Elements of NonFiction NONFICTION Nonfiction is writing about

Elements of Non-Fiction

NONFICTION Nonfiction is writing about real people, places, and events. § Mainly written to convey factual information. § Information may be shaped by the author’s own purpose and attitudes.

Two Categories of Nonfiction § Informative- factual information to inform § examples: magazines, pamphlets, encyclopedias, textbooks § Literary- actual places and true events

Autobiography § A true story about a person’s life told by that person (usually a book)

Biography § A true story of a person’s life as told by someone else, a biographer writes it

Essay § A short piece of nonfiction writing that deals with one subject

Types of Essay § Persuasive § Personal § Narrative § Expository § Descriptive

Persuasive Essay § Writer tries to convince a reader to share a belief, agree with an opinion, or to take some action. § 1. Facts are selected and arranged in a way to get readers to share a writer’s opinion. § 2. Examples: newspaper editorial, political speech

Expository Essay § Writer’s primary purpose is to convey or explain information. § 1. Facts are used as neutrally as possible § 2. Examples: report on a scientific discovery, instructions

Personal Essay § Expresses a writer’s thoughts, feelings, or opinions on a subject; usually written in an informal, conversational style.

Descriptive Essay § Writer tries to recreate a person, place, or event mostly through language that appeals to the senses. § * Examples: traveler’s journal, autobiographical essay of a hometown

Narrative Essay § Writer’s purpose is to relate a series of events, usually in chronological order. § Has the form of a story (often with characters and dialogue) § Examples: historical essay, account of a soccer game

Thesis § Theme of an essay. § 1. In narrative nonfiction (like biographies), theme is a perception about life § 2. In no narrative fiction (like essays), theme is the main idea or opinion the writer wants the reader to understand

Objective versus Subjective Writing § 1. Objective: facts, which can be proved to be true by the senses, the calendar, or the clock § * Examples: the geographic location of a city, the time of day § 2. Subjective: details that may be true, but are verifiable only by reference to your own state of mind § a. Examples: feelings about an event, description of a person § b. Word connotation (associations that affect meaning

Strategies for Nonfiction Reading § § § § 1. Preview 2. Figure out the organization 3. Separate FACT and OPINION 4. Question? ? 5. Predict 6. Build 7. Evaluate

1. Preview § Skim selection to get an idea of what it’s about by looking at title, pictures diagrams, subtitles, and terms you see in boldface

2. Figure out the Organization § Chronological order or how the work is arranged

3. Separate Fact and Opinion § FACTS- statements that can be proven § OPINIONstatements that cannot be proven

4. Question § Why did things happen the way they did? Do you share the writer’s opinion?

5. Predict § What will happen next? What will the author say about an issue?

6. Build § Add new information to what you already know, and see if your ideas or opinions change.

7. Evaluate § Form opinions about people, events, and ideas. Decide whether or not you like the way a piece is written.