Non-Fiction. . .

“Just the facts, ma’am, just the

facts.

Define Non-Fiction

Writing about real people, events, & ideas

True---factual

How Should a Reader respond to non fiction?

•Different approaches for different types:

•Look for key words, headings, etc.

•Examine layout, subheadings, etc.

•Determine TONE

•Read for detail

•Look for patterns

Types of Non-Fiction

•Biography

•Autobio.

•Humorous

•Persuasive

•Critical Review

•Expository

•Technical

Autobiography•About self (subjective)•Portion or all of life•Reminiscence-accounts an experience from past

Biography•About another person

•Get info from firsthand documents, interviews, or research

•Portray subject through joy, sorrow, probs.,influences

Subjective vs. Objective

• Subjective is factual, but the truth lies in the author’s perceptions

• Only disclose that which he/she chooses to tell

• Objective is unbiased, fact-based, and able to be proven

Humorous Essays•Author’s thoughts in amusing way by:– Describe ridiculous in serious way

– Use hyperbole

– May use anecdotes

– Sarcasm, wit, rhetoric

Persuasive Essay•Tries to persuade the reader to accept an opinion

Persuasive Structures

• Confirmation---your side of the opinion, argument, topic

• Concession---acknowledging that there are other opinions or sides

• Refutation---poking holes in the others’ arguments

Persuasive Techniques

• Rhetorical Question

• Emotional Appeal

• Statistics/Facts

• Parallelism

• Repetition

• Descriptive language---metaphor, simile, analogy, etc.

Critical Review

• A judgment or evaluation

• Describe AND give an opinion with reasons to support the opinion

• Help reader notice something he/she may not have otherwise noticed.

• Sometimes uses Compare and Contrast techniques

Expository Essay

• Explains, defines, interprets an idea, event or process

Technical Readings

• Manuals, brochures, job memos, etc.

• Reading for information is the KEY here.