Creative Nonfiction

QUARTER 2
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
No. 1

FORMS AND TYPES OF CREATIVE NONFICTION

SPECIALIZED SUBJECT
Subject Area and Grade Level: Creative Nonfiction

Activity Sheet No. 1

First Edition, 2021

Published in the Philippines

By the Department of Education
Region 8 – Division of Samar

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office wherein
the work is crafted shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office
may among other things impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

This Learning Activity Sheet is developed by DepEd Region 8 – Division of Samar.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this learning resource may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the DepEd
Regional Office 8 – Division of Samar

Creative Nonfiction

Activity Sheet

Writer: Abegail A. Castillo

Evaluator:_____________________________

Illustrator: _________________________

Layout Artists: _______________________________

Reviewer: _____________________________________

Editor: ______________________________________

Carmela R. Tamayo EdD., CESO V – Schools Division Superintendent

Moises D. Labian Jr. PhD., CESO VI – Asst. Schools Division Superintendent

Antonio F. Caveiro PhD. - Chief Education Supervisor, CID

Gina L. Palines PhD. – EPS – Science/ Senior High Coor.

Josefina F. Dacallos EdD. – PSDS/LRMS Manager Designate

Anita A. Aguilar - District Head

Rodolfo J. Nabual - School Head

 CREATIVE NONFICTION
Learning Area

Name of Learner: _______________________ Grade Level: __________

Section: __________________________________
School: ____________________________________ Date: ________________

FORMS AND TYPES OF CREATIVE NONFICTION

Title

I. Introduction:

Your entire life corresponds different genres of stories and shared personal experiences, where
you were able to learn and get lesson out of those several circumstances you had and gained. In this
lesson, you will be able to learn and understand various forms and types of creative nonfiction. Stay
motivated and eager to learn as this module unveils the interesting world of real life journey of being
an author.

II. MELC (with code)

After going through this module, you are expected to be able to:
 Present a commentary/critique on a chosen creative nonfictional text representing a particular type
or form (Biography/Autobiography, Literary Journalism/Reportage, Personal Narratives, Travelogue,
Reflection Essay, True Narratives, Blogs, Testimonies, Other Forms)
HUMSS_CNF11/12-IId-e-16

III. Strategy:

A. Explore:

Activity 1. DOMINANT IMPRESSION

Look around you, what have you observed? Can you tell something that will spark
your interest? Look at the sky, building, and people. Describe what you had observed
by using your sensory imaginations (visual, tactile, gustatory, olfactory, and
audio).Write your observation on the spaces provided for.
B. Learn:

Types of Creative Nonfiction

Autobiography

It is writing your own story which gives an elaborate information about yourself.
Unlike a biography, which is a true account of someone else's life, an autobiography
is a focused account of a writer's life told from the writer's own point of view.
Autobiographies fall into the nonfiction category.

Autobiographies are typically written in the first person, and use the pronoun, 'I',
which makes it easier for the writer to reflect upon and provide some perspective on
life events. Although autobiographical essays can be an abbreviated summary of an
entire life, they usually focus on a certain accomplishment or experience. Their
purpose is to educate, entertain or illustrate lessons learned retrospectively. As
works of nonfiction, autobiographical essays are expected to be accurate, as well as
creative and expressive, so that readers remain interested. Readers will only care
about the writer's life if he or she is emotionally invested.

Example

Biography

A biography is a description of a real person’s life, including factual details as

well as stories from the person’s life. Biographies usually include information about
the subject’s personality and motivations, and other kinds of intimate details
excluded in a general overview or profile of a person’s life. The vast majority of
biography examples are written about people who are or were famous, such as
politicians, actors, athletes, and so on. However, some biographies can be written
about people who lived incredible lives, but were not necessarily well-known. A
biography can be labelled “authorized” if the person being written about, or his or
her family members, have given permission for a certain author to write the
biography.
Example:

Reportage

It is a write up intended to give an account of the observed events or for

documentation purposes. A reportage should give the reader a feeling for the setting
and the people. Often the writer do that by describing the atmosphere and
interviewing some of the people at an event.

Examples

Personal Narratives

A personal narrative essay is a story you choose to share with readers, for it
communicates your understanding of yourself, others, and/or society. As people, we
remember stories, so your personal narrative essay is a way you can transform an
ordinary experience into meaningful commentary that is applicable to a broad
audience.

