NONFICTION

Is prose that deals with real events and people, not with imagined events and imagined people.

Some of the most popular types of nonfiction include…

• Biography• Autobiography• Essays• Articles• Journals

Nonfiction relies on all major forms of discourse:

• Descriptive• Narrative• Expository• Persuasive

TONE

• Is very important in nonfiction.• Is the author’s attitude toward his/her subject.• Can be viewed as– Objective– subjective

OBJECTIVE

• Does not allow emotions or opinions to color the writing.– Hard news articles– Reference materials– Biography (most of the time)

SUBJECTIVE

• Does include emotions and opinions.• Autobiography• Memoirs• Letters to the editor• Essays (specific types)

E. L. Doctorow said,

• “There is no more fiction or nonfiction—only narrative.”

• What do you think he means by this?• Can you think of examples of this type of

writing?

What does he mean?

• Fiction and nonfiction are blending together.• Nonfiction writers are using techniques of

fiction- suspense, careful plotting, and characterization, among other literary devices.

• Fiction writers are collecting data as an investigative reporter would to write novels and stories.

Some new terms:

• Creative Nonfiction• Literary Journalism• Journalistic Fiction

• Look at your IR books. Do any of them fit one of these categories?