Creative Nonfiction

Quarter 4, Week 1 and Week 2

Most Essential Learning Competency

Present a commentary/critique on a chosen

creative nonfictional text representing a particular
type or form (Biography/Autobiography, Literary
Journalism/Reportage, Personal Narratives,
Travelogue, Reflection Essay, True Narratives,
Blogs, Testimonies, Other Forms
• Creative nonfiction is genre of writing that
combines different literary styles and
techniques in presenting factual information
which differentiates it from the usual genres
of nonfiction. Though it is regarded as a
relatively young genre of writing, creative
nonfiction comes in different forms
A. Autobiography
Etymologically, the word autobiography is
composed of the Greek words auto meaning
“self”, bio, bios meaning “life”, and gráphō,
graphien meaning “write”. Thus, autobiography
can be defined as any of the following:
1) a written account of the life of a person
written by that person himself or herself,
2) a written record of the author or writer’s
life, or
3) a narration that tells the life story of the
• In contrast to autobiography, biography is a
description or account of a person’s life
story presented through the eyes of another
person. The person who writes someone
else’s life story is called a biographer. In this
genre of writing, the biographer has to
extensive research in order to tell accurate
facts about the person’s life.
Basics in Writing Autobiography and
Biography
1. Jot down all life events and arrange them
in a timeline. Using a timeline makes it easier
for you to chronologically arrange the events.
Also, it helps you not to mix up events that
may have similarities with one another.
2. Identify the people involved in each event.
Every good story has interesting characters,
friends and foes who help move the plot
along. Knowing the names of the people
involved as well as their roles in each event
helps you in making the story more accurate
and real.
3. Determine the best events. The entire life
story will start to get pretty long winded and
you are going to make some choices about
what stories you are going to include and to
discard. Start by writing the key stories that
will be put together to create an image of
your life.
4. For autobiography, write down the story using the
first person point of view pronouns such as “I”. For
biography, write down the story using the third
person point of view pronouns such as “he/she/they”.
5. Reading the output helps in identifying strong
spots to be retained and weak spots to be enhanced
while rewriting it is the chance for you to improve
and polish the autobiography/biography.
B. Reportage/ Literary Journalism
Reportage also known as literary journalism reports an
event, history or an actual case based on direct
observation, investigation or thorough research and
documentation. Writers use interviews and reviews in
order to look outside of the straightforward, objective
world that journalism creates. It uses literary practices
to capture the scene or setting of the assignment or the
persona of the person being interviewed. It can often
be narrative or heavily imagistic.
Basics in Writing a Reportage / Literary
Journalism
1. Get the facts straight by observing and
researching. Keep all your interview and
observation notes in order not to miss out
relevant information. Take note of all details from
smallest ones to biggest ones.
2. Conduct interviews. First-hand
information about the topic help in
describing and detailing the subject matter.
3. Outline the story. Outlining helps you in
organizing the events according to your
style.
4. Use literary elements and devices in
writing. Using the different literary elements
helps you not to leave important elements
that enhance the reportage. Also, the literary
devices help you to make the reportage more
dramatic, appealing, and interesting.

