1. Non-Fiction: Nonfiction & Text Structures
English 10

2. Common Forms of Nonfiction
Letters and Journals/Diaries
Contains personal thoughts and reflections
Biographies
The life story of someone written by another person
Autobiographies
The writer’s account of his/her own life
Memoirs
The writer’s record of experiences of his/her own life
Informational/Website
Recently recognized as Nonfiction, these websites provide facts about a variety of topics, usually in an unbiased way
Speeches
Usually given by reputable experts of famous people

3. Definition of Nonfiction
Nonfiction is…
Text that is not fictional, designed primarily to explain, argue, instruct or describe, rather than entertain. For the most part, its emphasis is factual
Usually based on real facts and information about people, places, ideas, and experiences

4. Five Main Purposes of Nonfiction are…
To entertain
To inform or explain
To reflect
To describe
To persuade

5. Non-Fiction Text Structures
1. Description or Listing
2. Sequence (Time Order or Chronological)
3. Compare and Contrast
4. Cause and Effect
5. Problem and Solution/Question and Answer

6. Description or Listing
Provides information, such as facts and characteristics about a subject, event, person, or concept; most common pattern found in textbooks
Transitions:
First, second, etc
Above, at, below
For example, for instance
In addition, moreover
Furthermore
In other words
Finally, during, after
Detail
Detail
Main Idea/Topic
Detail
Detail

7. Sequence or Time Order (Chronological)
Transitions
First, second, etc
Next, again
Primarily, finally
Additionally
First and foremost
The former, the latter
Shows a series of events that take place in time order; traces the sequence or the steps in the process

8. Compare and Contrast
Delineates the similarities and/or differences between two or more subjects
HOW TO DO IT:
First compare; then contrast (or vice versa – depending on what point you want to make)
First write about one idea, then another, and compare and contrast within those ideas
Write only about the comparable and contrastable elements of each idea
Only compare or only contrast
Signal Words:
On the other hand, although, but, likewise, both

9. Cause and Effect
Shows why something exists or is in place, to tell what happens as the result of an action or actions, to show how one or more causes led to one or more effects
Signal Words:
Because
Thus
For this reason
In order to
If…then
CAUSE
EFFECT

10. Problem and Solution/ Question and Answer
Shows a problem or question and offers a solution or answer to an issue
A problem can be between individuals or groups, or it might be with something that is going on in the world. A problem might even occur with just one person
Signal Words:
The problem
Resolved
The solution
Problem
Solution