reading nonfiction

READING NONFICTION

Types and Purposes

WHAT IS NONFICTION?The subject of nonfiction is realThe author writes about actual

persons, places and events.The writer may just report factsThe writer may also include

personal opinionsOften there is a mixture of bothReaders must read critically

CRITICAL READINGLook at writer’s backgroundLook at writer’s purposeLook at writer’s attitudeLook at writer’s audience

JOURNALISM•Newspapers•Magazines•Online sources

TYPES OF JOURNALISMInterviewsColumnsReviewsArticlesEditorialsEditorial Cartoons

ESSAYS

TYPES OF ESSAYS• Formal Essay• A prose discussion on a serious topic in a

serious manner, usually rigidly structured and organized.

• Informal Essay• A prose discussion on any topic in a light,

humorous, amusing manner; often loosely organized, rambling and casual in approach.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ESSAYS

Essays in generalProse treatmentBriefIncomplete in its discussion of

topicA literary whole

CHARACTERISTICS (CONT.)The Formal EssayPurpose: to inform, explain,

convinceTone: serious, rhetorical,

balancedThe Informal EssayNarrative structureTone: conversational, sometimes

witty and humorous

HUMOR AND THE ESSAYWit Incongruity The unexpected Exaggeration

Humor Ability to show,

with sympathy, the things in life and human behavior that are funny.

SATIREA literary work in which vices, follies, stupidities, abuses, etc., are held up to ridicule and contempt.A pointing out of the difference between how things are and how they ought to be.

OTHER TYPES OF ESSAYSComparison and Contrast EssaysPersuasive EssaysCause and Effect Essays

PERSONAL CHRONICLES

DIARIES AND JOURNALSDiaries: a private form of writing with no further intended audienceJournals: varying styles and topics. Give a glimpse of the writer’s value of his or her world

LETTERSCalled “Epistles”Private LettersPublic LetterLetters can Reveal character Express opinions Ask for information Give information

Audience and Purpose influence tone.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONSPersonal Reflections must be memorable and significant and : Give character insight Lead to an

unexpected conclusion

Show how a lesson was learned

Awaken feeling of pity, compassion, joy and nostalgia

AUTOBIOGRAPHYWritten by the subject for publicationAuthor has some purpose for writingTo teachTo arouse awarenessTo warnSimply to entertain

VIGNETTESa short impressionistic

scene that focuses on one moment or gives a poignant impression about a character, an idea, or a setting and sometimes an object.

MEMOIRSA TYPE OF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAOL WRITING, DEALING WITH THE RECOLLECTIONS OF PROMINENT PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN A PART OF OR HAVE WITNESSED SIGNIFICANT EVENTS.CONSIDERED BOTH AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL

BIOGRAPHYThe accurate presentation of a life story from birth to death of an individual.Historical biographies include strands of an individual’s life interwoven with historical persons, places and events.

OTHER TYPES OF NONFICTION

SpeechesHistorical WritingScience WritingTechnical writingWriting onlineMiscellaneous writing

ELEMENTS OF NONFICTION

Characters, Plot, and Setting. Like fiction, nonfiction has characters, plot, and setting. However, these elements are real, not made up. The main character in an autobiography or biography is called the subject. The subject's words, thoughts, and actions are presented.

MORE ELEMENTSPurpose. Different types of nonfiction have different purposes. Biographies and autobiographies, for example, have the purpose of informing the reader. They use explanatory, descriptive, and narrative paragraphs. Other types of nonfiction, such as newspaper editorials, are intended to win readers over to a certain opinion. They use persuasive paragraphs. Sometimes a piece of writing combines purposes.

AND MORE ELEMENTSTone. The writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter is called tone. A writer's tone may be sympathetic, It may be bitter, It may be comic, hopeful, solemn, or anything the writer likes.

HOW TO READ NONFICTION

Try to separate Facts from Opinions.The writer has chosen facts that present a certain picture of the subject. Think about what might be missing as well as what is there.

MORE READING TIPSThink about the writer's purpose. Is the writer trying to win you over to his or her opinion? Learn to appreciate how well a writer says something, even when you don't agree. Be a critical reader.

FINAL READING TIPSBe aware of the writer's tone. Frequently a writer reveals much about himself or herself by the tone he or she uses. This is especially important in autobiographical writing