Elements of Nonfiction

Nonfiction works differ from fiction works in a few important ways.

• Nonfiction deals only with real people, events, or ideas.

• Works of nonfiction are narrated from the point of view, or perspective, of the author,
who is a real person.

• Nonfiction presents facts or discusses ideas.

. —f Itmayreflect the historical contextof the time period, including references to major social and
cultural information.

O Types of Nonfiction

Biographies tell the story of someone's life and are told from the perspective of another writer.

Autobiographies and memoirs tell the story of the author's life and reflect the writer's thoughts
and feelings about events.

Letters are written forms of communication from one person to another. A letter might share
information, thoughts, or feelings.

Journals and diaries are records of daily events and the writer's thoughts and feelings about them.
They are meant to be either public or private.

Essays and articles are brief written works about a specific topic. The purpose of an essay or article
might be to explain, persuade, or inform.

Informational texts are written documents commonly found in everyday life. Examples of these
documents include textbooks, applications, instructions, and articles.

Learning About Fiction and Nonfiction

O Elements of Fiction

Fiction writing can be inspired by fact or based entirely on the fantastic. All works of Action,
regardless of their content, share certain basic elements.

• Fictional works include made-up people or animals, called characters, and a made-up
series of events, called the plot

• They take place in a time and location, or setting, which may or may not be real.

• Fictional writing is narrated or told by a speaker, called the narrator.

• Fiction is told from a certain perspective, or point of view. First-person point of view is the
perspective of a character in the story. Third-person point of view is the perspective of a narrator
outside the story.

Works of fiction often include a theme, or message, about life.

Q Types of Fiction

Novell are long works of fictiof. They contain such elements as characters, plot, conflict, and
setting. In addition to its main plot, a novel may contain one or more subplots, or independent,
related stories.

Novellas are works of fiction that are shorter than novels but longer than short stories.

Short Stories are brief works of fiction. Short stories contain the same basic elements as novels
and novellas but tend to focus on one main plot structured around a single conflict Short stories
are meant to be read in one sitting.
English Literature II
Grecia Galarza Villazón
28/08/19
Chart. Learning about Fiction and Nonfiction
Fiction
Elements Can be inspired by fact or based
entirely on the fantastic:
 Made-up people or
animals, called characters,
and a made-up series of
events, called the plot.
 They take place in a time
and location, or setting,
which may or may not be
real.
 Is narrated or told by a
speaker, called the
narrator.
Perspective:
First-person: is the perspective
of a character in the story.
Third-person: narrator outside
the story.
Types Novels: long works of fiction.
They contain such elements as
characters, plot, conflict, and
setting. In addition to its main
plot, a novel may contain one or
more subplots, or independent,
related stories.
Novellas: works of fiction that
are shorter than novels but
longer than short stories.
Short Stories: brief works of
fiction. Short stories contain the
same basic elements as novels
and novellas but tend to focus
on one main plot structured
around a single conflict. Short
stories should be read in one
session.
Nonfiction
 Deals only with real people,
events, or ideas.
 Works of nonfiction are
narrated from the point of
view, or perspective of the
author, who is a real
person.
 Presents facts or discusses
ideas.
 Reflects the historical
context of the time period,
including references to
major social and cultural
information.
Biographies: someone's life by
another writer.
Autobiographies and memoirs:
author's story, writer's thoughts
and feelings about events.
Letters: share information,
thoughts, or feelings.
Journals and diaries: records of
daily events, writer's thoughts
and feelings about them. Can be
public or private.
Essays and articles: brief written
works about a specific topic, to
explain, persuade, or inform.
Informational texts: written
docs found in everyday life.
Textbooks, applications,
instructions, and articles.