Example:
Travelogue

A travelogue is a person’s account of a journey to another country or place. It can

either be a written report with many factual details or a narrative story about
personal impressions and experiences supported by images.

Examples

Reflection essay

A reflective essay is an essay in which the writer examines his or her experiences
in life. The writer then writes about those experiences, exploring how he or she has
changed, developed or grown from those experiences.

The format of a reflective essay may change slightly depending on who the
audience is. For example, writing a reflective essay for a college course and an
academic audience will have slight changes in how the essay is organized from
writing a reflective essay for a magazine or a collection of essays, which has a broader
audience, without people who have necessarily gone to college. However, some major
elements go into a typical reflective essay: introduction, body and conclusion.
Example

True narratives

Also known as creative nonfiction or literary nonfiction, is a true story written in

the style of a fiction novel. The narrative nonfiction genre contains factual prose that
is written in a compelling way—facts told as a story. While the emphasis is on the
storytelling itself, narrative nonfiction must remain as accurate to the truth as
possible. It tells a real-life story about real people and events with stylistic elements
akin to that seen more in fiction. It often requires more research than traditional
news reportage due to its creative flexibility, as narrative nonfiction writers must go
to greater lengths to accurately express the facts and details of another person’s life
in a literary way.

Examples
Blogs

A blog (a shortened version of “weblog”) is an online journal or informational

website displaying information in reverse chronological order, with the latest posts
appearing first, at the top. It is a platform where a writer or a group of writers share
their views on an individual subject. The main purpose of a blog is to connect you to
the relevant audience. Another one is to boost your traffic and send quality leads to
your website.

Example

Testimonio

A Spanish term understood as “witness account”, embodies a narrative research

methodology rooted in Latin American history (against the backdrop of social
inequality that has plagued the region since the 1950s). A testimonio is a first-person
account by the person (narrator) who has faced instances of social and political
inequality, oppression, or any specific form of marginalization. As opposed to other
forms of narrative research, where the researcher helps mold the narrative or
becomes a conduit to voice the stories, in testimonio it is usually the narrator
her/himself who is the research tool, with an interest in telling the story from that
individual perspective which, in turn, represents a larger, collective story that took
place in the community that the narrator inhabits.

The goal of testimonio as a form of narrative inquiry, then, transcends awareness

and gravitates toward political intention, questions about institutional power, the
need to speak for justice, the creation of stronger pockets of resistance, and the
importance of solidarity and coalition as keys to building more equitable social
frameworks

Examples

FORMS AND TYPES OF CREATIVE NONFICTION

Creative nonfiction has many types and it
generally focuses on the experiences of an
individual. That maybe it could inspire many
Understanding Various
individuals as you write it and share these
Forms and Types of experiences. Moreover, creative nonfiction comes
Creative Nonfiction in various ways and almost often we are not
aware that our experiences could become good
literary pieces.

Understanding the significance of your

audience plays a vital role as you write your
piece. Because they are the ones who will
The Significance of read and be inspired by your stories. In a
an Audience sense, your goal is to inspire the readers to
read because they could learn something
from it.
Close Reading Close Reading is a matter of understanding
the text presented by the author by observing
every detail in a text. A writer often uses
unique ways to convey their messages to the
readers. Thus, as a reader you need to be
observant always.
 C. Engage:
Activity 2. Identify
Directions: Identify the following excerpts as to their type and form.

Testimonio Reflection essay Travelogue Reportage

True narratives Blogs Literary Journalism Biography

Autobiography Personal Narratives Creative Non-Fiction Web

1. Born 1706 in Boston, Benjamin Franklin was the 15th of his father's 17 children. He went
to school as a child with the intent of becoming a minister, as his father, Josiah, intended.

2. The student I met helped me unload my luggage as the train reached Tilak Nagar Station
through the dramatic pulse of moving bodies in the 5-10 seconds one has to get off the train
already filled with people. He shook my hand strongly and glared into my eyes with marks of
genuine care and friendship, despite us meeting for only 20 minutes. And naturally, I was
swayed emotionally to be as sympathetic towards him, and signaled our momentary
companionship to him.

3. It was my second day on the job. I was sitting in my seemingly gilded cubicle, overlooking
Manhattan, and pinching my right arm to make sure it was real. I landed an internship at
Condé Nast Traveler. Every aspiring writer I’ve ever known secretly dreamt of an Anthony
Bourdain lifestyle. Travel the world and write about its most colorful pockets.

