Characteristics
of Genre
Biography/Autobiography/Memoir
1.
Bio – life, graphy – write: story of
someone’s life written by someone else
2.
Auto – self, bio – life, graphy – write: story
of someone’s life written by that person
3. Memoir – memory: a short account of
the author’s experience
Drama
1.
Definition: a composition intended for
representation by actors
2.
Characters can be any kind (person, animal,
robot, etc.)
3.
Plot and setting can be anything
4. Meant to be read aloud or performed
Fable/Fairy Tale/ Folkore/Mythology
1. Fable: short story with a moral often told
through talking animals
2. Fairy Tale: simple stories of humans and their
dealings with magical beings, intended for
children
3.
Folklore: traditional beliefs, myths, tales and
practices of a specific people (originally
told, not written)
4.
Mythology: symbolic tales of the past
involving gods and goddesses interacting
with humans
Fantasy
1. Definition: contains unrealistic elements,
represents the impossible or unexplained
2. Characters: talking animals, mythical
creatures, magic users
3. Setting: medieval, time travel, magic
4. Plot: hero’s journey or quest, good vs. evil
Historical Fiction
1. Definition: brings history to life by fictionalizing
the past, reflects on specific time period
2. Characters: often famous historical people,
or average people who lived in the past
3. Setting: pre-1970, often historically important
sites
4. Plot: authentic historical events involving
significant (or average) people
Informational
1.
Definition: factual information
2.
Purpose: provides information on a wide
range of topics
3.
Topics: science, crafts, sports, articles, Social
Studies, etc.
4. non-fiction – factual
Mystery
1. Definition: a detective (amateur or
professional) solves a crime or series of
crimes
2. Characters: detectives, investigators,
spies
3. Setting: crime scene, detective agency,
creepy house
4. Plot: crime or mysterious event + clues =
solution
Poetry Anthology
1.
Definition: a shortened form of writing
2.
Use of figurative language – metaphor,
simile, personification, etc
3. Anthology = Collection
Science Fiction
1. Definition: deals with the impact of
science (actual or imagined) on society
2. Characters: mutants, robots, aliens,
“mad” scientist, talking computer
3. Setting: advanced tech. cities,
spaceships, other solar system or planet,
time travel (technology)
4. Plot: alien attack/visit, time travel,
technology, experiments gone wrong
Chapter Book Choice
1.
Definition: A book with chapters
2. Purpose: to entertain or inform
3. Reading Level: must be appropriate
You Can Do It!!!
 40
books starts with just one page.