NonfictionNonfictionEnglish 9 A

Nonfiction Element - Nonfiction Element - Autobiographies and BiographiesAutobiographies and Biographies

• A biography is the written story of a life.– The writer must research the person’s life and

write in a way that makes what happened come to life for us.

• An autobiography is the written story of the writer’s own life.– Since the writer is writing about himself or

herself, research is not needed. The writer usually writes in a way that allows us to see his or her personal thoughts and emotions.

Nonfiction Element – Nonfiction Element – Objectivity or Subjectivity?Objectivity or Subjectivity?

• Objectivity is an unbiased account that is not based on the writer’s thoughts.– Objectivity is important in autobiographies.

• Subjectivity is open to the writer’s interpretation of the events.– Subjectivity is important in biographies.

For more information, read page 355 in your textbook.

““When I Lay My Burden Down” When I Lay My Burden Down” Page Page

356356 • “When I Lay My Burden Down” is an

excerpt from Maya Angelou’s autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This portion of the story takes place in 1938.– Her parents divorced when she was four.– Moved from California to Stamps, Arkansas.

• Stamps was a typical segregated southern town.

– She quickly begins to call her grandmother, “Momma”, and works alongside her in Momma’s general store.

““When I Lay My Burden Down” When I Lay My Burden Down” AssignmentAssignment

• Answer 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the book.

• Complete the Reading Check from the book.

““The Best Gift of My Life”The Best Gift of My Life” page 395page 395

• “I think my idea of heaven when I was a kid was Christy Sanders’s home.”– What does this tell you about the author and

her desires?

• At the beginning of the story, the author compares and contrasts her home and Christy Sanders’s home.– What are comparisons and contrasts?

““The Best Gift of My Life”The Best Gift of My Life”AssignmentAssignment

• Questions 1- 6 from the book.

• Complete the reading check from the book.

Nonfiction Element - Nonfiction Element - EssaysEssays

• The term essay comes from the French word essais which means “tries” or “attempts”.

• Read page 399 from your textbook to learn about the history of essays.

““Darkness at Noon” Page Darkness at Noon” Page 454454

• This is an essay that is filled with anecdotes.

• An anecdote is a brief story used to make a point or provide an example.– “Darkness at Noon” is filled with anecdotes.

• Based on the title “Darkness at Noon”, what can you guess the essay is about?

““Darkness at Noon” Darkness at Noon” AssignmentAssignment

• Answer questions 1-4 from the book.

• Complete the Reading Check from the book.

Nonfiction Element - Writer’s Nonfiction Element - Writer’s PurposePurpose

• Nonfiction writing is divided into four main categories.

1. Exposition

2. Description

3. Narration

4. Persuasion

Nonfiction Element - ExpositionNonfiction Element - Exposition

• Exposition is a method of writing that explains or informs.– “Judo throws require both precise timing and

exact balance. At this level (yellow belt) there is always a slight possibility that the participants have insufficient agility or coordination.”

• Answers, “What is it, and how does it work?”

Nonfiction Element - Nonfiction Element - DescriptionDescription

• Description is writing that uses images to help us experience something with our senses.– “The air conditioner in the gym was broken,

and the place was like a giant oven. Jim was sweating heavily after the last throw. Terry lunged for Jim but his fingers slipped on Jim's glistening skin.”

• Answers, “What does it look, sound, smell, feel, taste like?”

Nonfiction Element - NarrationNonfiction Element - Narration

• Narration tells about a series of events, usually in chronological order.– “I had just come out of the last throw and had

turned toward Terry, who was getting up to come at me from the left. I made a quarter turn and moved my left leg forward when he reached for my neck and his hand slipped.”

• Answers, “What happened?”

Nonfiction Element - Nonfiction Element - PersuasionPersuasion

• Persuasion uses evidence to influence people.– “Jim’s jealous of me and always has been. I

got my yellow belt three meets ahead of him, and I’m the only one who’s ever thrown him three out of four.”

• Answers “What should I feel or do about it?”

Nonfiction Element - Nonfiction Element - Persuasive TechniquesPersuasive Techniques

• Deductive – Starts with a main idea and then supports it with details and examples.

• Inductive – Starts with details and examples and ends up with a conclusion (main idea).

