Fiction vs. Non-Fiction English I

Fiction Refers to literary works of the imagination commonly divided into three areas according to the general appearance of the text: stories and novels: prose-- that is, the usual paragraph structure--forming chapters poetry: lines of varying length, forming stanzas plays: spoken lines and stage directions, arranged in scenes and acts Non-fiction Prose accounts of real people, places, objects, or events. Basic types: Narrative nonfiction tells a true story. Expository nonfiction is factual and informative writing. Persuasive nonfiction promotes an opinion or a position

Non-fiction types

Terms to Know 1.Prose- the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse 2.Fact- something that can be shown to be true, to exist, or to have happened 3.Opinion- a statement that cannot be proved 4.Objective - free of bias or prejudice caused by personal feelings 5.Subjective - based opinions or feelings rather than on facts or evidence 6.Claim/ Assertion - writers of nonfiction give a strong opinion in their writing about something they believe is true, they are making a claim. A claim is also called an assertion. It is the main idea the writer is trying to convince his or her readers of.

Fiction Examples Romances Westerns Historical fiction Mysteries Science fiction Horror Fantasy Fairy tales Non-Fiction Examples autobiographies biographies memoirs narrative essays newspaper and magazine articles editorials and letters to the editor reviews of books, movies, etc. diaries and journals personal essays letters instructions

What is it? Fiction or Non-fiction 1. From the General History of Virginia- John Smith 2. “The Raven” – Edgar Allen Poe 3. “To My Dear and Loving Husband” – Anne Bradstreet 4. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” –Patrick Henry 5. Taming of the Shrew- William Shakespeare

Text 1Text 2Text 3Text 4Text 5 Title Author Fiction or Non- Fiction If Fiction… is it short story, novel, poetry or play? If Non-Fiction …is it narrative, expository or persuasive Genre Purpose