Elements of Fiction and Nonfiction How can you tell if a story is made up? How can you tell if a story is real?

Fiction Literature with imaginary people, events, or places. It can be inspired by fact and can include some real events or people, but it also includes at least one made-up element (people, events, or places).

Fiction Basic elements: Characters Setting Plot (exposition, inciting incident, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) Narrator/Point of View: a. 1 st person - I; character in the story b. 3 rd person - s/he, narrator outside story Theme (universal lesson) Author’s purpose (PIES): mainly to entertain

Fiction Cinderella: Characters: Cinderella, stepmother, stepsisters, fairy godmother, etc… Setting: timeless fairytale land of castles and princesses Plot: young girl living in a wicked step-family is magically transformed and dances with prince, loses her glass slipper, and then reclaims it (lives happily ever after) Narrator/Point of View : (3 rd person - s/he, narrator outside of story) Theme: kindness and goodness triumph over meanness and evil

Fiction Types of Fiction – classified according to length Short stories – brief, focus is upon one single conflict (approximately 2 – 10,000 words) Novellas – longer than short stories but shorter than novels (approximately 10,000 – 90,000 words). (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Novels – long works of fiction (main plot with main conflict, plus numerous sub-plots and conflicts)

Nonfiction The subject of non-fiction writing is always real: real characters, real events, real information, real facts, and real ideas. Author’s purpose (PIES): mainly to inform. Although the writer may just include facts, he/she may also include opinion! The reader must read (or view) critically to figure out the difference!

Nonfiction Types of Nonfiction 1. Biographies 2. Autobiographies 3. Memoirs 4. Letters 5. Diaries/Journals 6. Informational Text (textbook, application forms, instructions, etc.) 7. Essays and articles, interviews, editorials, speeches Nonfiction= Real characters, events, ideas, and facts that point to history.

Nonfiction Characters, Plot, and Setting. Like fiction, nonfiction may have characters, plot, and setting. However, these elements are real, not made up. For example, the main character in an autobiography or biography is called the subject. The subject's words, thoughts, and actions are presented. Characters, Plot, and Setting. Like fiction, nonfiction may have characters, plot, and setting. However, these elements are real, not made up. For example, the main character in an autobiography or biography is called the subject. The subject's words, thoughts, and actions are presented.

Nonfiction Purpose: Different types of nonfiction have different purposes. The purpose of biographies and autobiographies is to inform, and they use a combination of explanatory, descriptive, and narrative writing. Other types of nonfiction, such as newspaper editorials, have the purpose to persuade. They use persuasive language (connotative language) to win readers over to a certain opinion. Writing often contains combines purposes! (PIES)

Nonfiction Point of View of nonfiction writing is from the author’s perspective, (a real person writing about a real subject).

Nonfiction Nonfiction writings often reflect the historical context from the time period (current events, society, and culture)

HOW TO READ NONFICTION Try to separate Facts from Opinions! Try to separate Facts from Opinions! Remember: the writer has chosen facts that present a certain picture of the subject! Remember: the writer has chosen facts that present a certain picture of the subject! Think about what might be missing as well as what is there! Think about what might be missing as well as what is there!

MORE Nonfiction READING TIPS Think about the writer's purpose. Think about the writer's purpose. Is the writer trying to win you over to his or her opinion? Is the writer trying to win you over to his or her opinion? Learn to appreciate how well a writer says something, even when you don't agree. Learn to appreciate how well a writer says something, even when you don't agree. Be a critical reader. Be a critical reader.

Distinguish between Fiction and Nonfiction Identify as Fiction (F) or Nonfiction (NF): 1. Shrek 2. journal and diary entries 3. article on Valley Fever 4. story from a dog’s point of view 5. National Geographic 6. letter to the newspaper editor about a new skate park for the city