Reading non-fiction and media texts

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Lesson notes

What Non-Fiction Is

Non-fiction is any document or media content that aims, in good faith, to convey information about the real world rather than imaginary characters and events.
It usually presents topics objectively, drawing on historical, scientific and empirical information.
Some non-fiction moves into subjective territory, including sincerely held opinions on real-world topics.
Non-fiction is one of the two fundamental approaches to storytelling, in contrast to narrative fiction.
A non-fiction writer may show reasons and consequences, compare, contrast, classify, categorise, summarise, order facts logically or chronologically, infer and reach conclusions.
If an author includes information they know to be untrue, the work is usually regarded as dishonest and discredited as non-fiction.

Types of Non-Fiction

Instructional non-fiction teaches the reader how to do something, such as recipes, owner's manuals and user guides.
Explanatory non-fiction explains a topic clearly, as in textbooks, study guides and popular science books.
Discussion-based non-fiction explores different sides of an issue, such as essays and literary criticism.
Report-based (non-chronological) non-fiction presents information by topic, as in news stories and reference works like encyclopaedias and atlases.
Opinion-based (persuasive) non-fiction tries to convince the reader, including editorials, opinion pieces, manifestos and promotional writing such as brochures and advertorials.
Relating (chronological recounting) non-fiction tells events in time order, such as autobiographies, biographies, diaries, memoirs and travelogues.
Other common forms include letters, speeches, reviews, blogs, presentations and documentary films.

Audience and Purpose

Audience is the group of readers a text is aimed at; understanding their existing knowledge and how they will use the text is fundamental to effective non-fiction.
Purpose is the writer's reason for writing, such as to inform, explain, persuade, instruct or recount.
Non-fiction is usually produced for the direct provision of information, so simplicity, clarity and directness are key considerations.
Writers often need to persuade readers to agree with their ideas, so a balanced, coherent and informed argument is vital.
The same event can be reported differently depending on the writer's audience and purpose.

Fact and Opinion

A fact is a statement that can be checked and proved true or false.
An opinion is a personal belief or judgement that cannot be proved simply by checking evidence.
Non-fiction aims to be truthful at the time of writing, but specific claims may later prove inaccurate.
Writers can blend fact and opinion, so readers must judge which statements are verifiable and which are views.
Including open falsehoods would discredit a work as non-fiction, even though some non-fiction may include unverified supposition or deduction.

Bias and Viewpoint

Bias is a leaning towards one side of an issue, often shown through word choice, emphasis or omission.
Viewpoint is the perspective from which a writer presents information, shaped by their beliefs and experiences.
Even non-fiction that claims to be truthful may persuade the reader to agree with particular ideas.
A balanced text presents different sides fairly, while a biased text may favour one side or ignore others.
Readers should look for loaded language, selective facts and missing viewpoints when detecting bias.

Presentational and Structural Features

Non-fiction uses graphic, structural and printed appearance features to help readers find information.
Headlines and subheadings break up text and signal what each section is about.
Pictures, graphs, charts, diagrams, flowcharts, maps and timelines present information visually.
Summaries, glossaries, sidebars, tables of contents, footnotes and indices help readers navigate and understand a text.
Bolded or italicised words, labels and captions draw attention to key terms and explain images.
These features are chosen to suit the text's audience and purpose.

Comparing Writers' Attitudes

Writers' attitudes are their feelings or opinions about the subject they are writing about.
Attitudes can be revealed through word choice, tone, facts selected and presentational features.
To compare two texts, identify each writer's viewpoint, purpose and audience.
Look for similarities and differences in how each writer presents the same topic.
Use evidence from each text to support points about how their attitudes differ or agree.

