Download Nonfiction Unit Literary Terms

NONFICTION UNIT
Nonfiction – prose writing
that presents and explains
ideas or tells about real
people, places, ideas, or
events; must be true
Types of Nonfiction
•
•
•
•
•
•
Article
Essay
Speech
Autobiography
Biography
Informational materials
Article
Provides information
about a topic, a person,
or an event
Essay
Examines and
discusses a focused
topic, often including
the writer’s personal
viewpoints
Speech
Written to be read
aloud; presents a topic
and may persuade,
inform, explain, or
entertain
Autobiography
Writer tells his or her
own life story
Biography
Writer tells the life story
of another person
(written about famous
people and “ordinary”
people)
Types of Essays
•
•
•
•
•
•
Narrative essay
Descriptive essay
Expository essay
Persuasive essay
Reflective essay
Humorous essay
Narrative essay
Tells a story of actual
events or an
individual’s life
experiences
Descriptive essay
Creates an impression
about a person, an object,
or an experience by
presenting details of
sight, sound, smell, touch,
or taste
Expository essay
Provides information,
discusses ideas, or
explains a process
Persuasive essay
Attempts to convince
readers to take a
specific course of
action or adopt the
writer’s viewpoint
Reflective essay
Expresses the writer’s
thoughts and feelings
in response to a
personal experience or
to an idea
Humorous essay
Intended to make the
reader laugh through
ridicule of their
subjects or through
affection towards their
subjects
Literary Terms
•
•
•
•
•
Style
Tone
Perspective
Bias
Purpose
Style
Particular way in which
a writer uses language
Tone
Author’s attitude toward
both the subject and
readers or listeners
Perspective
The viewpoint or
opinion an author
expresses about the
subject, either directly
or indirectly
Bias
Occurs when a writer
makes a one-sided
presentation
Purpose
The author’s reason for
writing