Intro to NONFICTION Please take notes on your handout as you view the information in this Power Point!

factual, prose writing that deals with real people and experiences NONFICTION: factual, prose writing that deals with real people and experiences Nonfiction books and articles are excellent resources for reading, writing, and learning.

Traits of Nonfiction Purpose—to inform, persuade, or entertain Usually focuses on one topic or main idea Information is factual, but may contain opinions Facts may be supported by detailed descriptions, examples, definitions, or quotations.

Types of Nonfiction Autobiography/Biography Essay Editorial Speech Newspaper/ Magazine Articles

Autobiography & Biography TRAITS written about a person’s life or one main event-has a plot-can be read in one sitting or have many chapters PURPOSE To entertain To inform

Essay PURPOSE TRAITS To inform To persuade To entertain TRAITS can be based on research or personal experience -can be read in one sitting -written in paragraph form/usually five or more

Editorial TRAITS PURPOSE focuses on one topic/main idea-gives opinion-written in paragraphs PURPOSE To inform To persuade

Speech TRAITS PURPOSE focuses on one topic/main idea oral presentation can be researched or personal experience written in paragraphs PURPOSE To inform To persuade To entertain

Newspaper/Magazine Article TRAITS short can be read in one sitting focuses on one topic/main idea shouldn’t be biased but often is PURPOSE To inform To persuade

Author’s Purpose The intention of the writer: to entertain to inform to persuade to explain to describe *can be a combination of two or more of these purposes

A course of reasoning aimed truth or falsehood of a specific point ARGUMENT A course of reasoning aimed at demonstrating the truth or falsehood of a specific point

Facts and Opinions Fact Opinion something that is known to be true and can most likely be proven Opinion a person’s feelings or thoughts; difficult to prove

Author’s Background personal information about the author that helps the reader understand the author’s point of view

references to past events in a nonfiction work of literature Historical Context references to past events in a nonfiction work of literature

What is BIAS? when an author gives personal opinions in a story or news report; often causing the reader to form a certain opinion

Emotional Language/Semantic Slanting *loaded words that impact the reader’s opinion/feelings Semantic Slanting *a technique that an author uses to influence the reader’s opinion

Example of Emotional Language In his post-9/11 speech to Congress President Bush said, "I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people." from “P-I Focus: Power of presidency resides in language as well as law” By RENANA BROOKS

What the text says + What the author is saying + What you know Making Inferences Inference: to read between the lines or make an educated guess Purpose: to determine things that that are not directly stated in the passage. INFERENCE= What the text says + What the author is saying + What you know

Drawing Conclusions Means making judgments about what has happened or what you have learned in your reading Strategy: List supporting facts that lead to a conclusion or judgment

That’s All Folks…