother was an accomplished school teacher and had a great influence on
Thomas’ early life. Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor, his inventions include the
telegraph, the phonograph, the first practical incandescent electric light bulb, alkaline storage
batteries and the Kinetograph (camera for film).
During his lifetime, Edison received many patents. His first patent was obtained from the
Electrographic Vote-Recorder on October 13, 1868, at the age of 21. His last patent was for
equipment used to hold objects during the electroplating process. While the artificer wasn’t the
inventor of the first light bulb, he did find the technology that helped bring it back in time.
Edison was driven to perfect the commercially practical incandescent light bulb after the British
inventor invented the first early electric arc lamp in the early 1800s. Thomas Edison later died of
complications from his illness on October 18, 1931, at his home, “Glenmont,” in West Orange,
New Jersey.
Artinya

Thomas Alva Edison sebagai Penemu yang lahir pada tanggal 11 Februari 1847, di Milan, Ohio.
Thomas Edison sebagai anak bungsu dengan tujuh bersaudara Samuel dan Edison. Ayahnya

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
adalah seorang aktivis politik yang diasingkan, sementara ibunya adalah seorang guru sekolah
rule berprestasi dan memiliki pengaruh besar dalam kehidupan awal Thomas. Thomas Alva
Edison adalah seorang penemu Amerika, penemuannya meliputi telegraf, fonograf, bola lampu
listrik pijar praktis pertama, baterai penyimpanan basa dan Kinetograph (kamera untuk film).

Selama masa hidupnya, Edison menerima banyak hak paten. Hak paten pertamanya sendiri
didapat dari Electrographic Vote-Recorder pada tanggal 13 Oktober 1868, di usianya yang
masih 21. Hak Paten terakhirnya adalah untuk peralatan yang digunakan memegang benda
selama proses lempeng listrik. Sementara artificer bukanlah penemu bola lampu pertama, Ia
menemukan teknologi yang membantu membawanya pada masa.

Edison didorong untuk menyempurnakan bola lampu pijar praktis secara komersial setelah
penemu Inggris penemuan lampu busur listrik awal pertama di awal tahun 1800 an. Thomas
edison kemudian meninggal karena komplikasi penyakit yang dialaminya pada tanggal 18
Oktober 1931, di rumahnya, “Glenmont,” di West Orange, New Jersey

Example 2: Ki Hadjar Dewantara

Ki Hadjar Dewantara, was born on May 2, 1889 in Yogyakarta. He came from a Yogyakarta
aristocratic family and attended a Dutch-sponsored medical school but failed to complete the
course. Ki Hadjar Dewantara was the founder of the Taman Siswa school system, and having
had a widespread influence, he also pushed for modernization but also promoted Indonesian
culture. He feels that education is the best way to strengthen Indonesian society.
The first Taman Siswa school was established in Java in July 1922. Instruction, conducted
informally, emphasized the traditional skills and values of Javanese life, particularly in music and
dance. Ki Hadjar Dewantara later died on April 26, 1959, in Yogyakarta. After his death, Ki
Hadjar Dewantara was named one of the national heroes in the field of education.

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
Artinya:

Ki Hadjar Dewantara, lahir pada tanggal 2 Mei 1889 di Yogyakarta. Ia berasal keluarga
bangsawan Yogyakarta dan menghadiri sekolah kedokteran yang disponsori Belanda namun
gagal menyelesaikan kursus. Ki Hadjar Dewantara adalah pendiri sistem sekolah Taman Siswa,
dan memiliki pengaruh yang tersebar, ia juga mendorong modernisasi namun juga
mempromosikan budaya Indonesia. Ia merasa bahwa pendidikan adalah cara terbaik untuk
memperkuat masyarakat Indonesia.

Sekolah Taman Siswa pertama didirikan di Jawa pada bulan Juli 1922. Instruksi, dilakukan
secara informal, dengan menekankan keterampilan dan nilai tradisional kehidupan masyarakat
Jawa, terutama pada musik dan tarian. Ki Hadjar Dewantara kemudian meninggal pada tanggal
26 April 1959, di Yogyakarta. Setelah wafat, Ki Hadjar Dewantara dinobatkan sebagai salah satu
pahlawan nasional di bidang Pendidikan.

D. Pertanyaan untuk mempermudah dalam membuat Biography Text

Biography tidak hanya diperuntukkan bagi orang terkenal, namun kamu juga bisa
membuat biography siapapun yang menarik bagimu. Misalnya teman atau guru. Penting bagi
kamu untuk membuat pertanyaan bagus dalam menggarap kehidupan seseorang, kemudian
kamu bisa memasukkan informasi tersebut ke dalam biography text dengan struktur recount
text untuk menceritakan kehidupan orang tersebut. Berikut ini variasi pertanyaan dalam
mewawancarai kisah hidup seseorang.

a. Early Childhood (masa kecil)

1. When and where were you born?
2. Who was the most influential person to you as a child?
3. Did you have any pets as a child? What kind?
4. What was your favorite game?

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
 5. Did you have any nicknames?
6. What were you most afraid of as a child?
b. High School (sekolah menengah)
1. Who was your best friend? Are you still in touch with them?
2. What was your favorite subject to study?
3. What was your favorite sport?
4. Is there a teacher that you remember having been particularly influential?
5. How would you describe yourself as a student, both socially and academically?
6. What did you like most about school? Least?
7. What sort of extracurricular activities did you participate in as a teen?
8. Did you have a teen idol? If so, who was it and how did they spark your interest?
9. What was your favorit music/band/dance in high school?
c. College (perkuliahan)
1. Did you attend college? If so, which on? If not, why?
2. What are your most memorable college moments?
3. Who was your most memorable roommate?
4. Why did you decide to attend college?
5. What subject(s) did you study and why?
6. Did you get a degree? In what?
d. Career (karir)
1. What was your first job?
2. What was your best job?
3. What was your worst job?
4. Who was the biggest influence in your career?
e. Family (keluarga)
1. Do you have children? If so, how many and what age and gender are they?
2. What is your goal as a parent?
3. What does the word “family” mean to you?
4. How would your children describe you as a parent?

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
 5. How do you describe yourself as a parent?
6. In what ways have your parents influenced you the most?
7. What is your relationship with your parents like today?
8. Do you have siblings? How many, are they older or younger?
9. Who are your closest to in your family?
10. Who do you admire most in your family and why?
11. Have you lost any family members to death?
f. Love (percintaan)
1. Who was your first love?
2. Have you had your hearth broken?
3. Have you broken any hearths?
4. Have you ever been married? To whom and for how long?
5. How did you and your spouse first meet?
6. Do you believe in love at the first sight?
7. What was the most special way you’ve shown someone that you loved them?
8. What was the most special way you’ve been shown you’re loved?
g. Politics/History (politik/sejarah)
1. What do you consider to be the most significant political event that has occured
during your life?
2. Which political figure do you most admire?
3. Other than the present, which historical era would you like to have lived in?
4. What do you consider to be the most important war fought during your lifetime? In
all of history?
h. General (umum)
1. What is your definition of “happiness”?
2. What is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you?
3. What is your happiest memory?
4. Who is your biggest fan?
5. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.
 6. What is your most embarrasing moment?
7. If you could possess one super-human power, what would it be?
8. What is your greatest fear?
9. What is your greatest hope?

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Modul Bahasa Inggris Kelas XI Semester Genap SMK Praja Utama Sribhawono
Disusun oleh: Elly Purwanti, M.Pd.