Introduction to Genres

SHORT STORIES A short fictional narrative that tends to be more to the point than novels. Author’s Purpose: Entertain

EXAMPLE: “Just Once”

NOVELS a fictional narrative, longer than a short story, portraying characters and usually presenting a sequential organization pattern. Chapters and parts are elements of a novel. Author’s Purpose: Entertain

EXAMPLE: “Hatchet”

EXAMPLE: “Esperanza Risng”

PLAYS A story or drama designed to be performed on a stage. Has stage directions, characters and scenes. Author’s Purpose: Entertain

EXAMPLE: “Romeo & Juliet”

LEGENDS An unverified story handed down from earlier times, especially one popularly believed to be historical Author’s Purpose: Entertain

EXAMPLE: “ The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”

Poetry Ideas that are expressed in sound, rhyme and rhythm. Author’s Purpose: Entertain

EXAMPLE: “Basketball’s My Favorite Sport” by Kenn Nesbitt Basketball’s my favorite sport. I dribble up and down the court. The ball goes bouncing off my toes and beans the teacher on the nose. He stumbles back and grabs his nose and hits the wall and down he goes. The other players stop and stare. And looked to see if the teacher cares. With no one playing anymore, I grab the ball. I shoot. I score. I love this game! It’s so much fun. The teacher cried, but, hey—we won!

AUTOBIOGRAPHIES A story / book written by the person himself. Pronouns- my, I, me, our, we, us Author’s Purpose: Inform

EXAMPLE: Abraham Lincoln “I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families-- second families, perhaps I should say. My mother, who died in my tenth year, was of a family of the name of Hanks, some of whom now reside in Adams, and others in Macon Counties, Illinois….”

BIOGRAPHIES A story / book written about someone by someone else. Pronouns- them, they her, him, Author’s Purpose: Inform

EXAMPLE : “Oprah Winfrey” By Kathern E. Krhon “Four year old Oprah stood on the back porch on her grandparent’s small rural farm in Mississippi. Oprah watched her grandmother stir a big black pot…”

NON FICTION / FICTION Non-fiction: REAL (NOT FAKE) Author’s Purpose: Inform Fiction: NOT REAL (FAKE) Author’s purpose- entertain

EXAMPLE: NON-FICTION

EXAMPLE: FICTION

Types of Fiction Realistic Fiction- a FICTIONAL STORY that COULD really happen. Entertain Historical Fiction- a FICTIONAL STORY based on an HISTORICAL EVENT. Entertain Science Fiction- a FICTIONAL STORY that deals with SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY. Entertain