Blurred Boundaries

The boundaries between fiction and non-fiction are continually blurred and argued upon, especially in biography.
Virginia Woolf described the aim of biography as welding truth's 'granite-like solidity' and personality's 'rainbow-like intangibility' into one seamless whole.
Some works can legitimately be either fiction or non-fiction, such as journals of self-expression, letters and magazine articles.
Semi-fiction is fiction that implements a great deal of non-fiction, such as a fictional description based on a true story.
Creative nonfiction is a publishing term for works with a more literary or intellectual bent.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?
Medium
- AI have a big exam tomorrow; I need to revise tonight.
- BI have a big exam; tomorrow I need to revise tonight.
- CI have a big exam tomorrow; and I need to revise tonight.
- DI have a big exam tomorrow; because I need to revise tonight.
2.In the sentence 'The audience applauded loudly after the speech', which word class is 'loudly'?
Easy
- AAdverb
- BAdjective
- CNoun
- DVerb
3.Which of the following are typical features of a newspaper article? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- AHeadline
- BSubheadings
- CRhyming couplets
- DByline
- EStage directions
4.An autobiography is a non-fiction text written by the author about their own life.
Easy
True or false?
5.Match each non-fiction term with its correct definition.
Medium
- Bias
- Fact
- Opinion
- Audience
- A preference or slant that favours one side
- A statement that can be proved true or false
- A personal belief or judgement
- The intended readers of a text
6.Put these stages of writing a non-fiction text in a logical order.
Easy
- Identify the audience and purpose
- Research and gather information
- Organise information with headings
- Draft the text
- Edit and proofread
7.Read this sentence from a travel article: 'The beach was a golden ribbon of sand stretching into the distance.' What is the effect of the metaphor 'a golden ribbon'?
Medium
- AIt suggests the beach is long, narrow and beautiful.
- BIt shows the beach is made of ribbon.
- CIt emphasises that the beach is crowded.
- DIt indicates the beach is dangerous.
8.Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
Medium
- AThe dog's bone was buried in the garden.
- BThe dogs bone was buried in the garden.
- CThe dogs' bone was buried in the garden.
- DThe dog's bone was buried in the garden's.

Revision notes

## Reading Non-fiction and Media Texts **What non-fiction is:** writing or media that tries, in good faith, to convey information about the real world rather than imagination. It usually aims to be objective, based on historical, scientific and empirical information — though some non-fiction moves into subjective territory, such as sincerely held opinions. **Purpose and audience** - Non-fiction is about the **direct provision of information**, so **simplicity, clarity and directness** matter most. - **Audience** is perhaps most important in non-fiction. Know your readers' **use for the work** and their **existing knowledge** of the subject. - Even when claiming truth, writers often need to **persuade**, so a **balanced, coherent, informed argument** is vital. **Types of non-fiction** (by author's intention/purpose): instructional, explanatory, discussion-based, report-based (non-chronological), opinion-based (persuasive) and relating (chronological recounting). Formats include: newspaper articles, speeches, letters, autobiography, travel writing, reviews and adverts; also essays, biographies, memoirs, journalism, editorials and reference works. **Fact and opinion** - Fact: a claim about the real world that can be checked. - Opinion: a sincerely held view; opinion-based (persuasive) non-fiction is built on it. - Including information the author knows to be untrue is **dishonest** and discredits the work. **Bias and viewpoint** - Non-fiction can be subjective and may not imply endorsement. - Look for the writer's attitude, word choices and what is included or left out. **Presentational and structural features** - Headlines and subheadings; pictures, graphs, charts, diagrams, flowcharts. - Summaries, glossaries, sidebars, timelines, table of contents. - Bolded or italicised words, footnotes, maps, indices, labels, captions. - These help readers **find information**. **Comparing writers' attitudes in two texts** - Identify each writer's purpose and audience. - Compare viewpoint, tone and bias. - Compare how structure and presentation shape meaning. **Blurred boundaries** - Fiction and non-fiction boundaries are continually blurred, especially in biography. - Semi-fiction = fiction using a great deal of non-fiction (e.g. a fictional description based on a true story). - Some non-fiction includes unverified supposition, deduction or imagination to smooth a narrative, but open falsehoods would discredit it. - "Creative nonfiction" describes works with a more literary or intellectual bent. **Quick exam checklist** 1. What is the purpose? 2. Who is the audience? 3. Fact or opinion? 4. What is the viewpoint/bias? 5. How do headline, subheadings and layout guide me? 6. How do two writers' attitudes differ?

Non-fiction: Any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real world, rather than being grounded in imagination.
Audience: The intended readers; understanding their use for the work and their existing knowledge of a subject is fundamental for effective non-fiction.
Purpose: The author's intention or the aim of the content, e.g. to instruct, explain, discuss, report, persuade or recount.
Fact: A claim about the real world that is presented as true and can be checked against evidence.
Opinion: A sincerely held view on a real-world topic; opinion-based (persuasive) non-fiction is built on it.
Bias: A leaning or slant in a text that favours one viewpoint over others.
Viewpoint: The writer's attitude or position on a topic, shown through word choices and what is included or left out.
Headline: A presentational feature at the top of an article that signals the topic and attracts the reader.
Subheading: A structural feature that breaks up a text and helps readers find information.
Semi-fiction: Fiction implementing a great deal of non-fiction, such as a fictional description based on a true story.
Creative nonfiction: A publishing and bookselling term to distinguish works with a more literary or intellectual bent, as opposed to the bulk of non-fiction subjects.
Persuasive writing: Non-fiction that aims to convince the reader to agree with the writer's ideas, requiring a balanced, coherent and informed argument.

Flashcards

What is non-fiction?

