Unit 6: Nonfiction,
Autobiography, & Biography
Readings:
 from An American Childhood
by Annie Dillard
 “Nolan Ryan”
by William W. Lace
 “No Gumption”
by Russell Baker
Nonfiction Terms to Know
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Nonfiction-writing based on real
people or events
Chronological Order-putting events in
the order in which they occurred
Fact vs. Opinion-a fact is provable
while an opinion is one’s viewpoint
Editorial-letter written to a newspaper or magazine to express an
opinion on a current event
Nonfiction Examples
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Biography
Essay
Editorial
Article
Interview
Chronological Order
First, you read the assigned
reading. Second, you use the
transitional words as clues. Third,
you determine the time order of the
events. Finally, you number the
events in chronological order.
Fact vs. Opinion
Facts:
 Ball Jr. High is located in Anaheim.
 Ball students use planners daily.
 Ball maintains a rotating schedule.
Opinions:
 Ball is the best school in America.
 Ball students are all geniuses.
 Ball’s rotating schedule is confusing.
Editorials
Strategies:
 Read the letter to determine the
author’s purpose and main point.
 Look for details that support the
author’s main point.
 Distinguish facts vs. opinions.
Biography Terms to Know
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Biography-story of a person’s life
told by another
Autobiography-story of a person’s
life told by that person
Biographer-writer of a biography
Journal/Diary-daily account of what
happened
Letter-written message from one
person to another
Memoir-story written from personal
experience
Biography/Autobiography
“Eleanor Roosevelt was born in a fine
townhouse in Manhattan.”
~from a biography by William Jay Jacobs
“My chief objective, as a girl, was to do
my duty. This had been drilled into
me as far back as I could remember.”
~from an autobiography by Eleanor Roosevelt
Journal/Diary/Letter
7 May - I have had a long talk with the Count. I asked him
a few questions on Transylvania history, and he warmed up
to the subject wonderfully.
~ from Jonathan Harker’s journal in Dracula
24 August
My Dearest Lucy,
I know you will be anxious to hear all that has
happened since we parted at the railway station at
Whitby. . . . I must stop, for Jonathan is waking –
I must attend to my husband.
Your ever-loving,
Mina Harker
~a letter between 2 characters in Dracula
Memoir
Whose memoirs would you most like
to read in 50 years?
Point of View Terms to Know
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Point of View-perspective from which a
story is told
First-Person-the narrator is a character in
the story (I/me)
Third-Person-the narrator is outside of the
story (he/she/they)
Limited-Third-Person-the narrator relates
the inner thoughts of only one character
(he/she)
Omniscient-Third-Person-the narrator
knows what each character thinks and
feels (he/she/they)
Point of View Examples
Mrs. Philip writes . . .
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First-Person
When I was in 6th grade, I became Police Chief of
Anaheim for a day. Because I crafted a winning essay,
my class received a free field trip to the police station. As
part of my prize, I was able to sit in the helicopter to have
my photo taken for the newspaper. A great day for me!
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Third-Person
When Mrs. Philip was in 6th grade, she became Police
Chief of Anaheim for a day. Because she crafted a
winning essay, her class received a free field trip to the
police station. As part of her prize, she was able to sit in
the helicopter to have her photo taken for the newspaper.
A great day for her!