Nonfiction. . . in a nutshell

What is nonfiction? Writing that deals with real people, places, and things without changing the facts.

Categories of nonfiction Autobiography Biography Personal essay Report

BIOGRAPHY A story of a person’s life told or written by someone else. Comes from two Greek words – bio, meaning life and graph, meaning written. based on study and research reliable biographies are objective

AUTOBIOGRAPHY A story of a person’s life (or part of it) told or written by the subject Comes from three Greek words – auto, meaning self; bio, meaning life; graph, meaning written. autobiographies reveal personal experiences Primarily subjective

PERSONAL ESSAY A short piece of conversational nonfiction on a limited subject Reveals things about the writer, including feelings and response to an experience It tends to read more like a conversation, may be humorous, and often lacks objectivity.

REPORT An account of something seen, heard, read, or done. This informative writing conveys facts in an accurate and objective manner.

Methods of Writing Nonfiction Descriptive Writing Expository Writing Narrative Writing Persuasive Writing

DESCRIPTIVE WRITING Recreates a picture of a person, place, thing, event, or an experience. Establishes a mood or stirs an emotion. Does this with imagery – pictures created using sensory details. Answers the question: What does it look, sound, smell, feel, or taste like?

EXPOSITORY WRITING Explains something, gives information, defines or clarifies an idea. Answers the questions: What is it?

NARRATIVE WRITING Tells about a series of events usually in chronological order. The author is the narrator. The kind of writing that tells a story. Answers the question: What happened?

PERSUASIVE WRITING Convinces (persuades) readers to think or act in a certain way. Uses language that appeals to our emotions (called an emotional appeal) or it can use logic to appeal to reason (called a logical appeal). Please note that emotional appeals can be effective but should not be a substitute for the logical argument. When persuasive writing appeals to reason it is called an argument. Answers the question: What should I do about it?

SUBJECTIVE VS. OBJECTIVE Subjective is when we reveal our thoughts and feelings about a subject by what we say or do. Objective is when the focus is on presenting the facts. The writer does not reveal personal feelings about the subject in any way.

Subjective Writing When writers emphasize or share their own personal feelings, thoughts, judgments, and opinions, their writing is defined as subjective

Subjective Writing Subjective writing is found in personal essays, in autobiographies, and in the editorial section of newspapers where journalists express their opinions about news events.

Objective Writing Objective writing presents facts and figures only. It does not include the writer’s beliefs or feelings.

Objective Writing Journalists who report the news write in an objective style. They stick to the facts and figures of the events they report; their purpose is strictly to inform the readers. Objective writing is also found in textbooks.

Warning! Some texts may combine objective writing and subjective writing. For example, a biographer may include his or her opinion of the person about whom he or she is writing, as well as report the facts regarding that person’s life. It is important to recognize which segments are written objectively and which are written subjectively.

to distinguish fact from opinion. Warning! Likewise, a inexperienced or unprofessional journalist may inadvertently or on purpose mix actual facts related to a news event and his or her own opinions of that occurrence. Again, it is the reader’s responsibility to distinguish fact from opinion.

FACT VS. OPINION A fact is something that can be proven true. An opinion is something believed without proof. 4 X 4=16 5+5=10 The Hokies might win a game. The Red Skins could win the Superbowl next year.

TERMS An image is anything that appeals to our senses. Attitude is a state of mind with regard to a person or thing. Tone is the attitude the writer takes toward the audience, subject (what he/she is writing about), or character.

TERMS (cont.) An anecdote is a very short story told within a larger essay. The story is told to illustrate a point. Accuracy is getting the facts straight and presenting them clearly. Exaggeration is overstating something in a big way, usually to help make a point Perspective is the writers relationship with his/her subject