Any document or media content that aims in good faith to convey information about the real world rather than being grounded in imagination. It usually presents topics objectively, based on historical, scientific and empirical information.

How does non-fiction differ from fiction?

Non-fiction conveys information about the real world; fiction is largely populated by imaginary characters and events. Non-fiction writers may still use narrative techniques, but they are muted so as not to overshadow the information.

What three qualities are most important when producing non-fiction?

Simplicity, clarity and directness. Non-fiction is about the direct provision of information rather than an indirectly presented progression of theme.

Why is audience especially important in non-fiction?

Non-fiction directly provides information, so writers must understand readers' likely use for the work and their existing knowledge of the subject. These are fundamental to effective non-fiction.

Even though non-fiction claims to be truthful, why is persuasion still necessary?

Writers often need to persuade readers to agree with their ideas, so a balanced, coherent and informed argument is vital.

What is meant by 'creative nonfiction'?

A publishing and bookselling term used to distinguish non-fiction works with a more literary or intellectual bent from the bulk of non-fiction subjects.

What is semi-fiction?

Fiction that implements a great deal of non-fiction, such as a fictional description based on a true story. Some fiction may also include non-fictional elements.

What is the difference between fact and opinion in non-fiction?

Facts are claims about the real world that can be verified; opinions are sincerely held subjective views on real-world topics. Non-fiction can range into subjective territory when it includes opinion.

What is bias in a non-fiction text?

A leaning towards a particular viewpoint that shapes how information is selected and presented. Bias can appear even when a writer sincerely aims to be truthful.

What is viewpoint in a non-fiction text?

The perspective or attitude from which the writer presents the topic. Comparing writers' viewpoints means examining how their attitudes towards the same subject differ.

Name four types of non-fiction.

Any four of: newspaper articles, speeches, letters, autobiography, travel writing, reviews and adverts. Other examples include biographies, diaries, memoirs, essays and editorials.

What is the purpose of a headline in a non-fiction text?

It signals the topic and attracts the reader's attention, helping them decide whether to read on. Headlines are a presentational and structural feature of media texts.

What is the purpose of subheadings in a non-fiction text?

They break the text into sections and label what each part covers. This helps readers find and navigate information.

How do presentational features help readers of non-fiction?

Features such as pictures, graphs, charts, diagrams, flowcharts, maps, labels and captions help readers find and understand information. They support the written content.

How do structural features such as a table of contents, index and glossary help readers?

They allow readers to locate information quickly and to check the meaning of unfamiliar terms. They are organisational tools typical of reference works and textbooks.

Why might a non-fiction writer use bold or italicised words?

To highlight key terms or emphasise important information. This is a printed appearance feature that guides the reader's attention.

What are the main genres of non-fiction based on the author's intention?

Instructional, explanatory, discussion-based, report-based (non-chronological), opinion-based (persuasive) and relating (chronological recounting) non-fiction.

What does 'report-based (non-chronological)' non-fiction do?

It presents information organised by topic rather than by time order. It reports on a subject without following a chronological sequence.

What does 'relating (chronological recounting)' non-fiction do?

It recounts events in the order in which they happened. History books and many life writings use this chronological structure.

What kinds of writing count as life writing?

Autobiographies, biographies, confessions, diaries, logs, memoirs, epistles, letters, postcards, letter collections, epitaphs and obituaries.

Give examples of persuasive or promotional non-fiction.

Apologias and polemics, essays and essay collections, and promotional writing such as brochures, pamphlets, press releases and advertorials.

What is an advertorial?

A piece of promotional writing that resembles editorial content but is designed to promote a product or idea. It is a form of persuasive non-fiction.

What is an editorial?

A news-based opinion piece that expresses the view of the publication or writer. It is one of the forms of non-fiction found in newspapers and factual media.

What kinds of works are classed as reference works?

Almanacs, encyclopaedias, atlases, bibliographies, chronicles, consumer reports, dictionaries, thesauri, directories, handbooks, yearbooks and books of quotations.

What is the aim of a non-fiction account, and what does it not imply?

It seeks to accurately represent a topic; it does not necessarily imply any endorsement of what it describes. Specific claims may prove inaccurate, but the sincere author aims to be truthful at the time of composition.

Why are the boundaries between fiction and non-fiction sometimes described as blurred?

Some works can legitimately be either, such as letters, journals of self-expression and magazine articles, and blends of both are possible. Biography is often cited as a field where the boundary is argued over.

What does Virginia Woolf say about the difficulty of biography?

She describes truth as having 'granite-like solidity' and personality as having 'rainbow-like intangibility', and says the aim of biography is to weld these into one seamless whole — a stiff problem.

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