Unit 3- Types of Nonfiction

1. Unit 3- Types of Nonfiction What should we learn?

2. Elements of Nonfiction • Nonfiction- writing that is true or thought to be true • Functional Texts- practical documents that help people perform everyday tasks. • Literary Nonfiction- some of the same literary elements and techniques as fiction. • *writers of nonfiction have a purpose or goal for writing.

3. Structure of Nonfiction • Chronological- events in order of which they happened. • Spatial- describes items as they appear in space- e.g. left to right. • Comparison and contrast- groups ideas based similarities and differences. • Cause and effect- how one event causes, or leads to, another • Problem and solution- examines a problem and examines ways to solve it.

4. Narrative Nonfiction • Direct and Indirect characterization reveal the personalities of real people. • Vivid descriptions and figurative language describe real places, real historical areas, and real customs. • Artful pacing and organization describe actual events.

5. Forms of Literary Nonfiction • Expository- to explain a process. • Persuasive- to convince a reader to do something. • Narrative- to tell a story of a real life event. • Descriptive- provide a vivid picture of something. • Reflective- explain an event or experience. • Humorous- entertain or amuse. • Analytical- break parts down to show how the parts work as a whole.

6. Analyzing Structure of Literary Nonfiction • Writers of nonfiction deliberately arrange their words, sentences , paragraphs, and sections in ways that develop their key ideas • Text Features • Subheads • charts • Key ideas • First sentence • Point of View • Major Sections

7. Analyzing Relationships in Literary Nonfiction • Logical Relationships- work show their subjects in relationships to the larger world. • Writers show how they feel about their subject by their word choice. • Tone- attitude toward his or her subject or audience. • Connotations- emotional associations with the word choice: positive or negative.

8. Analyzing Relationships in Literary Nonfiction (cont.) • Figurative Language- in literary nonfiction, writers often use figurative language, or unusual comparisons, to bring an idea to life and create a certain tone. • “Cyclone Lily”- sarcastic tone • Lily sheds her things like a tree sheds leaves.- matter of fact tone • Lily is bursting with life. She can’t help but drop petals along the way.- adoring tone

9. Central Idea • The most important idea in a work or a passage of a text. A single central idea may grow out of two or more key points that develop throughout the text. • Direct Central Idea- author tells the reader directly. • Indirect Central Idea- reader has to inference to find the authors most important idea. • Notice how the author groups details • Look for sentences that pull details together.

10. Reflective Essay • Presents a writer’s thoughts and feelings- or reflections- about an experience or idea. • Communicate thought and feelings so readers will respond with thoughts and feelings of their own.