5. End with a point. Your goal is to get your

readers entertained, informed, and
enlightened. Make sure to leave your reader
an important point for them to reflect from.
C. Personal Narratives
Personal Narrative is a person’s true story. The
author narrates what happened to them in a
particular event which makes it autobiographical
in nature. A personal narrative is close to an
autobiography; however, they differ in scope. An
autobiography tells the author’s life story which is
composed of several events, while a personal
narrative focuses only on a specific event that the
author wants to share.
Basics in Writing a Personal Narrative
1. Think of an event in your life that you want to
share through a story.
2. Focus on the topic and write down all the
details of that event in order to recall the event
well. Remember to use the 5Ws and 1H in
identifying details.
3. Organize your ideas according to your own
style. Using an outline helps you in organizing
the details.
4. Write the story and use language in
expressing what you really mean to say. You
may utilize different devices in order to
successfully show rather than tell the story.
D. Travelogue
•A travelogue is an account of a person’s
experiences while touring a place for the
pleasure of travel. It includes vivid
descriptions, illustrations, historical
background, and possibly maps and
diagrams.
Basics in Writing a Travelogue
1. Write all the things that you notice like the
sceneries, community, food, culture and
others while on travel.
2. Get the facts straight about the place,
people, events, culture, etc. Factual accuracy
must be observed so that the readers will be
well-informed.
3. Start with a clear story line. Make sure that
the storyline arouses the curiosity and
interest of your target audience.
4. Describe the things that you are going to
include in your travelogue using the different
kinds of imagery so that the readers can also
visualize what you witnessed in your travel.
E. Reflection/Reflective Essay
Reflective essays describe an event that
happened, then analyze the meaning and
what can be learned from that experience.
What makes an essay insightful is that the
writer analyzes present-day historical
occurrences.
• To paint a true picture of their past,
temperament, and human characteristics,
reflective essays allow the writer to open up
about their thoughts and emotions. They should
contain a vivid summary and description of the
experience in order for the reader to feel the
experiences as well. They should also include an
explanation of your feelings, thoughts and
reactions.
Basics in Writing a Reflective Essay
1. Think of what you want to consider as your
topic in writing your reflective essay.
2. Assess your feelings towards your chosen topic.
Construct questions that you will answer based
on your experiences.
3. Answer the questions that you selected. Your
answers will be your basis in making a reflective
essay.
4. Based on your responses, enhance your
reflective essay by adding other significant
elements of writing as well as utilizing literary
devices.
5. Make sure to always have your strong
introduction and conclusion.
• F. True Narrative
A true narrative is a story based on real life
experiences or events; however, its form is still
undefined. The narrative must clearly come from or
be based on reallife situations and events or else it
will be called a fictional narrative as it includes
fictional embellishments. The purpose of it is to
express a point or observation.
Basics in Writing a True Narrative
1. Think of an event in your life that you want to share
true a story.
2. Focus on the topic and write down all the details of
that event in order to recall the event well. Remember
to use the 5Ws and 1H in identifying details.
3. Organize your ideas according to your own
style. Using an outline helps you to easily organize
the details.
4. Write the story and use language in expressing
what you really mean to say. You may utilize
different devices in order to successfully show
rather than tell the story.
G. Blog
Blog is the abbreviated form of the words “weblog”. It
is a website containing short articles called posts that
are changed regularly. The person who writes blogs on
regular basis is called a blogger. Blogs are different
from vlogs. The former is textual in nature as it is a
product of writing, while the latter refers to video
blogging or video log which is a social media account
where a person regularly posts short videos.
Some blogs are written by one person containing his or her own
opinion, interests and experiences, while others are written by
many different people. The following are some kinds of blog based
on the blogger’s field of interest. A blogger who has interests in
food writes food blogs. A food blogger goes to different
restaurants, food stalls, snack houses, and others that offer food
to eat and write his or her own food review. Travel blogs are
written by individuals who loves travel and blogging. Travel
bloggers experience and review different travel destinations.
Lifestyle blogs, mostly written by women, may focus on the
following but not limited to improving the quality life, happenings
in everyday life, doing interests, and attaining personal goals.
Basics in Writing a Blog Post
1. Plan your blog post by choosing a topic that is in line
to your interest.
2. Create an outline of the information that you are
going to put in you blog.
3. Craft a headline or a title that is both informative and
captivating to the reader.
4. Conduct a thorough research to check facts and
attain accuracy of data based on the outline that
you crafted.
5. Write your post according to your style and
technique however the properties of a well-
written text: organization, coherence and
cohesion, language use, and mechanics should be
considered.
6. Use images to enhance your post, improve its
flow, add humor, and explain complex topics.
7. Read to assess the strength and weakness of
your output. Also, assess on how interesting it is
to make someone else read your work. Rewrite to
ensure that the necessary changes are
incorporated.
H. Testimonio
Through literature, it is an oral or written
autobiographical story known as "testimonial
literature." The word "testimonio" refers to a genre of
writing that comes from Latin America dealing with
human rights abuse experiences. However, its
definition changed as time passed by. A testimonio is
generally defined as a first-person narration of socially
significant experiences in which the narrative voice is
that of a typical or extraordinary witness or protagonist
Basics in Writing a Testimonio
1. Describe the problem. Write a short description or
the background of your problem to inform the reader
about what you are going through.
2. Tell the pros and cons. Share the effects, both good
and bad, of having the problems. Tell the things that
you did to solve your problems.
3. The closing of the testimonial. Tell what you have
learned from the problem and what you want the
readers to learn from you and from the experience.
Expected Output Week 1

• Activity 1. Text Twist! Directions: Rearrange each set of letters to reveal the
hidden word. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. (See p.2)
• Activity 2. Top of Mind! Directions: Write the ideas that come into your mind
when you encounter each concept. (p.2)
• Read and understand DISCOVER (See pages 3-20)
• Enrichment 2. Recall…reflect…answer! (PT) Directions: Identify one
memorable experience of you that is worth pondering on. Answer the given
questions in the table to create a guide in writing your reflective essay. (See
p.22)
• Assessment 2. Flex your writing prowess! (PT) Directions: Based on your
answers in the enrichment, write your own reflective essay. (See pp. 22- 23)
Expected Output Week 2
Activity 1. I know myself! (PT) Directions: Give what is asked in each box to come
up with a comprehensive guide in making your autobiography. (See pp. 24-25)
Activity 2. Meet me…know me! (PT) Directions: Construct your autobiography
using the guide that you have accomplished earlier. (See 25-26)
Answer Gauge Directions: Read and analyze the items carefully. Write your
answers on a separate sheet of paper.
I. Identify the form of creative nonfiction based on the given objectives. Choose
your answer from the box. (10 points) (pp. 27-28)
II. II. Write A if the 1st statement is True, B if the 2nd statement is True, C if both
statements are True, and D if both statements are False. (10 points) (pp. 27-
28)
Thank you and God Bless!