Elements of Non-Fiction

Can you name three elements of

non-fiction?

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 Elements of Non-Fiction

Like fiction, nonfiction has characters,

plot, and setting. However, these
elements are real, not made up. The main
character in an autobiography or
biography is called the subject. The
subject's words, thoughts, and actions
are presented.

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 PLOT
O Pertains to the arrangement of events in the
story governed by the cause and effect
relationship. It is the design or motif of the
story of how it will progress or a narration of
what happens in the past
O EXPOSITION- background knowledge
O A. Inciting Moment takes place when the
readers comprehend the problem of the story
O B. Dramatic Question- response from the
inciting moment

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 PLOT
O RISING ACTION- essential inner conflict,
complication of the plot
O Crisis Situation- readers understand how the
writer’s experience will enable him or her to be
successful or a failure from such ordeal
O CLIMAX- highest level of the story line, it
represents the turning point that marks a change
of the main character
O FALLING ACTION- reversal of the story that
depicts the moment of the final suspense
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 PLOT
O RESOLUTION- falling action and the
concluding scene of the narrative takes place,
conflicts are resolved.
O PLOT DEVICES- ways of propelling the
storyline to move forward, serves to motivate
the characters, creating urgency or resolving
complicated situations
O Characters are capable of doing “well-
developed reasons”.
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 CONFLICT
O Problems, issues or situations that the characters need to
resolve through time. It is expressed through actions and
dialogues of the character.
O A. One character against another character
O B. One character against society
O C. One character against nature
O D. A character against himself/ herself

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 CHARACTERS
O Direct Characterization (Explicit)- inform the
readers of what the character is like which can
be understood through how the character
behave, act or speak
O Indirect Characterization (Implicit)- allows the
readers to infer about the characters’ thoughts,
actions, conversations, physical appearance
and workmanship with other characters.

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 POINT OF VIEW
O First Person POV
O Second Person POV
O Third Person POV
O Alternating Person- combines 1st and 3rd
person storytelling

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 TIME AND PLACE
O NARRATIVE TIME- determines the timeline of
the story whether it may have happened before,
during or after the narration

O SETTING (Scene)-where the story happens such as

the location, social situations or historical period.
Atmosphere is the emotional sensitivity or mood
the reader gets from the story.

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THEME AND ANGLE OF
THE STORY
O Theme pertains to the idea that philosophers deeply
think or it is simply the subject of the story.
O Angle of the story depicts the theme, concept or
point of what the story will talk about. Angle is the
controlling idea that provides elements of surprise
to the readers. Angles can be opposite to the
ending of the story, it can be comparisons or
opposing views.

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 More Elements
Purpose: Different types of nonfiction have
different purposes. Biographies and
autobiographies, for example, have the purpose
of informing the reader. They use explanatory,
descriptive, and narrative paragraphs. Other
types of nonfiction, such as newspaper
editorials, are intended to win readers over to a
certain opinion. They use persuasive
paragraphs. Sometimes a piece of writing
combines purposes
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 More Elements
Tone: The writer's attitude toward his or
her subject matter is called tone. A
writer's tone may be sympathetic, It may
be bitter, It may be comic, hopeful,
solemn, or anything the writer likes.

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 More Elements
O Symbols- employed by writers to make the written
work interesting and the ability of not giving the
literal sense of the ideas or things. Likewise, an
action or event, or exchange of words in a
conversation may illicit symbolic values.

copyright 2006 www.brainybetty.com 05/11/21 13

 Non-Fiction Reading Tips
Critical Reading
OLook at writer’s background
OLook at writer’s purpose
OLook at writer’s attitude
OLook at writer’s audience

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 Answer the following:
O In writing your autobiography, what will be your
tone?
O How will you organize the plot?
O What are the conflicts you will include?
O How did you narrate your life story?
O What is the atmosphere you want to create on your
reader?
O What is simply the theme of your life story?
O Give a symbol for your life story.

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