genre: a distinctive category of literary composition genre is a category, group or kind based on...
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Genre: a distinctive category of literary composition
Genre is a category, group or kind based on distinctive style, form and content. One is just right for YOU!
Genres We Will Study This Year
Fiction Nonfiction Poetry Drama Media Literacy
Fiction vs. Nonfiction
Fiction
a made up story, unreal, not true, not factual
can tell about things that could happen
is read for fun characters may be like
real people or imaginary
Nonfiction
has facts that can be checked and proven
the author is an expert on this information
real, factual, deals with actual people, places, and events
it IS TRUE!
Subgenres of Fiction
Realistic Fiction Historical Fiction Science Fiction Fantasy High Fantasy Mystery
Folktales Fables Legends Myths Classics
Realistic Fiction
Form of fiction (not true) Accurately reflects life as it could be lived today Everything in the story could happen to real people
living in our natural physical world The characters have normal human characteristics Story may be set in real places, but the story is NOT
based on history
Examples of Realistic Fiction
•Because of Winn Dixie•Crash•Owl Moon•Shiloh•Summer of the Swans•Babysitter Club series
Historical Fiction
Form of fiction (not true) Based on historical events Authentic settings Characters portrayed in realistic manner Some characters may be actual people from
history, but the story is fictional Artistic mix of fiction and historical fact
Examples of Historical Fiction
•A Boy at War•Across Five Aprils•Ben and Me•The Butterfly•Charlie Skedaddle•Sign of the Beaver•Titanic Crossing•Dear America Series
Science Fiction
Form of fiction (not true) Contains some sort of scientific element, such as
– Outer space– Medicine– Technology
Within the realm of possibility Characters have some believable traits/qualities
Examples of Science Fiction
•Aliens for Breakfast•A Wrinkle in Time•My Best Friend is Invisible•Star Wars•The Time Machine
Fantasy
Form of fiction (not true) Contains one or more of the following:
– supernatural occurrences– characters with magical powers– things with magical powers– animals with human characteristics– real people in fantastic places– fantastic creatures or characters in real situations
Examples of Fantasy
•Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland•Charlotte’s Web•The Wreck of the Zephyr
High Fantasy
Form of fiction (not real) Good vs. evil (supernatural/evil forces) Story written in a series of books/ volumes Coming- of- age themes Include fantastical elements, such as:
– Elves and dwarves– Magic– Wizards– Invented languages– quests
Examples of High Fantasy
Lord of the Rings Harry Potter Series
Mystery
Form of fiction (not true) Story revolves around a puzzle/problem Characters deal with the solution to a
puzzle/problem, such as– finding a missing item/person– unraveling a secret– rationalize an event that is not explained
Contains clues/hints that help the characters and readers solve the puzzle/problem
Examples of Mystery
•The House of Dies Drear•Never Say Die•The Treehouse Mystery•Mystery of the Midnight Message•Encyclopedia Brown Series•Boxcar Children Mysteries
Folktales
Form of fiction (not true) Story that teaches a lesson Contain the beliefs and customs of a region
or country Original story is modified to make it more
interesting or more humorous Present larger-than-life characters and very
unusual happenings
Examples of Folktales
•Aesop’s Fables•Beauty and the Beast•The Bunyans•Cinderella•John Henry•The Talking Eggs•The Tortoise and the Hare
Fables
Form of fiction (not true) Type of folktale Ends in a moral or lesson Characters are animals that talk and act like
humans A character usually represents a single
human characteristic, such as a fox being symbolic of a trickster
Legend
Form of fiction (not true) Stories written about a real life hero and his/her
mighty deeds Mix of fiction and historical facts that have been
creatively altered to encourage moral conduct and right choices
Leaves questions/wonder in the reader’s minds (Did Mike Fink really wrestle a grizzly bear?)
Myths
Form of fiction (not true) Pertains to the actions of the gods and/or
goddesses Characters are super-natural beings with
human emotions and qualities Plot may involve interplay between worlds
(this world and previous/original world)
Classics
Form of fiction (not true) Timelessness: enjoyed by readers from generation
to generation Deals with universal themes and experiences that
relate to readers, such as:– love conquers all– good vs. evil– rags to riches
Communicates ideas across cultures Unforgettable characters
Subgenres of Nonfiction
Expository Nonfiction Biography Autobiography
Interview Informational Narrative Nonfiction
Expository Nonfiction
Expository nonfiction provides information about real-life persons, objects, or ideas.
Expository nonfiction may include graphic sources, such as charts and photos, that show information.
A chart is a sheet of information. Facts are arranged in an easy-to-read form.
Biography
Story of a real person’s life Form of nonfiction (true) Bios means life Graphe means to write Author must do research by interviewing the
subject or those who knew the subject
Examples of Biography
•Tiger Woods: An American Master•The HomerunKings: BabeRuth and
Henry Aaron•Clara Barton, a Red Cross Pioneer•Sacagawea
Autobiography
Form of nonfiction (true) Story of a real person’s life Auto means self Bios means life Graphe means to write Written by the person the story is about Author does not need to do research Author shares how he/she feels and what he/she
thinks
Interview
In an interview the interviewer asksquestions. The other person, the subject, answers.
Interviews usually appear in magazines or newspapers.
Informational
Informational books are nonfiction books that give true facts on a variety of subjects.
Examples of Informational Writing
•Dirt Bikes•Flying Animals•Danger! Earthquakes•Newspapers•Encyclopedias
Narrative Nonfiction
A narrative is writing that tells about events. Narrative nonfiction tells about events that really happened.
Poetry
Poetry has many different definitions Poetry is an arrangement of words in lines
having rhythm. Sometimes those lines rhyme, as in this narrative poem.
The art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts.
Examples of Poetry
•Where the Sidewalk Ends•New Kid on the Block•Chocolate Dreams: Poems•Mammalabilia•A Pizza the Size of the Sun•Love That Dog
Drama/Play
Like a novel or a short story, a play tells a story but it is written to be acted out for an audience. Plays have many unique literary elements such as acts, scenes, stage directions, and speech tags.
Media Literacy
Media Literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and create media in a variety of forms.
What is media?– Ads– News– Websites– Much more!