What is the best

way to find the

truth?
 All categories of books or stories can be called either
fiction or non-fiction.
Non-Fiction
Fiction
Has
A made
factsup
that
story
can be checked and proven
The
Can author
tell about
is an
things
expert
that
oncould
this information.
happen
Is read for fun
Characters may be like real people or imaginary
Fiction or Nonfiction?
Fiction
Story is created from the
author’s imagination
 Stories are pretend
 Animals or objects can talk,
wear clothes, have jobs
 People in the story can do
things people cannot really
do
 Story might have funny
pictures
Forms of Fiction
There are three main forms of fiction.
1) Novel: long work of fiction; contains the basic
elements of fiction; may contain subplots along with
the main plot
Subplots: independent related stories
2) Novella: shorter than a novel but longer than a short
story
3) Short Story: brief work of fiction; contains basic
elements of fiction; one main plot; one conflict; most
can be read in one sitting
What is Fiction?
Fiction is a story that is not real.

Picture books
Chapter books
Comics
Story books
Genres of Fiction
Mystery (Nancy Drew)
Horror (Goosebumps)
Fantasy (Harry Potter)
Science-fiction (Star Wars)
Myths, Fairytales, Legends (Cinderella)
Historical Fiction (Letters from Rifka)
Can you name any others?
Elements of Fiction
•Setting
•Character
•Plot
•Point of View
•Theme
•Symbolism
•Other
Fiction or Nonfiction?
Nonfiction
Story is true and factual
 Stories are about real people
 Book gives information
 Might have maps or real
pictures
 Pictures have captions
describing the photograph
 An index in the back helps
find information
 Might have a glossary which
defines some words
What is Non-Fiction?
Text that is TRUE and based on REAL
information

Forms of Non-Fiction Text:

Newspapers Dictionaries
Encyclopedias Scholastic News
Textbooks Magazines
Non-Fiction Books
 Forms of Nonfiction
Two broad categories of nonfiction are literary
nonfiction and functional texts.
1) Literary Nonfiction: has elements of fiction; For
example it might use vivid descriptions, a dramatic
writing style, or poetic language.
2) Functional Texts: give instructions, show directions,
explain rules, provide other information that helps
you complete procedures; often use illustrations or
graphics
Literary Nonfiction
Autobiographies and memoirs:
tell the story of the author’s life
Biographies:
tell the story of someone’s life from the
perspective of another writer
Letters:
written communications from person to person
Essays and Articles:
brief works about a specific topic
Reviews:
tell what is good and what is bad about a work of
art or performance.
Reports:
give information about a topic explored through
research
Functional Texts
Recipes: tell how to prepare food
Directions: tell how to operate or assemble equipment
Schedules: tell when events take place
Menus: tell which foods are available and their cost
Brochures: use pictures and text to advertise places or
events
Maps: are diagrams that show areas of land
Applications: are written requests to an authority
Features of Non-Fiction
• Table of Contents
• Glossary
• Index
• Headings
• Bold Print
• Photographs/Real Pictures
• Charts, Graphs, and Maps
• Captions
• Fact and Opinion
Leave your notes on your desk!
Get out your practice paper!

Write “Features of Nonfiction” on your paper and then

answer the following.
Table of Contents
It tells you what is in the book
It tells you the heading and the page number
It is found in the front
Table of Contents

What is Fiction? Page 1

What is Non-Fiction? Page 3
Features of Non-Fiction Page 5
Forms of Non-Fiction Page 10

I can learn about the Features of Non-Fiction on page:

a. 1 b. 4 c. 5
Glossary
It gives you a word and its definition
It is in alphabetical order
The important words are in bold print
Usually found in the back of the text
Index
A list in alphabetical order of common important
words or topics with page numbers
Found in the back of the text

True or False:
Topics found in the index can appear on more than
one page in the text.
TRUE FALSE
Headings

They tell us what the new topic is about

Found at the top of the page or at the beginning of
a new topic
Bold

Print
The print will be thicker and darker than other
words
Found throughout the text

“This is a presentation on the features of

fiction and non-fiction. If this were a non-
fiction book, you could go to the Glossary to
find the meanings of the words that are in
Bold Print.”
Which of the following words in the above paragraph
are in bold print?
a. fiction b. features c. Glossary
Photographs/Real Pictures

They are real pictures or photographs, not drawings

or cartoons.
Found throughout the text
Charts, Graphs, and Maps
Illustrations of important information
Found throughout the text
Captions
A caption explains what a picture, chart, graph, or
map is about.
Captions are found near a picture, chart, graph, or
maps

Example of a caption:

This is an image of a monarch

caterpillar taken at a butterfly garden
in Florida.
Fact & Opinion
A fact is a true statement.
An opinion is something that someone thinks.

