Genres

Identifying Poetry, Drama, Letters, Ads, Historical

Fiction, Biographies, and Autobiographies.

Characteristics of Poems

Poems have a certain form, such as stanzas or a group of lines

Rhythm

Rhyme

Figurative Language

Poetry:“Italian Food” by Shel Silverstein

Characteristics of Drama

A story that often involves human conflict

Told in action

Uses dialogue

Characteristics of Letters

Heading

Greeting

Body

Closing

Signature

Postscript (P.S.)

Characteristics of Ads

Must be persuasive

Tries to change our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors

Often uses spokespersons, fantasy characters, children and puppies, music, drama, and imagery

Ads

Characteristics of Historical Fiction

Blends actual facts

With fiction

Can be used to study history if we remember that the story is not actually true.

Especially effective for eras in history that have few books written from that era, such as some of the history of Africa.

Example of Historical Fiction

Characteristics of Biographies

Story about a person

Written by an author

Is not written by the person whose story it is

Biographies

Characteristics of Autobiographies

Comes from Greek words meaning “self,” “life,” and “write”

Tells the story of a person

Is told by the person who the story is about

Example of Autobiography

Now Your Turn!

Write on a piece of paper at least one thing you learned from studying genre. Include information about why reading a variety of genres is important to you.