Elements of Non-Fiction

By Mr. Cotton

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

OPINION- statements 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.

Intended Audience

The type of people who would like this genre of writing.

Author’s Purpose

Entertain Persuade Inform