Nonfiction Learning to understand and appreciate forms of non- fiction

Nonfiction Nonfiction is a type of writing that deals with real people, places, events, and ideas. Nonfiction is a form of prose. –Prose: any writing that is not poetry

Forms of Nonfiction Autobiography Biography Essays Informative Articles Interviews

Text Features Parts of a text that help a reader with understanding –Table of contents –Bullets –Glossary –Bold words and headings –And many more…see handout!

Text Structures The way a paragraph or text is organized –Sequence (Chronological or Process) –Compare/Contrast –Problem/Solution –Cause and Effect –Description (Spatial)

Autobiography The story of a person’s life told by that person. Written in 1 st Person Point of View –Using pronouns like I and me Shorter forms include the following: –Journals, diaries, letters, and memoirs

Biography A story written about someone’s life by someone else. Written in 3 rd Person Point of View –Using pronouns like her and she Characters and setting still exist Unlike fiction, the characters and setting are real people and places

Essays Short pieces of writing on a single subject Often found in newspapers and magazines Author’s Purpose: –To inform, to entertain, to persuade, or to express an opinion

Types of Essays Expository Personal Argument/Persuasive

Expository Essays Formal Writing Structured To inform

Personal Essays Personal Style Often narrative Expresses writer’s thoughts and feelings To entertain To express an opinion

Argument/Persuasive Essays Develop an argument Tries to convince readers to believe the author’s point of view Structured form To persuade

Informative Article Provide facts about a subject Newspapers and magazines To inform Other types: –Textbooks, pamphlets, history books, how-to books

Interview A conversation where one person asks another questions for the purpose of obtaining information.

Author’s Viewpoint the belief or understanding about the topic that you get from the author. Viewpoint is what the author thinks, believes, feels

Primary Source First-hand accounts of events; artifacts Examples: –Photographs, journals, interviews, personal belongings

Secondary Source Coming from or created from an original, primary source Examples: –Informative articles, recreated scenes or portraits

Reading Nonfiction Use the following strategies when you read nonfiction: –Predict –Chronological Order –Summarize main ideas –Separate facts from opinions –Evaluate or form your own opinions