reading
Nonfiction
The Cornell Notes Preview
Subject: Nonfiction Writing
Definition
Purposes of writing (3)
1
2
3
Types of nonfiction
Traits of nonfiction
Nonfiction
• Prose that deals with real
events and real people.
Important note:
Nonfiction texts are not guaranteed
to be accurate, but the author
believes the information to be factual.
(Meaning, they are NOT making it up…
like you would if you were writing fiction)
**What do you think “prose” means?
The 3 General Purposes of (Nonfiction)
Writing: PIE
1. To persuade
2. To inform
(including…
to explain,
to describe)
3. To entertain
Can you think of types of nonfiction?
• Brainstorm a list of 4 examples:
Types of Nonfiction
Examples We Will Consider Include:
Writing About People:
Diaries/Journals
Autobiographies/
Biographies/
Memoirs
Essays:
Expository Essays
Persuasive Essays
Misc:
Speeches
Letters
What are some traits of nonfiction
writing?
• Brainstorm a list of 4 traits:
What are some traits of nonfiction
writing?
• Traits Include:
– Real events, places, and ideas
presented
– Narrated by an author
who is a real person (meaning?).
– Presents facts, describes true-life
experiences, or discusses ideas.
– Written for a specific audience, or group of readers.
– Addresses a clear purpose, or reason for writing. The
audience and purpose influence the type of
information a writer includes.
– Tone, the author’s attitude toward the subject or
reader, is displayed through the writer’s word choice
and style.
More Info:
Autobiography and Biography
• An autobiography is a story of a person’s life
written by that person.
– Memoir is a type of
autobiography on one experience
or period in the person’s life
• Biography is the story of a
person’s life written by
someone other than that
person.
More Info: Essays
• An essay is a relatively short piece of nonfiction in
which the writer explores a single topic from his
or her own perspective
• Essays can be formal or informal
(The most common type of essay is an informal
narrative/personal essay…it’s purpose is to
ENTERTAIN. It usually tells a story…)
More Info: Type of Formal Essays
There are two types of essays:
1. Expository – the purpose is to explain,
describe, give information or inform
2. Persuasive – the purpose is to try to
influence the reader’s or listener’s ideas or
actions. Persuasive essays contain an
argument.
Nonfiction Reading Guide:
To be used with all our NF reading
1.
2.
3.
4.
Determine what type of work you are reading
Determine the audience for the piece
Identify the author’s tone
Identify the author’s purpose (entertain, inform,
persuade)
– If it is to inform…look for the main thesis and support
for the thesis
– If it is to entertain…look for literary devices
– If it is to persuade…look for the argument and the
devices used to try to persuade you