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

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. That’s All Folks…