Nonfiction
1. Nonfiction—prose writing that presents and
explains ideas or that tells about real people,
places, ideas, or events. (A true story)
2. Biography—a form of nonfiction in which a writer
tells the life story of another person
3. Autobiography—a form of nonfiction in which a
writer tells his or her own life story
4. Memoir—a record of events written by a person
having intimate knowledge of them and based
on personal observation
Elements of Nonfiction
5. Tone—the author’s attitude toward the
subject and the readers
6. Perspective—the author’s point of view on
the subject, including the opinions that the
author expresses and the source of the
author’s information—whether general
research, for example, or personal
experience
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7. Style—refers to the author’s unique way of
writing. Elements contributing to style
may include level of formality, use of
figurative language, word choice, sentence
patterns, and methods of organization
8. Purpose—the author’s reason for writing or
speaking
Purposes of Nonfiction
•
To inform—articles, news reports, and
instructions
•
To persuade—editorials, speeches, and
reviews
•
To entertain—humor columns,
biographies, autobiographies
9. Essay—a short nonfiction work about a
particular subject
Types of Essays
A) Narrative Essay—tells the story of real
events or an individual’s personal
experiences
B) Descriptive Essay—creates an impression
about a person, an object, or an experience
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C) Expository Essay—provides information,
explores ideas, or explains a process
D) Persuasive Essay—attempts to convince
the readers to take a course of action or
adopt the writer’s position on an issue
E) Reflective Essay—conveys the writer’s
thoughts and feelings about a personal
experience or idea
10. Speech—presents a topic and often marks
a specific occasion
Types of Speeches
A) Address—a formal, prepared speech that
is usually delivered by someone of
importance
B) Talk—an informal speech delivered in a
conversational style
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C) Oration—an eloquent speech given on a
formal occasion
D) Lecture—a prepared speech that informs
or instructs an audience