Genres and literature When you speak about genre and literature, genre means a category, or kind of story.

All categories of books or stories can be called either fiction or non-fiction. Fiction a made up story can tell about things that could happen is read for fun characters may be like real people or imaginary Non-Fiction has facts that can be checked and proven the author is an expert on this information it IS TRUE!

Realistic Fiction Realistic fiction is made up of stories that could really happen. Contemporary realistic fiction is realistic fiction that is set in modern times.

Examples of Realistic Fiction Because of Winn Dixie Crash Owl Moon Shiloh Summer of the Swans Babysitter Club series

Historical Fiction Historical fiction is made up of stories that take place in a certain time and place in the past. Real historical figures and settings may be included in a fiction story.

Examples of Historical Fiction A Boy at War Across Five Aprils Ben and Me The Butterfly Charlie Skedaddle Sign of the Beaver Titanic Crossing Dear America Series

Drama A type of prose that is written in dialogue form. Contains stage directions and a lot of speaking.

Examples of Drama Much Ado About Nothing The Diary of Anne Frank The Phantom Toll Booth Romeo and Juliet

Fantasy Fantasy is fiction that has elements that are not real. Sometimes this includes talking animals or characters with magical powers. There’s usually a conflict between good and evil.

Examples of Fantasy Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Charlotte’s Web The Wreck of the Zephyr Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe Lord of the Rings Harry Potter Series

Mystery Mysteries are stories that have a real setting and a problem to be solved that includes clues, distractions, and an answer to the problem.

Examples of Mystery The House of Dies Drear Never Say Die The Treehouse Mystery Mystery of the Midnight Message Encyclopedia Brown Series Boxcar Children Mysteries

Science Fiction Science Fiction is made up of stories that blend fact and fiction with futuristic technology.

Examples of Science Fiction Aliens for Breakfast A Wrinkle in Time My Best Friend is Invisible Star Wars The Time Machine

Adventure The characters (and the reader) can always go through good and bad situations. Roller coaster of emotions. Action, action and more action Doesn’t always have a happy ending Always has a villain or foe

Examples of Adventure The Whipping Boy Island of the Blue Dolphins Abel’s Island The Cay

Poetry Poetry is verse written to inspire thoughts and feelings in the reader. It often uses rhyme and rhythm, or it can be written in free verse.

Examples of Poetry Where the Sidewalk Ends New Kid on the Block Chocolate Dreams: Poems Mammalabilia A Pizza the Size of the Sun Love That Dog

Autobiography A nonfiction piece of work about a person written by that person.

Biography A biography is the true story of a real person’s life from the past or present.

Examples of Biography Tiger Woods: An American Master The HomerunKings: BabeRuth and Henry Aaron Clara Barton, a Red Cross Pioneer Sacagawea

What is genre is this story? Is it a mystery/thriller, science fiction, or realistic fiction?

Genres There are many different types of genre but for now we will just focus on the following three: ›Realistic Fiction ›Science Fiction ›Thriller/Mystery

Realistic Fiction Form of fiction—made up Accurately reflects life as it could be today Everything in the story could happen to real people living in the natural world Characters have normal human powers Story may be set in real places but shouldn’t include any historical aspect

Elements of Realistic Fiction Characterization – Characters are ordinary real people. –Characters usually change as a result of a problem and must to be able to resolve it. Setting –Place is imaginary, but possible. –Time is anytime or no time. –Must be realistic and plausible (can happen) however can move towards the future and what might happen.

Elements of Realistic Fiction Plot –Must be plausable and believable. –Usually problem or puzzling event for characters to resolve. –Reader/listener usually feel that the story really happened or may want to believe that it did. Theme –Life themes as well as good versus bad –Messages and lessons about people based on real human experiences

Elements of Realistic Fiction Tone –Feel that it really happened. –Have real emotional connections/reactions – Children will often ask if it was real and be disappointed when told, no. Point of View –Could be any. Often third person narrative.

Science Fiction Evidence of advanced technology Set in the future Alternate location setting (another planet; under the ocean; different dimension, etc Scientific elements are often seen throughout story

Elements of Science Fiction Plot: –Parts are believable but include unrealistic/futuristic elements –Could happen but only in the future or a made- up time period –Readers usually feel like the story would happen in a different world Theme: –Lessons learned through experiences with new technologies or unbelievable

Elements of Science Fiction Characterization –Characters are futuristic –Can be aliens or something that wouldn’t live in our natural world –Technologically driven Setting –Futuristic –A different world, dimension, time (time travel) –A lot of technology;

Elements of Science Fiction Tone –Emotions about what might happen –Readers feel something they normal wouldn’t feel in every day lives as they are reading something unbelievable POV –Can be any

Mystery/Thriller Includes the element of suspense Has a problem to be solved which includes clues, distractions, and an answer to a problem Makes the reader sit on the edge of their seat and want more…eager to know the end

Elements of Mystery/Thriller Characterization: –Usually has specific characters: –Suspects are characters who may have caused the problem the mystery is trying to solve. Detectives or investigators try to solve the mystery.

Elements of Mystery/Thriller Plot: –Usually there is: A problem or puzzle to solve Something that is missing A secret An event that is not explained Introduction: learn about the problem, meet characters Body of story: someone is working to solve the mystery Conclusion: mystery is solved

Elements of Mystery/Thriller Setting: –Can be realistic or futuristic Theme: –Lesson learned from solving the problem Tone: –Usually exciting or confusing POV –Any

Elements of Mystery/Thriller Clues –hints that help the detectives and reader solve the mystery. –They can be things people say or do or objects that are found. –Distractions are things that lead an investigator off the path, including clues that do not add up to a solution but make the search longer.

Elements of Mystery/Thriller Structure –refers to the way the story is set up. – Most mysteries have a structure like this: Introduction: learn about the problem, meet characters Body of story: someone is working to solve the mystery Conclusion: mystery is solved

Genre Blurring When a writer blurs a genre, this normally means that they take the story and rewrite it into a completely different genre. When you do this, you must be aware that the plot elements will change as well.

Today you will be genre blurring Fairytales being blurred… Each group will get one of the following fairy tales: ››The Gingerbread Man

Cinderella ›Goldilocks and the Three Bears ›The Three Little Pigs ›Little Red Riding Hood ›Jack and the Beanstalk ›Sleeping Beauty ›The Ugly Duckling ›Hansel and Gretel The Frog Prince

Your Task Today you will rewrite one of these fairy tales as either a: Mystery/thriller Science Fiction novel Realistic fiction novel