1. Nonfiction

2. What is nonfiction?
Nonfiction deals only with real people, events or ideas
Works of nonfiction are narrated from the point of view, or perspective, of the author, who is a real person.
Nonfiction presents facts or discusses ideas.
It may reflect the historical context of the time period, making references to major social & cultural information

3. Two Categories of Nonfiction
Functional texts – practical documents that help readers perform everyday tasks
Literary nonfiction – features some similar elements and techniques as fiction

4. Patterns of Organization
Chronological – presents events in order in which they happened
Spatial – describes items as they appear in space – for example, left to right
Comparison-and-Contrast – groups and ideas based on similarities and differences
Cause-and-Effect – explains how one event causes another
Problem-and-Solution – examines a problem and proposes ways to solve it

5. Literary Nonfiction Uses
To inform
To describe
To persuade
To entertain

6. Narrative Nonfiction When a work of literary nonfiction tells a story
It may include:
1. Direct and Indirect Characterization to reveal personalities of real people
2. Vivid Descriptions and Figurative Language to describe real places, real history, and real customs
3. Artful/Creative Pacing and Organization to describe actual events

7. Forms of Literary Nonfiction
Three Common Forms:
1. Articles
short prose works
Present facts about a subject
May appear in print sources such as newspapers or on Websites
2. Essays
Short prose works to focus on a particular subject
More personal than articles
Author has deep emotional connection

8. Forms of Literary Nonfiction - Continued
3. Speeches
Written texts delivered orally
Expresses the speaker’s point of view

9. Types of Nonfiction Type Purpose Examples Expository
To present facts and ideas or to explain a process
An online article that explores ways to keep your pet healthy
Persuasive
To convince readers to take an action or to adopt a point of view
A speech urging the audience to adopt a pet
Narrative
To tell the story of a real-life experience
An essay about a dog who saved a person’s life

10. Types of Nonfiction - Continued
Purpose
Examples
Descriptive
To provide a vivid picture of something
An essay about the writer’s favorite pet
Reflective
To explain the writer’s insights about an event or experience
An essay describing lessons about life the writer learned from owning a pet
Humorous
To entertain and amuse
An article about the challenges of training a very frisky puppy
Analytical
To break a large idea into parts to show how the parts work as a whole
An article that discusses the criteria used for judging champion show dogs