Non-fiction Narrative Writing: Biographies, Memoirs, Personal Narratives and Autobiographies

Important Concepts Non- fiction can come in many forms: personal narrative, memoir, autobiography, and biography. Everyone has a story to tell. Personal experiences help our foundations for thought and make us unique. There are different points-of-view

REMEMBER Non fiction = NOT FAKE

Non- Fiction Writing that tells us about real people, places, and events. Written to convey factual information Non-fiction is real and can be verified by other sources Examples of Non-fiction writing: Newspaper articles Letters Essays Biographies Movie reviews Speeches advertising

WOW! About 90% of the reading that you do after you graduate from high school will be some form of non-fiction text!!!

Review: What is Point of View? First- Person Definition: The point from which a story is told. The narrator: Is a main or minor character in the story Uses the pronouns “I” and “me” Shares his/her personal view of other characters and events. Reader doesn’t know the thoughts/ feelings of other characters

Point of View continued Third- Person Omniscient Third-Person Limited The narrator: Is not a character in the story, but an outside observer, whose observations can be objective, or unbiased. Is “all knowing”- he or she has access to all thoughts/ feelings and opinions to ALL other characters. The narrator: * Is not a characters in the story, but an outside observer * Reader knows the thoughts and feelings of one character

Autobiography Writer is the subject and it’s an account of his/her own life Written from 1st person point of view and uses pronouns “I” and “me” A detailed account from birth to death of the subject Based mostly on details from the subject’s own memories Diary/Journal: Popular form of autobiography

Biography History of a lifetime – Must cover entire life Most important facts and events of someone’s life Contains anecdotes, memories, trips and cherished moments The author is NOT the subject of the text Written from 3rd person point of view Information from many sources, but sometimes includes details provided by the subject.

Personal Narrative Focus is on a particular event in a person/writer’s life Written from 1st person point of view Tells a story about real people & events Short, non-fiction work usually dealing with a single subject

Memoir Written in 1st person point of view Captures certain highlights or meaningful moments in one’s past Contemplation of the meaning of that event at the time of the writing of the memoir Much more emotional and connects the writer to someone or something that had an impact on their life Often gives historical information about the society & culture of the time

Characteristics of a Memoir Continued… Narrative structure (contains storytelling elements like setting, plot, imagery, characterization, foreshadowing/flashback, and symbolism) Fictional quality… but it’s not

Literary Language and Devices found in Non-fiction Narratives Imagery- Language that uses the five senses to paint a picture in the readers mind. “That will mean another 100 days living in tents, eating the same frozen food, rarely bathing or changing clothes.” - from Over the Top of the World by Will Steger Simile- Comparing two things that are not alike using “like” or “as” “I eat like a tortoise, if you’ve ever seen a tortoise eating.” -from Wonder by RJ Palacio

Literary Language and Devices found in Non-fiction Narratives Metaphor- Comparing two things directly without a comparison word. “The engine was Houdini’s mind.” - from Spellbinder: The Life of Harry Houdini by Tom Lalicki

Literary Language and Devices found in Non-fiction Narratives Tone – The author’s attitude toward his subject. *Examples of tone include: annoyed, hopeful, delighted, grateful, infatuated, worried, etc. -”The most important day I remember in all my life is the one in which my teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came to me. I am filled with wonder when I consider the immeasurable contrasts between the two lives which it connects.” from The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Now it’s your turn… Read the following excerpts and decide whether they are from a biography, autobiography or a memoir.

How do you know? Look for clues in the writing, such as point of view Biography How do you know? Look for clues in the writing, such as point of view

Memoir How do you know? How can you tell if it’s a memoir or an autobiography? Look at the point of view Look at the title

Autobiography How do you know? Look at the point of view. How can you tell if its an autobiography or a memoir? Look at the title. Based on the title we can infer that this story will focus on his whole life and career, not just his childhood or one specific part of his life.