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

AutobiographyBiographyEssaysInformative ArticlesInterviews

Autobiography

The story of a person’s life told by that person.Written in 1st 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 3rd Person Point of View– Using pronouns like her and she

Characters and setting still existUnlike 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 WritingStructuredTo inform

Personal Essays

Personal StyleOften narrativeExpresses writer’s thoughts and feelingsTo entertain To express an opinion

Argument/Persuasive Essays

Develop an argumentTries to convince readers to believe the author’s point of viewStructured formTo persuade

Informative Article

Provide facts about a subjectNewspapers and magazinesTo informOther types:– Textbooks, pamphlets, history books, how-to books

Interview

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

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