Nonfiction Notes

Things to Know About Nonfiction Text Nonfiction is everywhere.
Most of what you will read for the rest of your life will be nonfiction. Nonfiction reading includes textbooks, newspapers, magazines, biographies, autobiographies, speeches, and essays. Remember: nonfiction is ANY writing that concerns real rather than imaginary subjects. Many types of writings are represented in the nonfiction genre of essays. And yes, sometimes when you read nonfiction, it can be more than one type (although normally one style prevails). Narrative- a story is told Reflective-the writers inner thoughts and feelings are explored (similar to narratives with more inside info) Exposition- an explanation of a subject is given Persuasion- an attempt to convince the reader to think or act a certain way NARRATIVE Genres Autobiography -A writer tells his or her own life story. (first-person point of view.) Memoir/Reflections-A writer focuses on one period of his or her own life, using a first-person point of view , Ex. Mrs. Smith writes a book about her childhood in Colorado, A soldier writes a book about his experiences in a war Biography -A writer tells someone elses life story, using a third-person point of view REFLECTIVE writing: A writer tells a TRUE story in a SHORT composition but focuses more on the details of one event or one life skill, (First- OR thirdperson point of view, Ex. Mrs. Smith writes a two-page essay about the time she went night-snorkeling). EXPOSITORY essays EXPLAIN a topic OR promote an OPINION. Information is EXPOSED to you (the reader) Examples: A news report, literary analysis, steps in a process (How to make a sandwich) PERUASIVE Essays PROMOTE an opinion or a position (Examples: An advice column, a newspaper editorial, a movie review, an online blog) Different types of persuasive articles have different organizational styles: a. Compare/Contrast: A structure that points out the similarities and differences between ideas or arguments, often in order to indicate which a reader should prefer.
b. Cause and Effect: A structure that demonstrates the reasons or consequences of actionsoften used to persuade readers. c. Definition: An essay form used to point out a common definition so that the reader can agree with or accept the writers views. For instance, if a writer defines euthanasia as murderthen hell probably want us to oppose it; however, if he defines the term as mercy killing, hell probably argue for us to accept it. d. Description: A structure that outlines the key issues of the essay in order to frame the argument in a way that the reader will accept the writers view. e. Exemplification: A structure using examples to make a point. Often, the writer selects examples that will allow the reader to reach the same conclusion as the writer. f. Explanation: A structure similar to descriptionin which the issues are described in detail so that the reader will agree with the writers opinion. g. Persuasion / Argument: A structure that begins with an argumentand employs the other structures to achieve the readers agreement. h. Process: An organization that outlines a step-by-step process that can show either the effect of a certain policy or the logic of an argument. IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS IN NONFICTION:
subjective: writing that can be debated, ideas that can be passionately discussed, neither absolutely right or wrong. (this is the best book ever, The Dallas Cowboys are amazing football players, etc) objective: facts, one correct answer, specific news articles that cannot be argued or debated (George Washington was the first president, Mill Creek High School is in Georgia, He was 20 when he died, etc) Multiple choice tests are objective because there is only one right answer. Anecdote: A simple story about a single incidentthe most basic short story. The story is usually used to show a single, direct message. Appeal: This is any attempt to persuade you by gaining your approval. There are three main appeals: a. Appeal to Ethics / Appeal to Ethos: The use of a sense of right and wrong to convince the reader. For instance, by giving an example of how children are negatively affected by a war, the writer can convince you to oppose that war, because we feel that children are innocent. b. Appeal to Logic / Appeal to Logos: The use of our sense of what makes logical sense. By providing examplesthe essayist can lead us to draw a logical conclusion about an idea. For instance, if an author points our several instances where a leader has lied in the past, we can logically assume that the leader may be lying right now.
c. Appeal to Emotion / Appeal to Pathos: The use of our feelings to convince us. By including details that make us feel a certain way, the essayist can convince us of an action. For example, when a writer discusses a brutal beating, we often will support ideas that support the victim. Diction: The words chosen by the author. Why does the author choose that word and not another? For instance, "gal" and "lady" both indicate females--but why would the author choose ladybut not gal. What feelings do you have toward the word chosen? Loaded diction: Emotionally charged wordswhich an essayist uses in order to unfairly sway you toward her opinion. Such biased or prejudiced language might convince many readersbut it may also throw the entire argument into question. Register: The register of a writers work can be formal or informal. Ask, "Why would the author select a certain register?" Often, informal language might invite us to see the writer as a friend, while a formal register often helps create respect. Repetition: Why would the author emphasize that word or phrase by repeating it? What is he/she trying to get you to pay attention to? Tone: Tone is the attitude the writer wants you to take toward a subject or a character. Tone is created through the diction, imagery, details, language level (register), and syntax that the writer chooses. It is different from atmosphere and moodwhich both describe the more general feeling of the passage. Understatement: The opposite of hyperbole: representing something as much less in important that it actually is. Usually the writers effect is to create ironysuch as when Mark Twain wrote: The reports of my death a greatly exaggerated. Hyperbole: Extreme exaggeration. Ive told you a million times! Ask yourself: Why would the author exaggerate his/her point? How does it make you feel?

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Things to Know About Nonfiction Text Nonfiction is everywhere.

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