Introducing Non-Fiction

How does it differ from fiction?

Here are some dictionary definitions
Fiction;
is something invented by imagination.
Fictitious Literature( are novels or short stories.)

Nonfiction is writing or speaking about the real

World.
 Types of Nonfiction

• Narrative nonfiction: Tells a true to life story.

• Informative nonfiction: explains a topic or
presents an opinion.
• Persuasive nonfiction: encourages the reader
to believe or do something.
• Narrative non fiction tells stories that are true.
• It uses the same story elements; setting,
characters, plot, conflict, theme like fiction
stories.
 Narrative nonfiction
• Have you ever read: an autobiography?
• A writer tells a story his/her life’s story from the
first person point of view.
• A memoir?
• A writer tells a story from a specific period of
his/her life from a first person pov.
• Biography? A writer tells someone else’s story
from a third person point of view.
• Narrative essay? A writer relates a true story in a
short composition (1st person or 3rd person pov)
 Informative nonfiction
• Informative writing is also called expository.
• Informative/expository writing: explains,
informs, defines, clarifies, defines.
• Have you read: Magazines, newspaper, an
instructional sheet?
• If so, then you have read informative
Nonfiction!
• Informative nonfiction includes: expository
essays that explain a process, report the news.
 Tips for Reading Nonfiction
• Preview the selection.(what is in bold?, what
are the pictures about?)
• Clarify the organization (is it chronological,
sequential, compare & contrast etc?)
• Summarize the main idea.
• Separate facts from opinions.
 Biographies
• A biography gives facts about a person’s life.
• It’s not written by the subject of the book
• It’s written by an author who has done their research
about a person.
• Biographies are written in third person point of view
and can be written about someone who is no longer
alive.
• A biography is a life story written in chronological
order.
• It includes when and where the subject was born,
childhood and important events including important
achievements.
 Autobiographies
• An autobiography is a type of writing in which
authors tell about events in their own lives.
Characters are well developed in detail and are
true –to-life.
• It often includes the date and place of birth,
stories from childhood and may include a difficult
time in one’s life or accomplishments.
• Purpose: it is to give an account of your life so far.
• Include; positive and negative experiences and
how they shaped your life.
• Include; beliefs, values, feelings, and opinions.