Non-Fiction Inventory
1. Why do you read non-fiction?
2. Why do you write non-fiction?
3. What type(s) of non-fiction do you read? Circle all that apply.
4. What type(s) of non-fiction do you write? *Star* all that apply
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Textbooks
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Travel journals
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News articles
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Advice columns
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Correspondence (emails, letters, postcards, etc.)
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Essays
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Magazine articles
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Handbooks
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User Manuals and Guides
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Reviews (book, restaurant, music, etc.)
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Facebook posts / Twitter feeds
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Dictionary
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Personal stories (biographies/autobiographies)
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Encyclopedia / Wikipedia
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Blogs
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Diary Entries / Journals
**After answering 3 and 4, return to see if you can add anything to your responses for questions 1 and 2.**
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Non-Fiction Continuum
Test your knowledge: Place each kind of non-fiction in order on the continuum below and explain why you placed
it there. Consider how personal or impersonal each type is.
Types of Non-Fiction
Textbook
Newspaper Article
Diary
Speech
Letter
Biography
Memoir (Focused Autobiography)
Essay
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Modes of Non-Fiction Notes:
Term / Definition
Example / Explanation
Expository:
Persuasive:
Narrative:
Reflective:
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Expository vs. Persuasive
What do you already know about these two modes of non-fiction?
Title:
Which mode is the above text written in?
How can you tell?
Title:
Which mode is the above text written in?
How can you tell?
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Types of Supporting Evidence:
Details used to inform and educate audiences.
Types of Support / Definition
Examples from text
Facts
Statistics
Examples
Anecdotes
Quotations
Definitions
Reasons
Summaries
Comparisons
Analysis
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Modes of Persuasion: Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Ethos, Pathos and Logos are modes of persuasion used to convince audiences.
Term and definition
In your own words
Ethos, or the ethical appeal, means to convince an audience
Ethos is convincing an audience by…
of the author’s credibility or character.
An author would use ethos to show to his audience that he is a
credible source and is worth listening too. Ethos is the Greek
word for “character.” The word “ethic” is derived from ethos.
Ethos can be developed by choosing language that is
appropriate for the audience and topic (also means choosing
proper level of vocabulary), making yourself sound fair or
unbiased, introducing your expertise or pedigree, and by
describing personal experiences related to topic. Tends to use
the “I”.
Pathos, or the emotional appeal, means to persuade an
Pathos is convincing an audience by…
audience by appealing to their emotions.
Authors use pathos to invoke sympathy from an audience; to
get them to feel what the writer feels. A common use of pathos
would be to draw pity from an audience. Another use of pathos
would be to inspire anger from an audience; perhaps in order to
prompt action. Pathos is the Greek word for both “suffering”
and “experience.” The word pathetic is derived from pathos.
Pathos can be developed by using meaningful language,
emotional tone, emotion evoking examples, stories of
emotional events, and implied meanings. Emotional appeals
can involve the audience by speaking directly to them – “you”.
Logos, or the appeal to logic, means to convince an
audience by use of logic or reason.
Logos is convincing an audience by…
To use logos would be to cite facts and statistics, historical and
literal analogies, and citing certain authorities on a subject.
Logos is used to prove a point with support: data, examples,
reasons, etc. Logos is the Greek word for “word,” however the
true definition goes beyond that, as the word “logic” is derived
from logos.
Logos can be developed by quoting experts, providing
definitions or explanations, citing facts (very important), using
historical and literal analogies, and by constructing logical
arguments.
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Examples of Ethos, Logos and Pathos:
Excerpted Text - Underline the words or phrases
that indicate the type of persuasion.
Identify each argument as using
Ethos, Logos, or Pathos. Explain.
"I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight
against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild
our military to meet future conflicts. But I will also renew the
tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining
nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression. I will build new
partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism
and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate
change and disease. And I will restore our moral standing, so
that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are
called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace,
and who yearn for a better future."
Democratic Presidential Candidate Acceptance Speech by
Barack Obama. August 28th, 2008.
"However, although private final demand, output, and
employment have indeed been growing for more than a year,
the pace of that growth recently appears somewhat less
vigorous than we expected. Notably, since stabilizing in mid2009, real household spending in the United States has grown
in the range of 1 to 2 percent at annual rates, a relatively
modest pace. Households' caution is understandable.
Importantly, the painfully slow recovery in the labor market has
restrained growth in labor income, raised uncertainty about job
security and prospects, and damped confidence. Also,
although consumer credit shows some signs of thawing,
responses to our Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank
Lending Practices suggest that lending standards to
households generally remain tight."
The Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy by Ben Bernanke.
August 27th, 2010.
"I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of
great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh
from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas
where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the
storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police
brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering.
Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is
redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go
back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to
Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern
cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be
changed."
I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. August 28th, 1963.
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Narrative vs. Reflective
What do you already know about these two modes of non-fiction?
Title:
Which mode is the above text written in?
How can you tell?
Title:
Which mode is the above text written in?
How can you tell?
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Plot Components
The structure of a story
Term / Definition
A. Exposition:
Example
B. Initial Incident
C. Rising Action
D. Climax
E. Falling Action
F. Resolution
Label Plot:
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Tone
Explanation/Examples
Term / Definition
Tone –
 Diction
 Syntax
Words to Describe Tone
amused
cheerful
optimistic
humorous
informal
light
resigned
pessimistic
suspicious
hopeful
sympathetic
angry
horrified
formal
gloomy
ironic/sarcastic
serious
clear
playful
sad
confident
innocent
excited
neutral
satirical
conciliatory
imploring
curious
witty
nostalgic
sentimental
apologetic
regretful
Practice: For each example write one word to describe the tone and circle/highlight the
diction that led you to that conclusion.
1. Father: “We are going on a vacation whether you like it or not!”
Son: “NO! I already told you, I’m hanging out with my friends!”
a. Tone ___________________________________________________
2. Father: “I’m sorry son, but we can’t afford to go on a vacation this summer.”
Son: “Awesome dad - I was really looking forward to another boring summer”
a. Tone____________________________________________________
3. Father: “Do you want to go on a vacation this summer?”
Son: “Of course! Where are we going?”
a. Tone __________________________________________________
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Reading Notes:
Title:
Author:
Mode (circle one):
Topic:
Expository / Persuasive / Narrative / Reflective
Explain:
Summary: (3-5 main points)
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Evaluation / Response (what did you enjoy, learn, find interesting, decide, ect.?)
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Reading Notes:
Title:
Author:
Mode (circle one):
Topic:
Expository / Persuasive / Narrative / Reflective
Explain:
Summary: (3-5 main points)
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Evaluation / Response (what did you enjoy, learn, find interesting, decide, ect.?)
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Reading Notes:
Title:
Author:
Mode (circle one):
Topic:
Expository / Persuasive / Narrative / Reflective
Explain:
Summary: (3-5 main points)
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Evaluation / Response (what did you enjoy, learn, find interesting, decide, ect.?)
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Reading Notes:
Title:
Author:
Mode (circle one):
Topic:
Expository / Persuasive / Narrative / Reflective
Explain:
Summary: (3-5 main points)
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Evaluation / Response (what did you enjoy, learn, find interesting, decide, ect.?)
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Reading Notes:
Title:
Author:
Mode (circle one):
Topic:
Expository / Persuasive / Narrative / Reflective
Explain:
Summary: (3-5 main points)
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Evaluation / Response (what did you enjoy, learn, find interesting, decide, ect.?)
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