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 asks questions. 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!