NONFICTION A Writing Style Fiction vs Nonfiction Fiction

NONFICTION A Writing Style

Fiction vs. Nonfiction Fiction uses made-up characters and events to show something that is true about live. Fiction isn’t “fact, ” but good fiction is “true. ” Nonfiction material refers to textbook, reference book, or informational types of writing.

Judy Blunt’s key advice ● nonfiction tells the real story; a changing genre ● different process - like a tapestry where everything seems connected and the writer has to find the thread that links everything together ● creative nonfiction - reconstructing real life on the page working with facts and figure ● know your goal, what do you want to achieve? ● you get better by writing ● be precise in language choices, details matter

Strategies for Reading Nonfiction There are five patterns of nonfiction. Knowing how the writing is organized and the patterns of nonfiction can help you take notes and make it easier to understand your assigned reading.

1. Description Descriptive writing focuses on sensory details. Strategy: MAPPING

2. Chronological Order Chronological order lists events in the order in which they happen. Strategy: TIME LINE

3. Comparison/Contrast The comparison/contrast pattern introduces two (or more) topics, and then tells how they are the same and how they are different. Strategy: VENN DIAGRAM

4. Main Idea/Supporting Details This pattern begins with one main idea and goes on to give details (facts, figures, examples) that explain the main idea. Strategy: TABLE ORGANIZER

5. Cause and Effect The cause-and-effect pattern shows the relationships between two or more events or situations. Cause-and-effect relationships can take on a variety of forms: one cause with many effects, many causes that create one final effect, and other variations. Strategy: CAUSE-AND-EFFECT ORGANIZER

Reading Nonfiction: SQ 3 R SURVEY QUESTION READ RECITE REVIEW