Fact or opinion?
Mrs. Greer’s room is
prettier than Mrs. Saylor’s room.
Table of Contents
It tells you what is in the book
It tells you the heading and the page number
It is found in the front
Table of Contents

What is Fiction? Page 1

What is Non-Fiction? Page 3
Features of Non-Fiction Page 5
Forms of Non-Fiction Page 10

c. 5
I can learn about the Features of Non-Fiction on page:
a. 1 b. 4 c. 5
Index
A list in alphabetical order of common important
words or topics with page numbers
Found in the back of the text

TRUE

True or False:
Topics found in the index can appear on more than
one page in the text.
TRUE FALSE
Bold

Print
The print will be thicker and darker than other
words
Found throughout the text

a. fiction
“This is a presentation on the features of
fiction and non-fiction. If this were a non-
fiction book, you could go to the Glossary to
find the meanings of the words that are in
Bold Print.”
Which of the following words in the above paragraph
are in bold print?
a. fiction b. features c. Glossary
Fact & Opinion
A fact is a true statement.
An opinion is something that someone thinks.

Fact or opinion?
Mrs. Greer’s room is
prettier than Mrs. Saylor’s room.

Opinion
Leave your notes on your desk!
Get out your practice paper!

Write “Fiction/Nonfiction” on your paper and then

answer the following.
Fiction or Nonfiction?
 a mouse that sings
 how to cook spaghetti
 the life of the president of the United States
 a person who can jump over a house
 flowers that sing
 an elephant that wears a ballerina tutu
 wild animals that live in Africa
 the surface of the moon
 a dog that can talk
 how to grow a garden
 a moose that can drive a bus
 how the heart pumps blood in the body
 a tree made of chocolate and gumdrops
 which foods are healthy to eat
 how to draw a bird
 a snowman that comes to life
Elements
Setting
Character
Point of View
Plot
Theme
Narrator
Setting
Setting:
the time, place and period in which the action
takes place.

Lord of the Flies: The Bean Trees:

deserted island, the Arizona/Oklahoma
The Catcher in the future. 1980s.
Rye:New York, 1940s
The time and place of the story is the
setting
Setting
Where the story takes place. It could be a real place or
an imaginary place.
 SettingTime and place are where the action occurs
Details that describe:
 Furniture
 Scenery
 Customs
 Transportation
 Clothing
 Dialects
 Weather
 Time of day
 Time of year
Leave your notes on your desk!
Get out your practice paper!

Write “setting” on your paper and then answer the

following.
Describe the setting.
Describe the setting.
Describe the setting.
Describe the setting.
Describe the setting.
Characters
Characters
The people, animals, or things in the
story.
Every story needs characters
People

Animals

Or Creatures
The protagonist is the “good guy”
Write down 5
Protagonist.
The antagonist is the “bad guy” or force
Write down 5
Antagonist.
Factors in Analyzing Characters
 Physical appearance of character
 Personality
 Background/personal history
 Motivation
 Relationships
 Conflict
 Does character change?
Point of View
The point of view is the perspective of the
story

“I was framed! I
just wanted to
“That rotten wolf
borrow a cup of
tried to eat us!!!!”
sugar!”
Plot
Plot

The series of
events and
actions that
takes place in a
story.
Theme
 Theme
The theme of a piece of fiction is its message about life.
It usually contains some insight into the human
condition.
•In most short stories, the theme can be expressed in a
single sentence.
•In longer works of fiction, the central theme is often
accompanied by a number of lesser, related themes, or
there may be two or more central themes.
Example of Theme
“Every man needs to feel allegiance
to his native country, whether he
always appreciates that country or
not.”

From “A Man Without a Country” by Edward Hale

 Central Idea

Nonfiction often conveys a central

idea supported by details
Detail
Detail
Central Detail
Idea
Detail Detail
Narrator
Narrator
• A speaker or a character who tells a story.

• The narrator’s perspective is the way he or

she sees things.
What if…

the dog is the

narrator?

Write 2
sentences as
the dog.
 the kitten is the
What if…
narrator?
the little girl
holding the Write 2 sentences
kitten is the from his
narrator? perspective.

Write 2
sentences from
her perspective.
Symbolism
 Symbolism

A symbol represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than itself.

A Journey can symbolize

Water may represent
life.
a new beginning.

Black can represent

evil or death.
A lion could be a
symbol of courage.
Dialogue
 Dialogue
•Dialogue is a conversation between two or more
characters.

“Where’s teacher?”
“She’ll be back.”
“She’d better hurry, we’ll miss it!”
From “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury
Pass up your practice paper!
Setting
Select a number 1-5

1) Haunted House
2) South Middle School
3) Walmart
4) Your house
5) Mrs. Hand’s classroom

Write one paragraph describing your setting. Please be

specific.
Character
Select a number 1-5
1. You
2. Scooby Doo
3. Edward Cullen
4. Lady Gaga
5. Minnie Mouse

Write three sentences describing your character.

(Character traits)
Point of View
Select a number between 1-3.
1. From your view point
2. From your character’s view point
3. From a different character’s view point (who?)
Create a story using your setting and character. Make
sure to tell the story from the perspective of the name
you selected for point of view.