Nonfiction Element - Nonfiction Element - FallaciesFallacies

Fallacies are errors in logical thinking.1. Attacking the person

2. Circular reasons – Repeating the point without evidence.

3. False cause and effect – Relating two events that may not, or are not, related at all.

4. Hasty generalization

Nonfiction Element – Emotional Nonfiction Element – Emotional AppealsAppeals

• Emotional appeals add an extra persuasive push, but they are not a substitute for a logical argument.

1. Bandwagon – Everyone is doing it.2. Testimonial – Famous people back a certain

product.

Read page 452 and 453 for more details and examples.

““Homeless” Page 461Homeless” Page 461• In this essay, Anna Quindlen takes a new

approach to what she calls “the thing that seems most wrong with the world.” Instead of just talking about the problem, gathering statistics, complaining, and hoping it will go away, what does Quindlen ask us to do?

• As you read, look for the problem, and what Quindlen thinks is the solution.

““Homeless” AssignmentHomeless” Assignment

• Answer questions 1-3 and 6 from the book.

• Which category of nonfiction writing is this essay? Why?

• Write two paragraphs explaining what you think is the most wrong with the world right now.

““Choice: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther Choice: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Page 367King, Jr.” Page 367

• Listen to the original speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

• “Choice” is a speech that gives tribute to what he accomplished.

• The speech was given in Jackson Mississippi, in 1972, about four years after he died.

““Choice: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther Choice: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” AssignmentKing, Jr.” Assignment

• Answer questions 1-9 from the book. All answers must be in complete sentences. Write at least one paragraph for number 9.

• Complete the reading check from the book.

““An Indian’s Views of Indian An Indian’s Views of Indian Affairs” Page 447Affairs” Page 447

• Persuasive speeches use logical and emotional appeals to convince the listener to think or act in a certain way.– Pay attention to the way Chief Joseph uses

both in his speech.

• This speech is one of Chief Joseph's many attempts to convince the government to let him and his tribe move back to their home.

““An Indian’s Views of Indian An Indian’s Views of Indian Affairs” AssignmentAffairs” Assignment

• Answer questions 1-4 from the book.

Non-Fiction Unit Test ReviewNon-Fiction Unit Test Review

1. Types of Non-Fiction2. What is an autobiography?3. What is a biography?4. What is an essay?5. What is the purpose of a descriptive essay?6. What is the purpose of an expositional essay?7. What is the purpose of a persuasive essay?8. What is the purpose of a narrative essay?9. What is subjectivity?10.What is objectivity?11.What is an emotional appeal in writing?12.What is a logical appeal in writing?13.What is imagery?14.What is a personal essay?15.What is a formal essay?

Non-Fiction Unit Test ReviewNon-Fiction Unit Test Review

• Writing1. Define a thesis statement.2. What is the purpose of an introductory paragraph?3. What is the main purpose of a body paragraph?4. What is the main purpose of the conclusion?

• “Homeless”1. What is the main point of “Homeless”?2. How does the author, Anna Quindlen, support this

point?3. Does the author use fact, opinion, or both to support

her point? How?4. Quindlen states “They are not homeless. They are

______”. 5. What does that difference mean?

Non-Fiction Unit Test ReviewNon-Fiction Unit Test Review

• “Darkness at Noon”1. What disability did the author face?2. What else did people assume about him?3. Give one example of incorrect assumptions from the story.4. What is the main point of “Darkness at Noon”?5. What was the most upsetting experience for Krents?6. How does Krents support the main idea of the essay?7. Why is the importance of the title, “Darkness at Noon”?

• “An Indian’s View of Indian Affairs”1. What is the main point of this selection?2. Does Chief Joseph use fact, opinion, or both to support his

point? Give examples.3. According to Chief Joseph, what promises did the government

break?4. What type of emotional appeals does Chief Joseph use?5. What type of logical appeals does he use?

Non-Fiction Unit Test ReviewNon-Fiction Unit Test Review

• “When I Lay My Burden Down”1. How do the narrator and Momma deal with the

children’s taunts?

2. What does Momma teach the narrator?

3. What is the main point of “When I Lay My Burden Down”?

• “The Best Gift of My Life”1. Why is Rylant ashamed of her home?

2. What has the biggest impact on her life? Why?

3. What is “The Best Gift of My Life”?

Non-Fiction Unit Test ReviewNon-Fiction Unit Test Review

• “Choice: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, JR”

1. What is the main purpose of this essay?2. How does the author make her point?3. What details does the author use to support

her main point?4. Why was the author bitter in the 60’s?5. What does Walker mean when she writes,

“The history of my family, like that of all black Southerners, is a history of dispossession.”?