Literary Genres
Introduction Unit
Mrs. Kercher
6th Grade Gifted
Literary Genres
Definition: categories used to
group different types of
literary work, such as nonfiction, fiction and poetry.
What are some other types
of genres?
Our Genre List
We will be learning about several
different types of literary genres. It
is important to remember that this
list does not include all types of
genres found in literary works.
Two Main Types of Literature
• Fiction – written from an
author’s imagination and is
usually intended to
entertain.
• Non-Fiction- factual writing
that provides information
about a particular topic.
Which is it?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
India’s Population Problem
The Life Cycle of a Beetle
F
Maynard the Moose
The Haunted House Mystery
“The Magician’s Cat” F
NF
The Civil War
“Waffle Making” NF
“Michael the Bear for
F
Congress”
• Amy’s Pet Pumpkin F
NF
NF
F
Non-Fiction
This can also be called
“informational” material. These
types of books provide
information that is factual.
Nothing is make-believe in these
types of materials. More specific
examples of this type of genre
would be . . .
Biographies: A true account of
a person's life written,
composed, or produced by
another.
Autobiographies: The
biography of a person written
by that person.
What are some non-fiction stories
you have read?
Fiction
In this type of work, the
author can make up the
whole entire story. Authors
can also choose to include
factual information in a
made-up story. The author
can have wizards creating
magic spells or it can be
about a 12 year old girl who
has a secret crush.
Different types of fiction
Historical Fiction: The story takes the
reader back to a particular time period
where they learn about the everyday life
of a person. The character may interact
with actual historical characters, but
usually, the main character is not based
on a real person.
Realistic Fiction: The story usually presents
a problem to be examined that could
be from anybody’s life. They may cover
such topics as family situations, peer
relationships, and cultural differences.
Science Fiction: This is a type of
modern fantasy. It explores
scientific fact and can pose
ethical questions about current
scientific trends and predictions.
The author focuses on the
adventure of exploring the
unknown and the wonder of
discovering new worlds and
people.
Mystery: There are different types
of mystery stories, but usually a
crime has been committed and
the reader wants to try to figure
out “whodunit”. There is usually a
great deal of suspense and
intrigue abounds.
What are your favorite fictional
stories?
What category of fiction would
you put your favorite story in?
Why?
Realistic
Fiction
Science
Fiction
Mystery
Historical
Fiction
What category would the
following book descriptions fall
under? Why?
1) Peter Meets the President ~ During the early 1960s, a young boy
on a tour of the White House becomes separated from the rest
of his group and meets John F. Kennedy. Historical
2) Journey to Jupiter ~ This story, set in the future, tells of a
family’s exciting journey to the planet Jupiter. Sci-Fi
3) The Hundred Dresses ~ A girl from a poor family,
is teased by classmates at school for being different and
For wearing the same dress everyday. Realistic
4) The Search for Sam ~ A family attempts to find their
Mystery
missing dog.
*Invent your own title and description for a fiction book.
Fantasy
In this type of story, the
author has created a
magical world where
anything is possible. There
are many types of fantasy,
from fables to fairy tales and
may include magical beings,
talking animals and gods
and goddesses.
Traditional Fantasy: When we think of this
type of fantasy story, we often consider
stories such as Cinderella. This genre
includes folk tales, tall tales, fables, and
myths. These are stories that have been
told over and over, sometimes for hundreds
or even thousands of years!
Fairy Tales: We often know we are reading
or hearing a fairy tale with the words, “once
upon a time . . .” Fairy tales often feature a
fight between good and evil. Evil always
loses to a triumphant hero or heroine. We
also know it’s a fairy tale because most end
with “and they lived happily ever after.”
Fables and Myths:
•Fables: These stories usually
have a moral that is being taught.
It often uses animals that speak
and act like humans.
•Myths: a story or group of stories
that form part of the traditional
knowledge of a society. Myths
often use imaginative plots and
characters to explain how the
world began and why nature and
people behave the way they do.
Modern Fantasy: The events
in modern fantasy are
outside the realm of
possibility. These stories
cannot happen in real life,
but even though we know
the events can’t happen,
they are very believable.
These stories allow us to live
in an imaginary world where
anything is possible.
List a fairy tale, fable, a myth
and a modern fantasy.
Match the Myth to its Character
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Hercules
Arachne
Icarus
Medusa
Cyclops
Pandora
Clue #1
• A one-eyed giant
Answer: cyclops
Clue #2
• This creature had snakes
for hair and was so hideous
that anyone who looked at
her turned to stone.
Answer: Medusa
Clue #3
• This boy fell to his death
after flying too close to the
sun while wearing wings
made from wax and
feathers.
Answer: Icarus
Clue #4
• This curious woman
opened a jar that
contained all the evils of
the world.
