Transcript Nonfiction 7th Grade

Elements of
Nonfiction
True of Factual
What is Nonfiction?
Nonfiction is a type of writing that
deals with REAL people, places, and
events. A newspaper article, a set of
instructions, and an encyclopedia
article are all forms of nonfiction . It
contains factual information, but the
writer can arrange the information in
any way he/she chooses.
What is Nonfiction (cont.)
 The subject of nonfiction is real
 The author writes about actual persons,
places and events
 The writer may just report the facts
 The writer may also include personal
opinions
 Often there is a mixture of facts and
opinions
 Readers must read critically…meaning YOU
have to be the judge!
What is the author’s purpose?
To entertain
To inform
To persuade
To explain
Types of Nonfiction
We are going to learn about. 6
types of Nonfiction.
Autobiography
Biography
Essay
Informative Article
Interview
Speech
The story of a
person’s life told
by that person. It
is written in the
first person.
Continued…
The word autobiography can be
broken up into three parts.
auto
= self
bio
= life
graph
= writing
Continued…
An autobiography can read just like a story. It is usually a
long work that covers a long part of the writer’s life.
You’ll also notice that the narrator of this story keeps using
the pronouns “I” or “me”. That’s because
autobiographies are written in the first person
Autobiography
 Story of a person’s life, written by
that person.
 1st person point of view
 Usually book length
 Includes journals, diaries, letters,
and memoirs
In the beginning, because I felt, as
only a young girl can feel it, all the
pain of being an ugly duckling. I was
not only timid, I was afraid. Afraid of
almost everything, I think: of mice, of
the dark, of imaginary dangers, of my
own inadequacy. My chief objective
as a girl was to do my duty.
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
What details in the paragraph help you
understand what Eleanor Roosevelt felt
and experienced? How is this an
example of autobiography?
 She felt she was
ugly
 That made her timid
 She was very dutiful
 She wanted the
approval of others
 Uses the “I” subject
pronoun!!
Examples of Autobiographies are…
JournalsDiaries-
LettersMemoirs-
A biography is the
story of a person’s
life told by
someone else. It
is written in the
third person. The
biography of
Eleanor Roosevelt
is a great
example!
Continued…
~ The biographer gets information by
conducting interviews and reading letters
and diaries.
~ biographies contain some elements of
fiction, such as characters and setting.
~ The sole purpose of a biography is to
present an accurate account of the
subject’s life.
Biography
 Story of a person’s life told by
someone else
 In 3rd person point of view
(he/she/they)
 The writer is called the biographer
 Same elements as fiction (conflict,
setting, etc.)
Eleanor was born in a fine townhouse in Manhattan.
Her family also owned an elegant mansion along the
Hudson River, where they spent weekends and
summers. As a child Eleanor went to fashionable
parties. A servant took care of her and taught her to
speak French. Her mother, the beautiful Anne Hall
Roosevelt, wore magnificent jewels and fine clothing.
Her father, Elliot Roosevelt, had his own hunting
lodge and liked to sail and to play tennis and polo …
The Roosevelt family, one of America’s oldest,
wealthiest families, was respected and admired.
-William Jay Jacobs, “Eleanor Roosevelt”
What do the details in the paragraph
tell you about Eleanor Roosevelt’s life
and background? How is this an
example of biography?
 Details of her home, family,
and life
 Written by a different person
about her
An essay is a short piece of writing on a
single-subject. Essays are often found
in newspapers and magazines. The
purpose of an essay is to share
opinions, try to entertain or persuade ,
or describe a topic.
There are three types of essays:
 Expository
 Persuasive
 Personal
Expository Writing
Expository writing
presents or
explains
information.
Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing
develops an
argument.
The writer tries to
convince the
reader to adopt
a point of view
or perspective.
Personal Essay
Personal Essays
expresses
writer’s
thoughts and
feelings.
Informative articles
provides facts about a
subject. Some
examples are:
 Newspapers
 Magazines Articles
 Textbooks
 Pamphlets
 History Books
 Gardening Books.
A conversation in which
one person ask
another person
questions for the
purpose of gathering
information
Helps interviewer keep
an accurate account
of a person’s life or a
time in history.
Continued…
The interviewer
o takes notes
o audio records
o films
… the conversation in order to
keep an accurate record.
The communication
or expression of
thoughts in spoken
words.
Or a printed copy of
such an address.
Speech continued…
Speeches are normally given to:
Convince/persuade people of the
speakers opinion
Inform people of a situation
(or) a combination of both
When reading Nonfiction it’s
important to look at the author’s
TONE
 Tone = the writer’s attitude toward his or
her subject matter.
 A writer’s tone may be sympathetic, it
may be bitter, it may be comical, joyful,
hopeful, sad, or anything the writer feels
toward the subject he/she is writing
about.
 Sometimes writers use tone to make you
see their point of view or opinion on a
matter.
How to read nonfiction…
READ CRITICALLY! This means….
Look at the writer’s background
Look at the writer’s purpose
Look at the writer’s attitude (tone)
Look at the writer’s audience
***Just because it is nonfiction does NOT
mean there are not opinions of the author
included. Think of what is there, as well
as, what is missing
TIPS FOR READING NONFICTION
 Preview the selection (what’s in bold? What are the pictures about?
Etc.)
 Clarify the organization (is it chronological, sequential, cause/effect,
etc?)
 Summarize the main idea
 Separate the facts from the opinions
 Evaluate what you read (come up with your own opinions about the
subject…you do not always have to agree with the author!)