UBT –English Language

Department

Finding the Non-fiction Story +

Researching

MSc.Rina Sefiu
What is nonfiction?
• Nonfiction deals only with real people, events or ideas

• Works of nonfiction are narrated from the point of view, or

perspective, of the author, who is a real person.

• Nonfiction presents facts or discusses ideas.

• It may reflect the historical context of the time period,

making references to major social & cultural information
Two Categories of Nonfiction
• Functional texts – practical documents that help readers
perform everyday tasks

• Literary nonfiction – features some similar elements and

techniques as fiction
Patterns of Organization
• Chronological – presents events in the order in which they
happened

• Spatial – describes items as they appear in space – for example,

left to right

• Comparison-and-Contrast – groups and ideas based on similarities

and differences

• Cause-and-Effect – explains how one event causes another

• Problem-and-Solution – examines a problem and proposes ways to

solve it
Literary Nonfiction Uses:
• To inform

• To describe

• To persuade

• To entertain
Narrative Nonfiction
• It may include:
• 1. Direct and Indirect Characterization to reveal
personalities of real people
• 2. Vivid Descriptions and Figurative Language to describe
real places, real history, and real customs
• 3. Artful/Creative Pacing and Organization to describe
actual events
Forms of Literary Nonfiction
• Three Common Forms:
• 1. Articles
• short prose works
• Present facts about a subject
• May appear in print sources such as newspapers or on Websites

• 2. Essays
• Short prose works to focus on a particular subject
• More personal than articles
• Author has a deep emotional connection
• 3. Speeches
• Written texts delivered orally
• Expresses the speaker’s point of view
What is nonfiction anyway

• Creative nonfiction: the art of bringing all the

strategies of storytelling to the narration of factual
events.
• Telling true stories from a particular perspective using
literary techniques
• Writing creative nonfiction is about finding your voice
and perspective.
Types + Elements

• Types: memoirs, memos, e-mails, reports, biographies,

lit journalism, news…
• The Contract: we are not allowed to make things up!
• But…that doesn’t mean we can’t tell the story using
literary elements like point of view, description, or
dialogue.
• Set a vivid scene + tell the story (that happens to be
true) in great detail
Finding the Story
• Every story must have momentum
• Choose your characters carefully
• Make the reader think about your narrative arc
How might you write
this story?
12:05 p.m., Café Dufrain. Present: girl, wearing heels,
red lipstick, cute; guy, out of breath, foreign accent.
Introductions. Girl orders double vodka. Guy orders
espresso. Guy: “Sorry to be late, I was just….”
Finding the Story

• If fiction, rewriting this story would be simple

• But in nonfiction, we cannot invent anything.
• So why nonfiction: the power of true human
experience.
• To find the story, you have to gather as many details bc
characters are in the details.
Focus the Lens
• When characters meet, something has to happen to
create dramatic tension
• You can’t create dramatic moments, but you can
decide which order to present them
• Where you shift the “camera” is the POV and that’s
what makes a story your story.
• E.g. focusing on lipstick says what about the character?
Three Elements of a
Good Story
• Narrative Arc: series of events filled with dramatic
tension
• Drama/Conflict: opposition and struggle is interesting
• Character: one who is capable of transformation;
characters who struggle against each other with
different goals/aims.
• Characters must be complex to be interesting.
The most challenging/most important
aspect of writing Creative Non Fiction
• Think: where might you find materials? What kind of
information can you get access to? How is what you
have groundbreaking?
• CNF = new material, new perspective, new research.
Primary v Secondary Sources

• Primary: the person him/herself

• Interviews, memoirs, letters, oral histories, direct exp
or testimony
• Secondary: books/resources written by someone about
someone/thing.
Where to find info

• Bibliographies in books
• Bibliographies of bibliographies
• Digital databases
• Historical archives
(some digital others not)
• Genealogy sites
(ancestry.com)
• Library of Congress
Steps to Researching

• Make a list of primary sources + track them down +

seek permission from the archivist
• Know before you go: what you’re going to see, who
can give you access, how much time you’ll have, and
how you’ll track, copy, and annotate archival
information.
Evaluating Sources

• Does it have a bibliography?

• Is is an academic source? A government source? A
business?
• What biases are apparent?
• Anonymous or identifying/contact information?
FOLLOWING WHERE YOUR IDEAS
LEAD YOU
• Writing non-fiction is a useful method of getting your
ideas down on paper. It also helps you to understand the
importance of accurate research and is away of training
you to work methodically and to a set routine.
• Trying something new
Having identified just a few of the topics your past
experience will equip you to write about, the next step is
to sit down and do it.
How to write creative non-fiction

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q85nRfiHdV8
Checklist

• 1. Can you put information over clearly and concisely, in a way that is
easy for your reader to understand?
• 2. Do you have something new and original to say?
• 3. Do you want to leave something for your family to remember you
by?
• 4. Could your true-life experiences provide the basis for an exciting
fictional novel?
• 5. Would writing about your experiences be both therapeutic for you
and useful for others?
• 6. Are you sure you have the expertise and discipline required to
------------ write for specialist markets?
In-Class Exercise
Activities are similar to what non-fiction writers do when they write articles or reports about
real-life topics.
Why is it important?
Researching Facts: Just like non-fiction writers, you will need to gather information from
trustworthy sources to learn more about their chosen topic.
Organizing Information: You will then organize your findings in a clear and easy-to-understand way,
just like non-fiction writers structure their articles to make them easy for readers to follow.
Using Real Data: Use real data and facts in your presentation, similar to how non-fiction writers rely
on evidence and accurate information to support their ideas.
Sharing Knowledge: Lastly, you will share what you've learned with your classmates, just as non-
fiction writers share their knowledge with readers through their writing.
By comparing this exercise to the work of non-fiction writers, students can understand the practical
application of the skills they are developing and see the relevance of their classroom activities to
real-world writing
Activity 1:
Interview and Profile Writing
• Interview Session: Pair up for an interview exercise. Encourage
insightful questions about background, interests, and aspirations.
• Writing a Profile: Students create profiles of their partners, using
descriptive language and narrative techniques.
• Focus Areas: Background Information, Interests and Hobbies,
Aspirations and Goals.
• Importance of Non-Fictional Descriptions: Emphasize the use of
factual and descriptive language for authentic storytelling.
• This activity encourages you to practice non-fictional storytelling
through interviews and profile writing, honing their descriptive ------
========writing skills and understanding of narrative techniques.
Activity 2
Research and Report Presentation

• Assign Research Topics: Each student receives a specific research

topic to investigate thoroughly.
• Create Comprehensive Reports: Students compile in-depth reports
based on their research, incorporating key findings and relevant
information.
• Class Presentation: Students present their research findings to the
class, highlighting crucial points and emphasizing the significance of
their discoveries.
Potential research topics:

• "The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health"

• "The Importance of Biodiversity in Urban Environments"
• "The History and Evolution of Renewable Energy Technologies"
• "The Effects of Climate Change on Coastal Communities"
• "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Education"
• "The Psychological Effects of Gaming on Adolescent Behavior"
• "The Significance of Cultural Diversity in Workplace Productivity"
• "The Benefits and Drawbacks of Remote Work in the Post-Pandemic
Era"
• "The Global Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment and Labor
========Rights"
• “=======The Rise of Veganism and Its Effects on the Food Industry"