- Introduction
Learn- Try It
- Task
Learn
There are two primary divisions in writing: fiction Writing that is created from the imagination; not true. and nonfiction Writing that is based on fact; true. Authors may write fiction and nonfiction texts in a variety of ways.
| Characteristics of Fiction and Nonfiction Writing Styles | |
|---|---|
| FICTION | NONFICTION |
| Poems, short stories, novels | Biographies, essays, speeches |
| Entertaining | Entertaining and informational |
| Plots | Varied styles and structures |
| Mostly narrative | Mixed texts (mainly expository or persuasive) |
Fiction
Now, look at some of the different subgenres in fiction.
| Subgenres in Fiction | |
|---|---|
| SUBGENRE | CHARACTERISTIC |
| Adventure | Adventure writing involves action and mystery. The protagonist's life must be in danger. |
| Mysteries | Mysteries are usually realistic but contain a mysterious event which is not explained or a crime that is not solved until the end of the story to keep the reader in suspense. |
| Fantasy | Fantasy contains elements that are not realistic, such as talking animals, magical powers, and the supernatural. |
| Horror | Horror creates an intense fear inside the reader. |
| Realistic fiction | Realistic fiction takes place in modern time. The characters are involved in events that could really happen. |
| Science fiction | Science fiction includes futuristic technology, which may be a blend of scientific fact and fictional elements. There are usually aliens, robots, or spaceships involved. |
| Historical fiction | Historical fiction takes place in a particular time period in the past. Often, the basic setting is real, but the characters are fictional. |
| Fairy tales | Fairy tales were often created to teach children behavior in an entertaining way. These usually include magical elements and talking animals. |
| Folk tales | Folk tales are stories with no known creator because they were originally passed down orally. These include fables with morals and myths. |
| Dramas | Dramas are stories written in script form. This includes staged dialogue with scenes and acts. |
Nonfiction
You probably spend a fair bit of your day writing nonfiction texts.
Today's smart phones have countless applications that allow you to read, play, view, and much more. According to the Pew Research Center, "Texting is the dominant daily mode of communication between teens and all those with whom they communicate." Nonfiction is such a big part of people's lives that you may not realize you read it every day. Look at the typical day where nonfiction is used.
7:00 AM makes an omelet from a new recipe
8:00 AM reads the Daily Devotion over the school announcements
10:00 AM finds the calorie and protein intake on the pack of crackers at break
11:00 AM checks email from Yahoo and Gmail
12:00 PM orders items from the menu in the cafeteria
1:00 PM checks Facebook and Twitter to see if anything exciting has happened
2:00 PM goes to the library to research a class report; reads a fashion magazine instead
3:00 PM makes a phone call and has to look up a number
5:00 PM checks movie show times and reviews
8:00 PM reads advertisement boards on the way home
Some of the nonfiction items you encounter at school are
biographies,
newspapers,
digital information,
history,
encyclopedia,
textbooks.
Nonfiction texts include factual information that may inform, describe, report, or persuade just to name a few. The authors conduct research to gain as much information as possible about the topic. Then, the authors organize the information as logically as possible so that the reader can understand the information.
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