Genre and Subgenre Categories of Writing
All writing falls into a Genre = Category All writing falls into a category or genre. We will use 5 main genres and 15 subgenres.
Fiction Drama Folklore Poetry Nonfiction Folklore Poetry Realistic Fiction Informational Writing Comedy Fairy Tale Legend Historical Fiction Tragedy Persuasive Writing Tall Tale Science Fiction Biography Myth Fantasy Autobiography Fable
5 Main Genres Nonfiction: writing that is true Fiction: imaginative or made up writing Folklore: stories once passed down orally Drama: a play or script Poetry: writing concerned with the beauty of language
Nonfiction Subgenres Persuasive Writing: tries to influence the reader Informational Writing: explains something Autobiography: life story written by oneself Biography: Writing about someone else’s life Latin Roots Auto = Self Bio = Life Graphy = Writing
Ready to practice Yes! On Friday, you will teach a lesson on genres. Be ready and be creative.
Decide the main genre (Top 5 portion) Discuss with a partner your reasoning
“Coretta Scott King enrolled in thirteen courses that year, practicing four instruments and teaching in local schools in order to graduate from the conservatory in June. King, who had completed his formal course work, cheerfully offered to do the cleaning and washing. Coretta Scott King recalled being “very appreciative’’ of his help, “but I would wish to myself that he had let me do the job.” In addition to preaching, King was studying for several written qualifying examinations before continuing work on his dissertation.”
Nonfiction
Discuss with a partner your reasoning Decide the subgenre Discuss with a partner your reasoning
“Coretta Scott King enrolled in thirteen courses that year, practicing four instruments and teaching in local schools in order to graduate from the conservatory in June. King, who had completed his formal course work, cheerfully offered to do the cleaning and washing. Coretta Scott King recalled being “very appreciative’’ of his help, “but I would wish to myself that he had let me do the job.” In addition to preaching, King was studying for several written qualifying examinations before continuing work on his dissertation.” http://kingencyclopedia.stanford.edu/primarydocuments/Vol2Intro.pdf
Biography Writing about someone else’s life
Decide the main genre (Top 5 portion) Discuss with a partner your reasoning
… When some yelled for violence For angry revenge An eye for an eye And a tooth for a tooth He stood his ground Preaching peace And when some spit out hate He stood there smiling Spreading love Until it rolled like the sea across the land Sweeping away Jim Crow Breaking down the walls Ringing the bell Joyfully For Freedom Until Standing on the mountain top They shot him Coldly Hoping to see him fall Hoping to put him away To bring him low But this King even in death even today stands strong stands proud stands tall And we remember Standing Tall by Jamie McKenzie
Generally the genre poem does not have subgenres, but that is up for debate. What type of poem do you think this is? haiku, free verse, acrostic, or something else http://www.poemofquotes.com/articles/poetry_forms.php Discuss with a partner your reasoning
Decide the main genre (Top 5 portion) Discuss with a partner your reasoning
Play the following as you read the next slide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE
So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
Nonfiction
Discuss with a partner your reasoning Decide the subgenre Discuss with a partner your reasoning
So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
Persuasive Transcript of speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. August 28, 1963. Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. http://www.analytictech.com/mb021/mlk.htm
What if Martin Luther King Jr’s life was written for a play or script for a movie, what would you consider is the main genre?
Drama
What would be the subgenre?
Stories written in script form. What are Dramas? Stories written in script form. Drama Subgenres Comedy: has a happy ending. Tragedy: ends in death and sadness.
If you have time… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy4CMhE
If you have time… https://www.youtube.com/embed/NSP_cb886FU?list=UU5dhvso3HRpJcWFW6q5_98Q
Review Nonfiction: persuasive writing, informational writing, autobiography, and biography Fiction: historical fiction, science fiction, realistic fiction, and fantasy Folklore: myth, legend, tall tale, fairy tale, and fable Drama: comedy and tragedy Poetry: many subgenres we will not study…