Elements of NONFICTION WHAT IS NONFICTION The subject
Elements of NONFICTION
WHAT IS NONFICTION? ¡ The subject of nonfiction is real l l The author writes about actual persons, places and events. The writer may just report facts (unbiased, objective). The writer may also include personal opinions (biased). Often there is a mixture of both. Readers must read critically.
READING CRITICALLY MEANS… ¡ To look at at writer’s background purpose attitude audience
Types of nonfiction ¡ Biography ¡ Autobiography. Memoir ¡ Newspaper articles ¡ How-to articles ¡ Essays ¡ Letters ¡ Journals and diaries ¡ Speeches ¡ Reference materials
Biography ¡ True story of someone’s life, written by another person ¡ Usually tells events in chronological order ¡ Written in 3 rd person POV
Autobiography. Memoir Autobiography ¡ True story of someone’s life, written by that person ¡ tells events in chronological order, usually from birth to childhood to old age ¡ Written in 1 st person POV Memoir ¡ Type of autobiographical writing ¡ Shorter than autobiographies ¡ Deals with the writer’s career, rather than with their private life ¡ Written in 1 st person POV
Newspaper article ¡ ¡ ¡ Has a headline that gets attention Gives information about a recent event Tells who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
How-to articles ¡ Tell how to do something ¡ Tell what materials are needed ¡ Tell steps in correct order
Essays Persuasive - writer tries to convince a reader to share a belief, agree with an opinion, or to take some action ¡ examples: newspaper editorial, political speech Narrative – writer’s purpose is to relate a series of events, usually in chronological order ¡ 1. has the form of a story (often with characters and dialogue) ¡ 2. examples: historical essay, account of a soccer game Expository - 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 / Reflective expresses a writer’s thoughts, feelings, or opinions on a subject; usually written in an informal, conversational style
Journals and diaries ¡ ¡ Journals: Private form of writing Give a glimpse of the writer’s value of his or her world Intended to be read publicly ¡ ¡ Diaries: a private form of writing Not intended to be read publicly
Letters ¡ Private letters Public letters / epistles ¡ ¡ Directed or sent to a person or group of people ¡ Spontaneous – written without being planned ¡ Conversational – sound like every day speech (informal register) ¡ Private – intended to be read only by the person who receives them ¡ Primary source documents – reveal information about the time in which they are written Very formal, often didactic, elegant tone
Reference materials ¡ Encyclopedia a book or set of books containing articles on various topics, usually in alphabetical order, covering all branches of knowledge. ¡ ¡ Almanac an annual publication containing a calendar for the coming year, the times of such events and phenomena as anniversaries, sunrises and sunsets, phases of the moon, tides, etc. , and other statistical information and related topics. ¡ Dictionary a book containing a selection of the words of a language, usually arranged alphabetically, giving information about their meanings, pronunciations, etymologies, inflected forms, etc. , expressed in either the same or another language; lexicon; glossary.
Author’s purpose ¡ ¡ ¡ Language – the words chosen by the author, and the way he / she arranges them Syntax – the way the author applies the rules of grammar Style – the “feel” of the writing, as conveyed by the author’s tone, rhythm and attitude toward the subject and reader ¡ Rhetoric strategies the use of language effectively and persuasively Ethos- appeal to credibility, beliefs; expert’s opinion Logos- appeal to logic; facts, statistics Pathos- appeal to emotions
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