English 7

WHAT’S NONFICTION? INFORMATIVE writing dealing with facts and events rather than imaginative narration

FIVE MOST COMMON STRUCTURES OF NONFICTION 1. DESCRIPTION OR LIST 2. SEQUENCE OR TIME ORDER 3. COMPARE AND CONTRAST 4. CAUSE AND EFFECT 5. PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

STRUCTURE #1 DESCRIPTION OR LIST PROVIDES INFORMATION, SUCH AS FACTS, CHARACTERISTICS, AND ATTRIBUTES ABOUT A SUBJECT, EVENT, PERSON OR CONCEPT. THIS IS THE MOST COMMON PATTERN FOUND IN TEXTBOOKS.

STRUCTURE #2 SEQUENCE OR TIME ORDER (Chronological) PRESENTS A SERIES OF EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN A TIME ORDER. THE AUTHOR TRACES THE SEQUENCE OR THE STEPS INA PROCESS.

STRUCTURE #3 COMPARE AND CONTRAST POINTS OUT THE LIKENESSES AND/OR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO OR MORE SUBJECTS.

STRUCTURE #4 CAUSE AND EFFECT ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN WHY SOMETHING HAPPENS; HOW FACTS OR EVENTS (CAUSES) LEAD TO OTHER FACTS OR EVENTS (EFFECTS). A SINGLE CAUSE OFTEN HAS SEVERAL EFFECTS. ALSO, A SINGLE EVENT MAY HAVE SEVERAL CAUSES.

STRUCTURE #5 PROBLEM & SOLUTION DESCRIBES A PROBLEM AND PRESENTS ONE OR MORE SOLUTIONS TO THAT PROBLEM.

STEPS TO DECIDING THE STRUCTURE – READING TOOLS 1. LOOK OVER THE ENTIRE ARTICLE 2. READ THE TITLE 3. READ THE INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH 4. PREDICT WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO READ ABOUT 5. READ THE ARTICLE – LOOK FOR BOLDFACED TYPE/PRONUNCIATIONS. 6. LOOK FOR GRAPHIC AIDS AND CAPTIONS