Discussion Topics for Week 5 Nonfiction, Historical Fiction, Biography, and Memoir

A Nonfiction book is a book is based on informative content and details facts about any kind
of information or topic. Nonfiction books are related to real events and real characters or people.
The number of nonfiction books has increased because the writers are writting books with topics
that the children really like. They care about kids and the topics must fit the school curriculum
so that they can learn it at school.
When the educator use nonfiction books in the classroom lead students to work with
nonfiction stories during the English class and language arts. Working with these books drives
the attention of students to different types of nonfiction and gives a great importance
from discussions about nonfiction and the importance of exposing kids to everything.
The history of nonfiction books starts with the book of John Amos Comenius titled Orbis
Sensualium Pictus (illustrated World of the Senses). Comenius created a compendium of
information that every child must know. Comenius, advocated associating learning with 
everyday life by emphasizing contact with surrounding objects and doing all kinds of knowledge.
This book was the first one that has pictures as important like the text; it is recognized as the first
picturebook. Today’s nonfiction books are used in classrooms as Comenius’ book. The readers
enjoy nonfiction books because they have amazing designs, great information, creative and
beautiful illustrations and pictures. The graphics and illustrations of today’s nonfiction books are
captivating and the stories are very interesting according with today’s life.
A nonfiction book must show real information about the world that is around us. This kind
of book must have captivating illustrations that captures the attention of the reader and help him
to learn more about different topics. It must have information that is consistent and accurate
about today’s scientific findings and many important and significant facts. An excellent
nonfiction book must have accuracy, which means that it must be complete, balanced, without
stereotypes. The extent of the book should be suitable to the reader and the content presented.
The text must be steady and clear, while the facts and opinions are clearly separated. The book
must be organized with an understandable sequence and pattern that shows the structure of the
book’s content. The design of nonfiction books should be charming and engaging with
illustrations that brighten the text. The style is how the information is arranged and it must be
fascinating and appealing. Some examples of books with these qualities are: Wolves, Moonbird:
A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor, The Race to Save the Lord God Bird, Parrots over
Puerto Rico, Mosque, The Way We Work: Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body, Lizards,
Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage.
Historical fiction is when the written story happens in the past, not in the present or future.
This kind of story is set in a real place but in the past, it tells stories of history. Historical fiction
is an important topic inside the classroom because with it the educators can help students learn
more about the past of their own cultures of other cultures. It is important because the students
must learn about the past to know why they are here in today’s society.
Depending on the different time periods each book is written the educator must compare the
style, illustrations, topics, and ways diversity is dealt with in historical fiction. The
communication technologies can let us see our world in a smaller way than it used to be. Some
of these books have topics related to different cultures, customs, social structures, countries and
people. Children are interested in the world that surrounds them, how it works and what
happened in the past.
Events and behaviors are consistent with historical evidence and are timely. It shows real social
problems and does not tolerate discrimination based on race, gender or other differences.
Cultural information refers to beliefs and practices that are often shared by insiders. The style of
the language should be consistent with time and space, especially in speech.  However, it is  
difficult for today's readers to understand the ancient language.
Biographies are a narrative that tells a story or part of the story of a person. Some of the
qualities that an educator should look to use a biographies in the classroom are vivid and
accurate details, the story is based in real facts, the story and facts are aligned, there are no
stereotypes, the subjects’ character is amazingly developed, the confusing topics are detailed to
be understandable. The illustrations help to visualize the place and time of the story. The
illustrations highlight the main character of the story.
“Biography is an important part of nonfiction. Students can get caught up in their own world 
and forget the good things that happen outside of their community. When planning their lessons, 
it is important for teachers to include the biography as a nonfiction book or as an option in a non-
fiction lesson” (Why teach biographies?, 2022).
After explaining the students what is a biography and finding, reading and discussing some
biographies with the students I would make an activity where they can match pictures of some
people with facts or details about them that they studied in class. Another activity can be that the
student draw a picture of him and then write down their own biography.

References

Galda, L., Liang, L.A. and Cullinan, B.E. (2017) Literature and the child. Boston: Cengage
Learning.

Teacher, T.S.H.E.R.O. (1970) 5 ways to teach biographies in middle and high school, The
Secondary English Coffee Shop. Available at:
https://secondaryenglishcoffeeshop.blogspot.com/2020/03/5-ways-to-teach-biographies-in-
middle.html (Accessed: April 16, 2023).

Why teach biographies? (2022) 2 Peas and a Dog. Available at:

https://www.2peasandadog.com/2019/04/why-teach-biographies.html (Accessed: April 16,
2023).