4. For seven years before the murder, Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blancharde lived in a small pink
bungalow on West Volunteer Way in Springfield, Missouri. Their neighbors liked them. “'Sweet'
is the word I’d use,” a former friend of Dee Dee’s told me not too long ago. Once you met them,
people said, they were impossible to forget.

5. Should you go with a free platform like WordPress or a paid platform like Squarespace? That
depends on how much control you want over your websiteand how big you want to go:

6. This photo is of Becky and her Dad in her wedding car. I love a couple of things about this
photo. One, it was a beautiful moment. I love eye contact as it shows connection between
people. And it’s those connections that make wedding photography for me. As a father myself
I can’t imagine how it must feel looking at your daughter on her wedding day.

7. You will look at your personal engagement with your community, culture, family, education,
and other direct spaces you have occupied. You may pick an event from your past, either
positive or negative, dramatize it, and then explore it with the purpose of coming to some kind
of statement, or insight, about how life works, according to you.

8. As I sit down to reflect on my time in the English major at Berry, I’m roughly three months
removed from my last English class. At the moment, I’m in the middle of a semester-long
student teaching experience at Armuchee High School, finishing out my Secondary Education
minor and preparing for the “real world” of teaching that awaits me after May 10th.
9. Hi, I’m Khayelen Isabel Hontario. I lived in New Jersey for 3 years and currently living in New
York. I am personal secretary of one of the biggest company in US.

10. "The barber was cutting our hair, and our eyes were closed—as they are so likely to be... Deep
in a world of our own, we heard, from far away, a voice saying goodbye. It was a customer of
the shop, leaving. 'Goodbye,' he said to the barbers. 'Goodbye,' echoed the barbers. And
without ever returning to consciousness, or opening our eyes, or thinking, we joined in.
'Goodbye,' we said, before we could catch ourselves."—E.B. White "Sadness of Parting."

Activity 3. Analyzing a Personal Narrative Essay

Directions: Read the introduction, climax, and conclusion of Langston Hughes’
“Salvation”—a chapter from his autobiography, The Big Sea—and
answer the questions that correspond to each excerpt.

I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. But not really saved. It happened like
this. There was a big revival at my Auntie Reed's church. Every night for weeks there had
been much preaching, singing, praying, and shouting, and some very hardened sinners had
been brought to Christ, and the membership of the church had grown by leaps and bounds.
Then just before the revival ended, they held a special meeting for children, "to bring the
young lambs to the fold." My aunt spoke of it for days ahead. That night I was escorted to
the front row and placed on the mourners' bench with all the other young sinners, who had
not yet been brought to Jesus.

1. What is the event Hughes shares?

2. Where did this event take place?
3. When did this event occur?

My aunt told me that when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you
inside! And Jesus came into your life! And God was with you from then on! She said you
could see and hear and feel Jesus in your soul. I believed her. I had heard a great many old
people say he same thing and it seemed to me they ought to know. So I sat there calmly in
the hot, crowded church, waiting for Jesus to come to me.

4. Why is Hughes’ aunt significant to his story?

5. What is Hughes’ expectation?

Now it was really getting late. I began to be ashamed of myself, holding everything up so
long. I began to wonder what God thought about Westley, who certainly hadn't seen Jesus
either, but who was now sitting proudly on the platform, swinging his knickerbockered legs
and grinning down at me, surrounded by deacons and old women on their knees praying.
God had not struck Westley dead for taking his name in vain or for lying in the temple. So I
decided that maybe to save further trouble, I'd better lie, too, and say that Jesus had come,
and get up and be saved.

6. What is Hughes’ source of conflict?

7. Why is Westley significant to Hughes’ narrative?
8. How does Hughes seek to resolve his internal conflict?
 That night, for the first time in my life but one for I was a big boy twelve years old—I cried.
I cried, in bed alone, and couldn't stop. I buried my head under the quilts, but my aunt
heard me. She woke up and told my uncle I was crying because the Holy Ghost had come
into my life, and because I had seen Jesus. But I was really crying because I couldn't bear
to tell her that I had lied, that I had deceived everybody in the church, that I hadn't seen
Jesus, and that now I didn't believe there was a Jesus anymore, since he didn't come to help
me.

9. What does Hughes’ crying reveal?

10. What is Hughes’ conclusion, and how does it relate to his topic?
11. What significance will readers find outlined in Hughes’ conclusion? How does this central
argument speak to a reality shared with his audience?

