READING NONFICTION

Mrs. Crandall- 9th Lit/Comp

Nonfiction Pretest

1. What is nonfiction?

2. What makes a credible source?

3. What are some different forms of technical writing?

4. What is diction?

5. What are the differences between an autobiography, a biography, and a memoir? 

6. What is the most widely published form of expository writing?

7. What are the different types of informational materials?

8. In rhetorical situations, ethos is an appeal to what?

9. In rhetorical situations, pathos is an appeal to what?

10. In rhetorical situations, logos is an appeal to what?

Nonfiction Essential Questions

Why should you believe me?

© What makes a credible source?© What makes a good leader?© How can I persuade someone to see

my point of view?

What is Nonfiction?

Written works intended to give facts, or true accounts of real things and events. The author writes about actual persons,

places and events. The writer may just report facts The writer may also include personal

opinions Often there is a mixture of both Readers must read critically

Critical Reading Strategies

© look at writer’s background©Look at writer’s purpose©Look at writer’s attitude©Look at writer’s audience

Journalism

Journalism Texts Types of Journalism

• Newspapers

• Magazines

• Online sources

Interviews Columns Reviews Articles Editorials Editorial Cartoons

Essays

Formal Informal

A writing style on a serious topic in a serious manner, usually tightly prepared and organized

A writing style on any topic in a light, humorous, amusing manner; often loosely organized, rambling and casual in approach

Other Essay Forms

Comparison and Contrast Essays Persuasive Essays Cause and Effect Essays

Personal Reflections

©Diaries: a private form of writing with no further intended audience

©Journals: varying styles and topics. Give a glimpse of the writer’s value of his or her world

Personal Reflections must be memorable and significant and : Give character insight Lead to an unexpected conclusion Show how a lesson was learned Awaken feeling of pity, compassion, joy and nostalgia

Autobiography

©Written by the subject for publication©Author has some purpose for writing

To teach To arouse awareness To warn Simply to entertain

Memoir©A TYPE OF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL

WRITING, DEALING WITH THE RECOLLECTIONS OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN A PART OF OR HAVE WITNESSED SIGNIFICANT EVENTS.

©CONSIDERED BOTH AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL

AND HISTORICAL

Biography©The accurate presentation of a

life story from birth to death of an individual.

©Historical biographies includestrands of an individual’s life interwoven withhistorical persons, places and events.

Other Forms of Nonfiction

© Speeches – oral; used to persuade or inform (often through use of rhetoric)

© How-to manual- most widely published form of expository writing

© Encyclopedia/Dictionary

© Technical Text

Expository- nonfiction document used to explain or inform

Speeches to be Examined

The New Frontier” ~John F. Kennedy “I Have a Dream” ~Dr. Martin Luther King,

Jr.

What is Rhetoric?

©The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively

©Origin- Ancient Greece

Ethos- appeal to credibility, beliefs Logos- appeal to logic Pathos- appeal to emotions

Logos Reason (logos) - support your general claims with

concrete, specific data.

Reason which begins with specifics and moves toward a generalization is inductive. 

Example:  Several clubs have reported difficulty completing their business during lunch period.  This proves that lunch periods should be longer.

Reason which starts with a general observation and moves to specifics is deductive. 

Example:  When people hurry, inefficiency and poor communication are the results.  Under current conditions clubs must hurry at lunch time meetings.  Therefore, lunch period should be lengthened to allow for better club meetings.

Logos Continued… Use two or three different strong reasons to

support your argument. Support your reasons with evidence.

Facts - can be proven. Expert opinions or quotations Definitions - statement of meaning of word or

phrase Statistics - offer scientific support Examples - powerful illustrations Anecdote - incident, often based on writer's

personal experiences Present opposition - and give reasons and

evidence to prove the opposition wrong Conclude with call to action - urge the reader to

do something

Ethos

Ethics (ethos) - convince your readers that you are fair, honest, and well informed.  They will then trust your values and intentions.

Avoid over-use of negatively charged loaded words.

Pathos

Emotion (pathos) - a carefully reasoned argument will be strengthened by an emotional appeal.

Use description or narrate an example, often from your own experience.

Your point of view is demonstrated in an emotional appeal, and is important to the reader.

Careful word choice presents your position accurately.

How to Build a Strong Argument

Introduction - establish your argument, and clarify the importance of the issue.

Statement of the Case - tell story behind the argument, offering background information

Proposition Statement - carefully state central proposition, as a thesis statement would be given

Refutation - refute opposition arguments, exposing faulty reasoning

Confirmation - develop your case, using examples, facts, statistics (logos)

Digression - appealing anecdote or description, offering ethos or pathos

Conclusion - finish with strong conviction; review main points, or suggest call to action

Tips for Reading Nonfiction© Try to separate Facts from Opinions.

© The writer has chosen facts that present a certain picture of the subject.

© Think about what might be missing as well as what is there

© Think about the writer's purpose. © Is the writer trying to win you over to his or her

opinion? © Learn to appreciate how well a writer says

something, even when you don't agree. © Be a critical reader.© Be aware of the writer's tone. © Frequently a writer reveals much about himself or

herself by the tone he or she uses. © This is especially important in autobiographical

writing