1. Literary Genres
Jane Hooper
Grade 3

2. Standard Course of Study
Objectives
English Language Arts
2.01 Interact with the test before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing
2.05 Draw conclusions, make generalizations, and gather support by referencing the text
3.01 Respond to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using interpretive, critical, and evaluative processes
Computer/Technology Skills
3.04 Identify, discuss, and use multimedia to present ideas/ concepts/ information in a variety of ways

3. How do I identify a genre by its characteristics?
Essential Question
How do I identify a genre by its characteristics?

4. What is a literary genre?
A genre is a particular style or type of writing.

5. Major Genres Fiction Non-Fiction
Writing that tells about imaginary people and events
Non-Fiction
Writing that tells about real people and events

6. Poetry lines of poetry (verses) are written in stanzas
may include patterns of rhyme to capture the reader’s interest
uses carefully selected words and phrases to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind

7. Drama a cast of characters a narrator who gives important information
parts called acts or scenes
props to help support action
dialogue that tells what the actors say
stage directions in italics

8. Realistic Fiction The setting is realistic
The characters speak and act like real people
The story describes real-life problems and events

9. Fable
Characters are simpler than real people - they may be completely greedy, completely wicked , or very gentle
Actions are repeated over and over
Some fables teach a lesson about what is important in life, such as fairness, kindness, or cleverness

10. Folk Tale Told in many different versions by many different people
Original storyteller is unknown
Characters are animals that act and speak like people
Repetition
Use of the number three

11. Tall Tale
Extraordinary person - the main character is better at things than an ordinary person
Exaggeration – makes something greater or bigger than it really could be
Explanation – explains how something came to be

12. Myth / Legend A kind of fantasy
A very old story handed down by word of mouth
Explains something about nature or answers questions about the meaning of life or what is good or evil

13. Fairy Tales Often begin with Once upon a time or Long, long ago
Include a good character and a bad (evil) character
Include magic or something enchanted
Involves a problem that is solved and the good people live happily ever after
Setting is a forest or a castle

14. Biography
Nonfiction
Story about a real person’s life that is written by another person
Can cover a person’s whole life, part of a person’s life, or a single incident
A true account of a person’s life based on facts collected by the author
Written from the third person point of view (he or she)

15. Scott Foresman Reading – grade 3
References
Scott Foresman Reading – grade 3