1. Genre Study
Bauer: ELA_7

2. Realistic fiction
These books of fiction seem so real that many readers think that the events in the story have really happened. Realistic fiction, however, is from the imagination of the author.
Characteristics of realistic fiction include: people, places, time periods, and events that mimic (or seem) like real life.

3. Historical fiction
Books of historical fiction are about real life historical events that are documented heavily in research. The characters in the story may not be ‘real life’ people, but the events surrounding them must be historically rooted and accurate.
According to the Historical Novel society, books of historical fiction must reflect real events that took place over 50-years ago that are free from time-period errors (called anachronisms), need to be researched, and include a bibliography.

4. Science fiction
Sci-fi books are a blend of fact and fiction that must contain scientific theories and futuristic technologies that are in the realm of possibility. No matter how strange some sci-fi books seem, there is the possibility that they could happen
Characteristics of Sci-fi include: set in the future, in space, on a different world, and/or set in a different universe or dimension
Fantasy: Fantasy contains unusual elements: talking animals, wizards, spells, unicorns, etc. Unlike Sci-Fi, Fantasy stories could never happen, except in our imagination.

5. mystery
In mystery books, stories have a real setting and include problems that need to be solved. While reading, clues are presented to the reader to solve a situation. Readers need to know that mystery books aren’t always crime novels.
Characteristics of mystery: they are fast-paced, they attempt to solve a puzzling event or situation, usually include red herrings (distractions), and there is something unknown

6. poetry
Poetry is a large category defined by many types: narrative, rhyming, free verse, concrete, long or short, haiku, etc.
Characteristics of poetry: they are written in verse, contain emotion, contain great insight about the writer and the world, follow a particular form, are imaginative, and are pieces of great beauty (when understood)

7. Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir
Biography: a book that covers the entire life of a person, but is written by someone who has researched the person’s life extensively
Autobiography: a book that covers the author’s entire life; therefore, an autobiography is written by the person themselves
Memoir: a book that is similar to autobiography in the fact that it is written by the person themselves, however, it only focuses on a particular event/or part in their life (not their entire life)

8. Non-fiction
Books of non-fiction provide information about real people, real places, real events, or real things; they provide a reference of information about real-life things.
Characteristics of non-fiction: these books are factual, accurate, researched, and structured around a central ideas based upon purpose
Types: There are two types on non-fiction: (1) Information Texts, which include, reference books, newspapers, magazines, journals, encyclopedias, memoirs, etc. (2) Literary Non-fiction, which tell factual information in story form.