Elements of Nonfiction Notes

Elements of Nonfiction NONFICTION is prose writing that is about real people, places, and events. Unlike fiction, nonfiction is largely concerned with factual information, although the writer selects and interprets the information according to his or her purpose and viewpoint. Although the subject matter of nonfiction is not imaginative, the writer’s style may be individualistic and innovative. Types of nonfiction include: autobiographies, biographies, letters, essays, diaries, journals, memoirs, and speeches. Types of Nonfiction
1. essay- a short work that offers a writer’s opinion on a particular subject. The purpose of an essay may be to express ideas and feelings, to analyze, to inform, to entertain, or to persuade. It may also be in the form of a written speech which is then delivered to an audience. A. informal essay- writers express their opinions without adopting a completely serious or formal tone. It may include humor and may deal with unconventional topic B. personal essay- a type of informal essay. It allows writers to express their viewpoints on subjects by reflecting on events or incidents in their own lives. C. formal essay- explore topics in a more serious, thorough, and organized manner than informal essays
2. autobiography- a writer’s account of his or her own life. Both formal and informal autobiographies provide revealing insights into the writer’s character, attitudes, and motivations, as well as some understanding of the society in which the writer lived.
3. biography- an account of a person’s life written by another person. The biographer synthesizes information from sources such as letters, journals, interviews, and documents. It may be full-length covering the entire life of a person from birth to death or anecdote, which relates a revealing incident in a person’s life and the character sketch, a brief descriptive essay that highlights certain qualities of the subject.
4. diary- a writer’s very