Answer: Pandora
Clue # 5
• After challenging the
goddess Minerva to a
weaving contest, this
boastful girls was turned
into a spider.
Answer: Arachne
Clue #6
• This character was one of
the greatest heroes in
Roman mythology. He
performed twelve very
difficult labors.
Answer: Hercules
Quarterly Book Reports
• You will be required to complete
eight book reports, two each
quarter. One will be a written
summarization and the other will
be a presentation of a novel with
project requirements.
• Due dates:
Will be discussed in class and are subject to change based on
weather.
Written Summary Book Reports
• Requirements:
– Cover Page – name, date, class
period (2 pts.)
– Completed story map (20 pts.)
– Typed Summary (68 pts.)
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•
12 Times Roman Numeral font
double spaced
one / two pages
follows the BHMS writing rubric
requirements (focus, content,
organization, style, and conventions)
– 90 points each
MP 1 Presentation ~ Mural Project
• Select one of the following novels to present:
~ Palace Walk by Mahouz
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Palace of Desire by Mahouz
Sugar Street by Mahouz,
The Egypt Game by Snyder and Raible
The Golden Goblet by McGraw
• Project Requirements:
– Oral Presentation (30 pts.)
• describing the mural scenes to the class (use appropriate
volume, clarity, eye contact, and body language)
• visual display (how well the class can see it)
– Mural Scenes (52 pts.)
• 5 major scenes neatly drawn & colored depicting an
event from your novel using details mentioned or
imagined (20 pts.)
• A written title for each scene (4 pts.)
• A written paragraph for each scene describing the event
and / or its importance. Refer to the BHMS Writing Rubric –
Focus, Content, Organization, Style, and Conventions.
(28pts.)
MP 2 Presentation – Paper Bag Project
• Select one of the following novels to present:
- The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Lloyd
-
Heroes of the Environment by Rohmer
Get Real What Kind of World Are You Buying by Rockliff
Gaia Warriors by Davies
Not Your Typical Book About the Environment by Hammer
- Earth in the Hot Seat by Delano
• Project Requirements:
– Oral Presentation (24 pts.)
• Share bag and contents with the class (use appropriate
volume, clarity, eye contact, and body language).
Include a thorough description and relevance of objects
to the novel to show your understanding of the story.
MP 2 Project continued
• Project requirements continued:
– Paper Bag (58 pts.)
• Outside Front
– Depict a scene from the novel (draw and color)
– Title of Novel
– Author’s Name
– Your Name
• Outside Back
– List main characters
– List the supporting characters
– Identify the setting (time period and place)
– Identify the theme
– In a single sentence, write a prediction of what the
main character will be doing in five years.
• Inside
– Place 8 objects that represent significant events in the
novel or aspects of the character’s personalities.
– Object requirements:
»
»
4 must be handmade by you (3-D, no pictures)
4 must be items you found
MP 3 Presentation – Literary Elements
• Select one of the following novels to present:
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The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady by Morris
The Savage Damsel and His Dwarf by Morris
The Crispin: Cross of Lead by Avi
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Morris
The Adventures of Givret the Short by Morris
The Legend of the King by Morris
• Project Requirements:
– Oral Presentation (30 pts.)
• present slide show to the class (use appropriate volume,
clarity, eye contact, and body language)
• visual display (how well the class can see it)
– Power Point (60 pts.)
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Create a slide show using 15 slides
Slide 1 – name, title of novel, author
Slide 2 – Introduce the story and characters
Slide 3 – 7 – Describe significant scenes /events
Slide 8 – 10 – Author’s use of literary elements
Slide 11 – 15 – Student Choice of Information
Be sure to pay attention to layout, design, and use of
animation to maintain your audience’s attention
MP 4 Presentation – Writing an Epilogue
• Select one of the following novels to present that you
have not already presented:
-
The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Lloyd
Heroes of the Environment by Rohmer
Get Real What Kind of World Are You Buying by Rockliff
Gaia Warriors by Davies
Not Your Typical Book About the Environment by Hammer
Earth in the Hot Seat by Delano
• Project Requirements:
– Title Page – Name, Title, Class Period (4 pts.)
– Oral Presentation (24 pts.)
• Share epilogue with the class (use appropriate volume,
clarity, eye contact, and body language)
– Epilogue (72 pts.)
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Minimum three pages
Typed12 Times Roman Numeral font
Double spaced
Follows the BHMS writing rubric requirements (focus,
content, organization, style, revision, and conventions)
Bibliography
Children’s Literature Genres,
http://www.alpine.k12.ut.us/depts/media/ele
mlessons_rev/m4collections/lesson2cl_genre.html
Genre Study: A Collaborative Approach,
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson
_view.asp?id=270
Dictionary.com, http://www.dictionary.com
Wordsmyth, http://www.wordsmyth.com