NONFICTION•Writing that deals with REAL people, places, and events.

•Opposite of Fiction

Contains FACTUAL information

(However, writers can choose and organize

based on their specific purposes.)

FACT and OPINION

FACTS• Statements that

can be proven .true or false

OPINIONS• Statements that

cannot be proven .true or false

• Based on an’ individual s personal

beliefs and feelings

F A C T O R? !O P IN IO N

In order to become 8 th graders, 7 th graders at Lanier must pass the CRCT in Language Arts and Math.

Girls are usually nicer than boys.The classroom doesn’t contain

enough chairs to seat al l the students.

The best food in the cafeteria is the quesadil la.

The award for best actress was given to Halle Berry.

FORMS OF NONFICTION

• Autobiography• Biography• Essay

• Informational article• Interview

Autobiography• Story of a person’s

life, written by that person.

• 1st person point of view

• Usually book length• Includes journals,

diaries, letters, and memoirs

, In the beginning becaus e

, In the beginning becaus e , I fe lt as only a young girl ,

I fe lt as only a young girl , can fee l it all the pain of

, can fee l it all the pain of . being an ugly duckling I

. being an ugly duckling I , was not only timid I was

, was not only timid I was. afraid Afraid of almos t

. afraid Afraid of almos t, : everything I think of, : everything I think of, , mice of the dark of

, , mice of the dark of

, imaginary dangers of my

, imaginary dangers of my . own inadequacy My chief

. own inadequacy My chief objective as a girl was to

objective as a girl was to .do my duty .do my duty

-- Eleanor Roos eve lt-- Eleanor Roos eve lt

What details in the paragraph help What details in the paragraph help you understand what Eleanor you understand what Eleanor

Roosevelt felt and experienced? How Roosevelt felt and experienced? How is this an example of is this an example of autobiographyautobiography??

• She felt she was ugly• That made her timid• She was very dutiful• She wanted the

approval of others• Uses the “I” subject

pronoun!!

Biography• Story of a person’s

life told by someone else

• In 3rd person point of view (he/she/they)

• The writer is called the biographer

• Same elements as fiction (conflict, setting, etc.)

Eleanor was born in a f ine townhouse in Manhattan. Her family also owned an elegant mansion along the Hudson River, where they spent weekends and summers . As a chi ld Eleanor went to fashionable part ies . A servant took care of her and taught her to speak French. Her mother, the beautiful Anne Hall Roosevelt , wore magnif icent j ewels and f ine c lothing. Her father , El l iot Roosevelt , had his own hunting lodge and l iked to sai l and to play tennis and polo … The Roosevelt family , one of America’s o ldest , wealthiest famil ies , was respected and admired.

-Wil l iam Jay Jacobs , “Eleanor Roosevelt”

What do the details in the paragraph tell you about Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and background? How is this an example of

biography?

• Details of her home, family, and life

• Written by a different person about her

EssayEssay• Short piece written on ONE subjectShort piece written on ONE subject• Usually found in newspapers & Usually found in newspapers &

magazines (magazines (andand in Language Arts!) in Language Arts!)• PurposesPurposes–To share opinionsTo share opinions–Entertain or persuadeEntertain or persuade–To describeTo describe

3 Essay Types3 Essay Types

EXPOSITORYEXPOSITORY-tightly structuredtightly structured

-impersonal/formal styleimpersonal/formal style-presents or explains presents or explains

informationinformation

PERSONALPERSONAL-looser structurelooser structure

-personal/informal stylepersonal/informal style-expresses writer’s expresses writer’s thoughts & feelingsthoughts & feelings

PERSUASIVE-develops arguments

-tries to convince readers to adopt a

certain perspective

EXPOSITORYEXPOSITORY, PERSUASIVE, or PERSONALPERSONAL?

“ The s tory of the Titan predic ted exactly what

would happen to theTitanic fourteen years

. later It was an eerie prophecy of terrible

.things to come ”

SometimeS i think we would be better off if we forgot about the broad StrokeS and concentrated on the detailS.

The only thing that can help them is genuine love. You must truly love us.

Informational Article• Provides facts about a subject• Includes newspaper and magazine

articles, and feature stories• Also includes textbooks, pamphlets,

history books, gardening books, and how-to books

InterviewConversation in which one person asks

questions of another for the purpose of obtaining information

: Q I know you never have trouble . coming up with ideas Walk me through your daily ins piration and

.writing proces sRay Bradbury: I just wake up with ideas every morning from my subconscious percolating.What info is the interviewer trying to obtain?

TIPS FOR READING NONFICTION

• Preview the selection (what’s in bold? What are the pictures about? Etc.)

• Clarify the organization (is it chronological, sequential, etc?)

• Summarize the main idea• Separate facts from opinions• Evaluate what you read (come up with

your own opinions!)