Non-FictionMuldoon

2016

What is it?!Real facts or informationMost prevalent form of writing

ExamplesAutobiographiesBiographiesMenu + RecipesNewspaperDirections User ManualsTextbooks

BlueprintsEditorialsMapsDocumentariesDiagramsMany EssaysLetter

AudienceThe people reading the textAuthors write differently depending on their

intended audience.Example: Texts about your weekend to your

mom or your best friend….Example: A children’s book about the Holocaust

vs. a textbook about it

Text FeaturesTitles and Headings: offers key words and

information; previews the main topic of the textSpecial fonts (bold, italic, underline): draws

readers’ attention; emphasis

Text FeaturesMaps: offers directions

or gives readers context

Pictures: allows readers to visualize and make connections

Captions: provide additional information to explain pictures

Text FeaturesCharts/Graphs/Diagrams: visual

representation of data

Sidebars: usually offers additional information or highlights main ideas

Glossary: list of important terms and definitions

Table of Contents: lists the contents and page numbers for easy access

PurposeAuthors write with a purpose:To INFORM Discovery Magazine article about dolphins To PERSUADE

Opinion article in the newspaper

To ENTERTAIN Memoir

BIASPrejudice in favor of or against one thing,

person, or group compared to another; usually in a way considered to be unfair

AKA: opinionBased on: age, political views, religion, ethnicity,

gender, sexual orientation, past experiences, family, etc.

Who Cares?Why is it important to understand BIAS in non-

fiction texts?

“Legal abortion helps parents limit their families to the number of children they want and can afford. This strengthens and stabilizes the family unit. Therefore, pro-choice is pro-child and pro-family. Anti-abortion laws can cause stress and hardship for families with insufficient resources to raise unwanted children.”