NONFICTION

WHAT IS NONFICTION? -Writing about real people, events, and ideas - Non: not; fiction: A literary work whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. (made up) -The broadest category of literature -Like fiction, nonfiction can be creative

TYPES OF NONFICTION Types of nonfiction : Nonfiction Narrative Informative autobiography expository works memoir articles biography speeches narrative essays reviews persuasive essays

What is the purpose of Narrative nonfiction tells stories narrative nonfiction? What is the purpose of Informative nonfiction explains a Informative nonfiction? topic or promotes an opinion. How to analyze Persuade nonfiction Inform Entertain

ANALYZING NARRATIVE NONFICTION Use the following questions to analyze narrative nonfiction: 1. Is the sequence of events logical and effective? How is it organized and presented? Is it organized by dates or parts of the day? Describe the sequence of this story. 2. Does it provide specific information about the setting? This can include information about the social and historical issues of the time. Is there more than one setting? How do the settings differ? Identify at least two settings described and how they differ. 3. Does it clearly describe the event with sensory details? Does it contain information about the sights, sounds, and smells of a scene? Identify at least two details given. Find specific textual examples.

ANALYZING NARRATIVE NONFICTION 4. Does it effectively communicate the writer’s attitude (tone) about the subject? Identify the writer’s attitude and one piece of evidence to support the attitude identified. 5. Does it include appropriate strategies to engage the reader or achieve the purpose? (dialogue, suspense, action, figurative language) Identify at least two strategies used to engage the reader and include textual evidence that includes the strategies you identified.

ANALYZING PERSUASIVE NONFICTION What is the purpose of To promote an opinion or a position persuasive position? Examples of persuasive Reviews (movies, music), editorials, nonfiction essays, advertisements

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN PERSUASIVE NONFICTION? 1. Does the piece clearly state the opinion/focus/position? Is the opinion/focus/position maintained throughout? 2. Does it contain convincing evidence to support the opinion/focus/topic?

ANALYZING PERSUASIVE NONFICTION (CONTINUED) 3. Does it effectively address counterarguments/opposing viewpoints? Identify one or more of the counterarguments presented. 4. Is the evidence logically organized? Does it flow well and is it easy to understand? Explain the organization of the article. 5. Are rhetorical devices used? Identify at least two rhetorical devices used. 6. Additional elements of a critical review: Is a summary of the work included?

ANALYZING PERSUASIVE NONFICTION ACTIVITY Read the editorials for the issue “Should Schools Be Wired to the Internet?” on page 42 in the literature book. Answer the questions above for the editorial in complete sentences and be specific in your responses.

EXPOSITORY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS Expository nonfiction conveys information Use these questions to analyze expository articles. Give specific evidence for each question.: Expository 1. Is important information included: dates, statistics, and important individuals? 2. Does it effectively convey factual information: uses visual aids, such as charts, pictures, diagrams, definitions? For each feature that you find, explain how that feature helps convey the message. For example, how do the charts help communicate the message?

EXPOSITORY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS CONT’D 3. Is the structure effective and logical: steps numbered, labeled or well-organized? 4. Is the source reputable?

MEDIA BIAS Media bias is the real or perceived prejudice/influence journalists & news producers have within the mass media. Bias is seen: Through selection and omission Through placement By Headline By photos, captions, and camera angles, Through use of names and titles Through statistics and crowd counts By source control Word choice and tone

RHETORICAL DEVICES rhetorical device - a use of language that creates a literary effect rhetoricrhetoric - study of the technique and rules for using language effectively. devicedevice - something in an artistic work designed to achieve a particular effect. Rhetorical devices are useful. It is how something is said, not what is said that usually wins the day. Having a good idea or something important to say is not enough. One must also get the message across to the intended recipient(s), and do it in such a way that both the message and its importance are received and understood

RHETORICAL DEVICES (CONTINUED) 1. Concession- Respectful acknowledgement of audience/opposition 2. Emotional appeal-appeal to reader’s fears, love, patriotism, family, religion, etc. 3. Ethical appeal-appeal to reader’s morals/values 4. Rhetorical questions-answer to question is obvious, and therefore the question itself is inherently persuasive (yet writer may still answer for emphasis) 5. Hyperbole-deliberate exaggeration 6. Repetition-emphasizes key points, statements, or words

RHETORICAL DEVICES (CONTINUED) 7. Analogies/figures of speech-draw comparisons to illustrate points Figures of speech include metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, understatement, symbolism, paradox) 8. Anecdotes-related stories nobs that bring argument to life 9. Parallel structure- repeating grammatical forms to underscore similar ideas is a powerful tool for persuasion. By grammatically balancing words, phrases, and clauses, a writer enables readers to navigate an essay with ease. It also emphasizes key points. 10. Allusion- a reference in a work of literature to a character, place, or situation from another work of literature, music, art, or from history 11. Euphemism- the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt

RHETORICAL DEVICES (CONTINUED) 12. Irony-a contrast between appearance and reality. 13. Juxtaposition- an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast (oxymoron is a type) 14. Motif- a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work 15. Pronouns- replacements or substitutes for nouns and noun phrases, such as we, us, they 16. satire- the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly 17. Syllogism- A form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion

RHETORICAL DEVICES (CONTINUED) 18. denotation vs. connotation- denotation-the literal or dictionary meaning of a word connotation-the unspoken or unwritten meanings associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition. Loaded words-words with strong positive or negative connotation 19. Diction-an author’s choice or words and the arrangement of those words in phrases, sentences, or lines of a poem 20. Syntax- the study of the patterns of formation of sentences and phrases from words (complex, simplistic, varying) 21. Other aspects to consider: formality of language

SOAPSTONE S peaker: Who is the author? What is the name of the publication? O ccasion: What is the time, place, current situation? A udience: What section or group is the article aimed at?

SOAPSTONE CONT’D P urpose: Remember PIE (persuade, inform, or entertain) What is the reason behind the text? What is the message/point? How well does the speaker achieve the purpose? Be able to support your answer with evidence from the text. Identify the type of article  informative-persuasive (attempts to convince)  informative- expository (conveys information-how to, explains event)  narrative- tells a story Use the questions from your notes to answer this question.

S ubject: What is the general topic? What is the overall idea? T one: What is the speaker’s attitude toward the subject? Cynical? Humorous? Biased? Sad? Hostile? Be able to support your idea of tone with evidence from the text.