D. Apply:
Multiple Choice. Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Who wrote a story if it is an autobiography?

A. Author C. Teacher
B. Neighbour D. Publisher
2. Which of the following types of text tells a story?
A. Narrative C. Persuasive
B. Descriptive D. Exemplification
3. Which of the following DOES NOT describe a personal narrative?
A. It involves the personal life of the author.
B. It uses figurative language to convey the message effectively.
C. It deals with the chain of events of the life of the author.
D. It deals with the particular aspect of the life of the author.
4. Which of the following is a form of creative nonfiction?
A. Biography C. Poem
B. Sonnet D. Haiku
5. What do you call the literary genre deals with stories that depict the reality
life and experiences of the people with a touch of art?
A. Creative Nonfiction C. Fiction
B. Literature D. Art
6. Which of the following is a good topic when writing a personal narrative?
A. Graft and Corruption C. Novel Coronavirus
B. Politics D. Childhood experience
7. What are the two general types of nonfiction that functions as telling story
and giving information?
A. Narrative and informative C. Narrative and realistic
B. Expository and Narrative D. Expository and persuasive
8. What is the most important thing that you should feature when you do a
travelogue?

A. The picturesque scenery of the place

B The dress that you are wearing
 C. Your companion in your travelogue
D The camera that you are bringing
9. How do you call the careful understanding and examination of the text
presented?
A. Skimming C. Scanning
B. Close Reading D. Intensive Reading
10. What do you need to do before reading a book?
A. Read a good book C. Eat a good lunch
B. Research your topic D. Take a test
11. What do you call a piece of writing that focuses on the marginalized
members of the society who are experiencing oppression?
A. Personal Essay C. Reflective Essay
B. Testimonio D. Autobiography

12. What form of creative nonfiction if you are to write about the life of
Juan Dela Cruz?
A. Autobiography C. Informational Article
B. Personal Narrative D. Biography
13. What is the most important thing to consider when making a blog?

A. Your knowledge about the topic C. Your opinion

B. Your audience D. Your internet connection

14. Which type of creative nonfiction that is closely related to magazine and
newspaper writing?
A. Travelogue C. Biography

B. Blog D. Autobiography

15. What do you call this type of creative nonfiction that deals on the traveling
experiences of a person?
A. Blog C. Travelogue
B. Website D. Essay

PERFORMANCE TASK:

Directions: Look for a particular article about a success story of a

person. Read and evaluate the story if you are inspired and touched
by the author’s life. Write your reflection of the article on a paper.

IV. Guide Questions, if needed:

Why did the author write the article?

How might the author respond to your comments? Why?
What were some of the common themes/issues in the article?
V. Rubric:
SCORING GUIDE FOR THE PERORMANCE TASK:

VI. References:

Elements of Creative Nonfiction. Adapted from “Chapter 2: Telling a Story” from

EmpoWord by Shane abrams, Chapter 2, licensed CC BY NC 4.0 by Portland State
University. From
https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Literature_and_Literacy/Writing_and_
Critical_
Thinking_Through_Literature_(Ringo_and_Kashyap)/02%3A_About_Creative_Nonfictio
n/2.02%3A_Elements_of_Creative_Nonfiction

Difference between Biography and Autobiography, written by Surbhi S. From

https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-biography-and-autobiography.html

© 2020 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. From

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reportage

How to Write Personal Narrative by By Grace Fleming. From

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-write-a-personal-narrative-1856809

What is a Travelogue? By Tricia Christensen. From

https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-travelogue.htm
 Sparknotes: Summary of “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”. From
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/franklinautobio/summary/

© 2011 - 2020, Academic Help. First Time Being on a Train in India. From
https://academichelp.net/samples/creative-writing-samples/travelogue-
samples/indiatrain.htm

VII. Key to Correct Answers:

Activity II Activity III

Answers may vary
Narratives
10.True
9. Autobiography
Essay
8. Reflection
7. Testimonio
6. Reportage
Blogs
Journalism 5.
Literary
Narratives 4.
3. Personal
2. Travelogue
1. Biography

Prepared by:

ABEGAIL A. CASTILLO
Subject Teacher

Checked and Verified by:

JULIEBETH B. TAGARINO
SHS Department Head

Noted:

RODOLFO J. NABUAL, PhD

Secondary School Principal IV