Elements of

Literature: Genre

Mrs. Bentheim, 6th Grade Reading

Literature =

(noun) 1. written or spoken material. 2. creative writing to more technical or scientific works

Genre = (noun) 1: a kind of literary work 2: a style of expressing yourself in writing

S. Bolmeier/MPS

• Traditional Literature

• Fantasy• Science

Fiction• Historical

Fiction• Mystery

Genres We’ll Explore• Realistic

Fiction• Information• Biography• Autobiograph

y• Poetry

Essential Questions• Why study literature?• Why study genre?• What are the main

characteristics of each genre?

Why study literature?

•historical or cultural artifact

•introduces us to new worlds of experience

Why study genre?

• author’s frame of reference • helps the reader select

literature based on his or her interest– Example: TV cartoon vs. TV

crime drama

All categories or genres of

literature can be classified as fiction, non-

fiction, or both.

Fiction

• a made up story • can tell about things that could happen

• is read for fun • characters may be like real

people or imaginary

Fiction Genres

Now …

• You will look through the Scholastic Book Order and classify at least one book for each genre.

• You may work with ONE other student.

Finally …

• Write down two new things you learned today in the L section of your K-W-L chart.

• Share those two things with the person next to you.