Elements of NONFICTION

WHAT IS NONFICTION?

The subject of nonfiction is real The author writes about actual

persons, places and events. The writer may just report facts

(unbiased, objective). The writer may also include

personal opinions (biased). Often there is a mixture of both. Readers must read critically.

READING CRITICALLY MEANS…

To look at writer’s backgroundTo look at writer’s purposeTo look at writer’s attitudeTo look at writer’s audience

Types of nonfiction

Biography Autobiography. Memoir Newspaper articles How-to articles Essays Letters Journals and diaries Speeches Reference materials

Biography

True story of someone’s life, written by another person

Usually tells events in chronological order

Written in 3rd person POV

Autobiography. MemoirAutobiography True story of someone’s life, written by that person tells events in chronological order, usually from birth to

childhood to old age Written in 1st person POV

Memoir Type of autobiographical writing Shorter than autobiographies Deals with the writer’s career, rather than with

their private life Written in 1st person POV

Newspaper article

Has a headline that gets attention

Gives information about a recent event

Tells who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

How-to articles

Tell how to do something

Tell what materials are needed

Tell steps in correct order

Essays

Persuasive - writer tries to convince a reader to share a belief, agree with an opinion, or to take some action

examples: newspaper editorial, political speech

Expository - writer’s primary purpose is to convey or explain information

1. facts are used as neutrally as possible

2. examples: report on a scientific discovery, instructions

Narrative – writer’s purpose is to relate a series of events, usually in chronological order

1. has the form of a story (often with characters and dialogue)

2. examples: historical essay, account of a soccer game

Personal / Reflective - expresses a writer’s thoughts, feelings, or opinions on a subject; usually written in an informal, conversational style

Journals and diaries

Journals: Private form of

writing Give a glimpse of

the writer’s value of his or her world

Intended to be read publicly

Diaries: a private form of writing

Not intended to be read publicly

Letters

Public letters / epistles

Directed or sent to a person or group of people

Very formal, often didactic, elegant tone

Private letters

Spontaneous – written without being planned

Conversational – sound like every day speech (informal register)

Private – intended to be read only by the person who receives them

Primary source documents – reveal information about the time in which they are written

Reference materials

Encyclopediaa book or set of books containing articles on various topics, usually in alphabetical order, covering all branches of knowledge.

Dictionary

Almanac an annual publication

containing a calendar for the coming year, the times of such events and phenomena as anniversaries, sunrises and sunsets, phases of the moon, tides, etc., and other statistical information and related topics.

a book containing a selection of the words of a language, usually arranged alphabetically, giving information about their meanings, pronunciations, etymologies, inflected forms, etc., expressed in either the same or another language; lexicon; glossary.

Author’s purpose Language – the

words chosen by the author, and the way he / she arranges them

Style – the “feel” of the writing, as conveyed by the author’s tone, rhythm and attitude toward the subject and reader

Syntax – the way the author applies the rules of grammar

Rhetoric strategies

the use of language the use of language effectively and effectively and persuasivelypersuasively

EthosEthos- appeal to - appeal to credibility, beliefs; expert’s credibility, beliefs; expert’s opinionopinion

LogosLogos- appeal to logic; - appeal to logic; facts, statisticsfacts, statistics

PathosPathos- appeal to - appeal to emotionsemotions