Types of Genre

Text… is any piece of writing. *Any writing that is NOT poetry is called prose. (letter, , novel, recipe, note, instructions, article, webpage, advertisement, et. al.) *Prose is usually written in paragraphs

**To organize text, categories (or genre) were established. **Each genre is broken down into subgenre.

4 Main Genres Fiction Non-Fiction Drama Poetry

Elements of Fiction imaginative w/vivid details can be based on actual events or completely made up short stories – centered around a single idea-meant to be read in one sitting novels-much longer with a complicated plot

Subgenres of Fiction: 1. Historical Fiction – –a realistic story set in the past. –many details are factual but the characters are fictional –setting usually has a major influence on the plot.

Subgenres of Fiction cont’d 2.Contemporary Fiction – -realistic-stories set in current “times” -story sounds as though it could be happening now 3.Realistic Fiction – -stories that “feel real” (like contemporary fiction) but they can be set in any “time”

Subgenres of Fiction cont’d 4.Folktale – -short stories passed down orally (reason for diff. versions) -usually include fantasy, magic or supernatural -purpose: to entertain -fairy tales are “cleaned-up” versions of folk tales (Cinderella VS Aschenputtle)

Subgenres of Fiction cont’d: 5. Fable -short tales told to teach a lesson about human behavior -characters are usually animals that speak/act like people (personification) -always have a moral (theme) Most Famous - Aesop

Subgenres of Fiction cont’d: 6.Science Fiction- -background of science – major part of the story. -uses scientific discoveries/adv. Technology (actual or imaginary) as part of the plot -many of the events are within the realm of future possibility (e.g. robots, space travel, flying vehicles, interplanetary war, invasions from out space) and are commonplace futuristic “props” take the place of what we know

Subgenres of Fiction cont’d: 7.Fantasy -uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme or setting -generally distinguished from science fiction by overall look, feel and theme of the individual work, though very similar -Examples: myths and legends, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbitt.

Subgenres of Fiction cont’d: 8. Mystery- -work in which the evidence related to a crime or mysterious event gives the reader an opportunity to consider solutions to the problem. -work in which the cause(s) of a mysterious happening is slowly revealed by the hero (heroine)-mix of intelligence, ingenuity, logical interpretation of evidence and sometimes sheer luck.

A Long Way from Chicago Joey Dowdel and his younger sister, Mary Alice, are sent to spend a week every summer from with their grandmother in her small Illinois town located halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. Not even the big city crimes of Chicago offer as much excitement as Grandma Dowdel when she outwits the banker, sets illegal fish traps, catches the town's poker-playing businessmen in their underwear, and saves the town from the terror of the Cowgill boys. #1

“The Selfish Horse” A farmer, donkey and horse set out on a trip with a load of heavy baskets. After some time, the donkey asks for help and the horse refuses. Eventually, the donkey collapses leaving the burden to the horse. #2

Charlotte’s Web An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. #3

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Nine-year-old Peter Hatcher's life is full of problems, most of them caused by his younger brother, Fudge. In fact, Fudge's antics garner so much of his parents attention that Peter sometimes feels like they don't care about him at all--like he is a nothing and can only talk to his parents through text messages. Luckily, Peter finds a way to prove to himself that he is indeed a very important, and well-loved, member of his family. #4

Mystery by Moonlight A charming lakeside cottage should be the perfect vacation spot for Nancy and her friends -- until Bess becomes convinced that they're sharing the place with ghosts. Strange thumps in the attic put them all on edge -- except there is no attic. Even worse, their living neighbors are giving them grief. A pair of bird-watching photographers sets dangerous traps in the woods, a summer camp director chases Nancy and Ned off his property, and the assistant curator of a nearby museum warns them to stay away from an ancient burial ground. #5

The Princess Mouse When a young man seeks a wife by way of family tradition, he finds himself engaged to a mouse. #6

Baseball Saved Us Shorty and his family, along with thousands of Japanese Americans, are sent to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Fighting the heat and dust of the desert, Shorty and his father decide to build a baseball diamond and form a league in order to boost the spirits of the internees. Shorty quickly learns that he is playing not only to win, but to gain dignity and self-respect as well. #7

A Wrinkle in Time Everyone in town thinks Meg Murry is volatile and dull- witted, and that her younger brother, Charles Wallace, is dumb. People are also saying that their physicist father has run off and left their brilliant scientist mother. Spurred on by these rumors and an unearthly stranger, Mrs. Whatsit, Meg and Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe embark on a perilous quest through space to find their father. In doing so, they must travel behind the shadow of an evil power that is darkening the cosmos, one planet at a time. #8

Elements of Non-Fiction stories about real people, places and events typically less imaginative and creative more informative and factual

Teacher: “Gary, please give me the definition of autobiography?” Gary: “A car’s life story!”

Subgenres of non-fiction 1.Autobiography – novel about a person’s life written by that person (told in 1 st person point of view) 2.Memoir – story about the author’s memories of a person/topic/time frame, not entire life (told in 1 st person point of view) “Alphabiography”

Subgenres of non-fiction cont’d 3.Letters/Communication (friendly, business, memos, notes, , text messaging) 4.Biography – novel about a person’s entire life written by someone else (told in 3 rd person point of view)

Subgenres of non-fiction cont’d 5. Biographical Sketch – a less detailed account of a person’s life written by someone else (told in 3 rd person point of view) 6.Article – informative piece of literature (magazine, newspaper, internet, et al.) that has been published.

Subgenres of non-fiction cont’d 7. Essay – a short piece of non- fiction prose focused on a single topic.

Elements of Drama story that is meant to be performed (audience, camera, radio) written in the form of a script including characters, stage directions and dialogue

Elements of Poetry less structured and guided text includes form, sound, figurative language, imagery and sound devices