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Non-fiction

The document outlines the various purposes and structures of nonfiction texts, including description, sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem/solution. It emphasizes how authors organize their writing to convey information effectively and provides examples of phrases that indicate each structure. Additionally, it discusses the nature of nonfiction, highlighting its aim to represent truth and accuracy in various formats.

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Mila Grace Tungala
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18 views21 pages

Non-fiction

The document outlines the various purposes and structures of nonfiction texts, including description, sequence, cause and effect, compare and contrast, and problem/solution. It emphasizes how authors organize their writing to convey information effectively and provides examples of phrases that indicate each structure. Additionally, it discusses the nature of nonfiction, highlighting its aim to represent truth and accuracy in various formats.

Uploaded by

Mila Grace Tungala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 1

Non-Fiction in
Focus
By Group 4
….
LESSON 2
READ ON!

v How do authors organize the texts that


they write? The vast majority of texts
are written for one or more of these
three purposes:

 To make an argument
 To inform
 To tell a story
Five common text structures used
in informational and nonfiction
text:

q Description q Compare and Contrast

q Sequence qProblem and Solution

q Cause and Effect


DESCR
I P T I ON

v This is pretty straightforward. Texts


that use this structure simply describe
something. With few exceptions, these
texts also present plenty of details
about what they are describing.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of
Sequence/Instruction/Proces words and phrases that indicate a
text follows the
s sequence/instruction/process text
v As a text structure covers a structure:
few purposes: sequential
instructions (Step 1. Step 2,
Step 3; do this, then do that,
and finally do this); After Before Eventually
Chronological events (This Finally During While
happened, then this happened, Earlier From How
then this happened, etc.): to In order Now Until
Arguments that use evidence to
First Last
support a claim (presenting
evidence from least to most
Meanwhile Next
convincing).
CAUSE AND
EFFECT

v Text structures explain, well, causes and effects. Sounds pretty simple! But works that use this structure
can become complex when an effect has multiple causes (or vice versa). We will encounter complex
examples of cause effect when they read historical texts. Many events in history had more than one
cause, all related in ways that can be difficult to unpack.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of words and phrases that indicate a text follows the
cause/effect text structure:

Because Cause Led to Reason


Accordingly Effect Result Consequence
Compare/Contrast
v This text structure involves a comparison involving multiple things, revealing how they are
similar and how they are different. We should know that contrasting two or more things
doesn't necessarily mean identifying them as either good or bad. Comparisons simply relay
the differences; therefore, one thing could have both positive and negative traits.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of words and phrases that indicate text and follows the
compare/contrast text structure:

alike even also both


comparable similar in common just as
although however but instead
despite otherwise difference unlike
Problem/Solution

v This text structure involves two parts: The author identifies a problem and
details a solution to this problem.
Problem/Solution can be a very complex text structure, as it necessitates the
use of other structures, too. Clearly, the author needs to describe the problem.
The author would likely also explain the causes and effects of the problem in
order to argue in favor of their solution. Does implementing the author's solution
involve following a series of specific steps? That involves another structure.
What if the author wants to mention other potential solutions and then explain
why their solution is the best one? Oh, hello there, Compare/Contrast
Nonfiction or non-fiction

v Is any document or content that purports


in go o d fa it h t o re p re s e n t t r u t h a n d
accuracy regarding information, events, or
people. Nonfiction content may be
presented either objectively or
subjectively and may sometimes take the
form of a story.
n o n f i ct i o n , b u t
St u d e n t s l o v e Browsable: These books have short blocks of text and are well illu
l o v e a ll t y p e s
the y m a y n o t Readers can skip around in the book or read it cover to cover. These o
t i o n . S t e w a r t
of nonfic e g o r i e s
have high-interest information.
d h e r f i v e c a t
sh a r e i c h
i o n , fo u r o f w h Narrative: Good for biographies or historical events, these tell a
of n o n f i ct
: T r a d i ti o n a l:
r e e x p o s i t o r y chronological story with real characters, scenes, and a narrative arc.
a l l a b o ut "
a l l y c a ll e d " a
Typ i c a n Expository Literature: Identifiable by its rich language and str
b o o k s g i v e
books, these i n c l e a r voice, these books have innovative formats. They have narrowly focus
v i e w o f a t o p i c
o v e r topics and make great mentor texts for writing workshops. They are a
i g h t f o r w a r d
and stra a l s o , f o r
often focused on STEM topics.
u a g e . T h e y a r e
lang e a t Active: Highly interactive, these titles give readers step-by-step inst
e n t s , a g r
many stud i r to teach skills to help students engage in an activity. They can include
st a r t t h e
place to t o p i c cookbooks, craft books and how-to guide.
g o f a
understandin
Thank you
By: Group 4

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