Intro to Nonfiction

 Introduction to Nonfiction

 GOAL: STUDENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO NONFICTION

 1. Nonfiction- Factual prose writing.  It is literature that is true.  It is based on facts- real people, actual places and true incidents

 

-Through nonfiction, the author communicates his/ her own opinion and reveals their personality

-An author of nonfiction usually writes for a very definite purpose and audience.

-The author's TONE usually indicates the purpose and audience in mind

-The title and style may reveal the author's purpose in a piece of nonfiction

 

 WHAT IS AUTHOR'S PURPOSE?

 

2. EXPLORING ESSAYS AND SPEECHES

NONFICTION POWERPOINT

CHARACTERISTICS OF ESSAYS AND SPEECHES

TYPES OF nonfiction

1. Biography- The story of a person's life written by someone other than the subject.  A strong biography is concerned with presenting both the facts of the subject's life and the meaning behind these facts.

    

 -Biographical sketch- A short sketch of a person's life written by someone else

-Historical Fiction Biography- A fictionalized biography is a creative account inspired by the events of a person’s life.

-Academic Biography-  relies heavily upon the documented facts and noted accomplishments of a person’s life. Any lessons learned by these individuals often get lost in a consideration of the minute details of the person’s life. Academic historians will group related facts around a person’s accomplishments. For example, the life of a visual artist could be told according to their perceived impact on a specific form of art like sculpture, portraiture, or landscape painting

-Fictionalized Academic Biographies- The fictionalized academic biography tries to combine the best elements of the fictional biography (entertainment with a strong theme and story line) and the academic biography (factual accuracy). 

-Anecdote (either) - a short narrative of an amusing biographical/ autobiographical situation.  

2. Autobiography- The story of a person's if written by that person.  Research is usually less important in preparing an autobiography than in a biography.  What is important in an autobiography is firsthand experience, as the author relates events from memory and interprets those events with insights provided by time.

-Reminiscence- sharing life experiences, memories and stories from the past. Typically, recalling events and actions from many years ago rather than focusing on recent memories.

-Memoir -A memoir focuses on a specific place, time, or relationship. Memoirs are written from the first-person point of view.

More limited than the traditional autobiography as it more focuses on an important part of your life.

It can be about your childhood years and what made you who you are now. It can be about your relationship with someone that has shaped you as a person.

-Personal Essay- It is one of the oldest forms of autobiographical writing. A personal essay is the most artistic and intimate form of writing as compared to the other three types. This type of writing does not focus much on the story but on the tone and style.

You need to present an aspect of your life or a journey combined with your emotions, thoughts, and personal realization.

Essays are short works of nonfiction. Their authors are usually named and are always real people. Speeches are nonfiction literary works that a speaker delivers to an audience.

• An essay - In French essai means "an attempt."  An author always has a purpose in writing an essay;  he or she writes to communicate a particular idea or opinion on a particular topic. The Essay examines and discusses a topic, often presenting the writer’s personal viewpoints. Essays typically explore ideas and opinions.
• The essayist uses facts, details, incidents, and reasons to develop that idea or support opinion
• FORMAL ESSAYS- are serious and impersonal
• INFORMAL ESSAYS- ARE MORE PERSONAL AND ENTERTAINING
• A speech presents a topic and often marks a specific occasion. There are many types of speeches, ranging from informal talks to formal lectures.

Essays or speeches offer more than ideas and facts; they also express a writer’s style, tone, perspective, and purpose.

• Style is the distinctive way in which an author uses language. Style reflects an author’s individuality and can be as unique as a fingerprint. Many factors contribute to an author’s style, including level of formality, use of figurative language, word choice, sentence patterns, and methods of organization.
• Tone is the author’s attitude toward both the subject and the audience. When you listen to a speech, you can hear the speaker’s tone just as you do when you engage in conversations. Authors of written works convey tone through word choice and details. Tone is often described with a single adjective: formal, ironic, amused, angry, and so on.
• Perspective is the viewpoint or opinion an author expresses. Bias occurs when the presentation of a viewpoint becomes so one-sided that a writer distorts facts or uses emotional language to unfairly influence the reader or listener.
• Purpose is the author’s reason for writing or speaking. Common purposes include the following: to inform, to entertain, to persuade, to praise, to celebrate, to warn.

TYPES OF ESSAYS

Essays can be categorized by the mode of composition, or author’s purpose. 

• A narrative essay tells the story of real events or an individual’s personal experiences.
• A descriptive essay creates an impression about a person, an object, or an experience.
• An expository essay provides information, explores ideas, or explains a process.
• A persuasive essay attempts to convince readers to take a course of action or adopt the writer’s position on an issue.
• A reflective essay conveys the writer’s thoughts and feelings about a personal experience or an idea.
  

TYPES OF SPEECHES

Speeches can be categorized by their levels of formality, which are determined by the speaker, occasion, and purpose. 

• An address is a formal, prepared speech that is usually delivered by someone of importance.
• A talk is an informal speech delivered in a conversational style.
• An oration is an eloquent speech given on a formal occasion.
• A lecture is a prepared speech that informs or instructs an audience.

NOTES:  TYPES OF NONFICTION  - see worksheet for more term

Check Your Understanding

Choose the letter of the answer that best matches each numbered item.

1. a writer’s unique use of language
1. descriptive
2. style

unfair presentation of facts

1. bias
2. address

a history of World War II

1. persuasive
2. expository
   
   

the story of an athletic triumph

1. expository
2. narrative

playful, sarcastic

1. tone
2. perspective

3. Rhetoric: See Google Classroom

* I will upload the blog link by the end of the day.

II. Truman Capote:  A Christmas Memory - 

Audio Link;  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUKoXXhvnyg&t=359s

Story: A Christmas Memory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0vjTfVyZco

III. Students will review a PowerPoint and take notes

11.B.2.2.1 Identify and interpret first and third person point of view

1.1.B.2.2.2  Analyze the effectiveness of the author's use of point of view and purpose

1.1.B.3.1.1 Analyze the use of facts and opinions n nonfictional text

A Christmas Memory