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RPDP Secondary Literacy

2. The Difference between Reading Fiction and Nonfiction
Reading Strategies
The Difference between Reading Fiction and Nonfiction
Created and Developed by Jill Leone
Reading Specialist
Copyright © 2006
RPDP Secondary Literacy

3. Today's Objective
Students will recognize the difference between reading fiction and nonfiction text.
Students will differentiate between strategies used to read these types of text.
Students will apply these strategies to selected practice questions.
RPDP Secondary Literacy

4. Let's talk about reading.
Do you think you read everything the same way?
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5. Would you read a comic book the same way that -
For example:
Would you read a comic book the same way that -
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6. -you would read a road sign?
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7. Or a newspaper?
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8. The instructions to your new video game?
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9. What about a novel?
A menu?
Or a textbook?
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10. A credit card statement?
A contract?
A credit card statement?
Or a bank statement?
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11. It is as important to use the right strategies when we read as it is to use the right tools to build a house.
Different types of reading passages require you to use different reading strategies.
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12. Strategies The strategies that you use generally depend on two things:
Your purpose for reading
Whether you’re reading fiction or nonfiction
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13. What is Fiction?
Fiction is anything that is invented or imagined by a writer.
Although it may be based on real people, events, or experiences, its characters and settings are invented.
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14. Biography
Memoirs
Romance
Plays
Through fiction, you come to understand your own life through the lives of others.
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15. The author’s job of writing is only half the process
The author’s job of writing is only half the process. You bring a story to life by using your imagination.
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16. Types of Fiction Plays Poetry Short Stories and Novels Romance
Mysteries
Westerns
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Historical Fiction
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17. Usually you're reading for pleasure.
How to Read Fiction
You read more quickly than nonfiction.
You form mental images by using your imagination to picture –
how characters look
where they live
what they do.
Usually you're reading for pleasure.
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18. Details in fiction are not as important as “the big picture.”
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Details in fiction are not as important as “the big picture.”
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19. It’s usually easy to remember.
How to Read Fiction
It’s usually easy to remember.
Many events are told in chronological order.
This helps you with your comprehension.
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20. versus
You read nonfiction very differently from the way you read fiction.
The opposite of fiction is nonfiction. Nonfiction tells about real people, places, events, thoughts, and times.
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21. You are informed of what’s happening in the world around you.
You learn something new.
You are informed of what’s happening in the world around you.
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22. Basic Types of Nonfiction
Narrative nonfiction tells a true story.
Expository nonfiction is factual and informative writing.
Persuasive nonfiction promotes an opinion or a position.
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23. Some nonfiction works tell a story, just as fiction works do.
Examples of narrative nonfiction:
autobiographies
biographies
memoirs
narrative essays
newspaper and magazine articles
Because works of narrative nonfiction tell a story, they have many characteristics of fiction. For example, they may include such elements as setting, characters, theme, conflict, and plot. Their organization may also resemble fictional stories. Events may be presented in chronological order, or the author might use flashback, going back in time to present incidents that happened before the beginning of the story.
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24. More Examples of Nonfiction
Writing that expresses personal feelings and writers’ opinions
Editorials and letters to the editor
Reviews of books, movies, etc.
Diaries and journals
Personal essays
Letters
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25. More Examples of Nonfiction
Information articles about how things work or came to be
Reading you do in a science, health, or history class
Technical articles that explain instructions or specialized procedure
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26. Today, almost everything you want to know -
Internet Articles
So much of what you read on Internet websites is nonfiction. You research information for a school report, a car or truck, qualifications for a specific job, a way to do something – all of this is nonfiction.
- is just a mouse click away.
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27. Nonfiction -
Maybe more than any other reading, requires you to read critically and apply your prior knowledge.
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28. Always try to figure out the writer’s purpose and intended audience.
How to Read Nonfiction
Always try to figure out the writer’s purpose and intended audience.
Writers change strategies depending on their audience and purpose for writing.
When we understand why and for whom something was written, we understand it better.
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29. How to Read Nonfiction Look at content & organization:
How ideas are organized
Which ideas are facts
Which ideas are opinions
Before you start to read, think about what you already know.
Read more slowly & carefully.
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30. Nonfiction is mostly read for a particular purpose.
How to Read Nonfiction
Nonfiction is mostly read for a particular purpose.
You read the newspaper to learn –
what’s going on in the world
look for a job
check the sports or
a movie review.
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31. How to Read Nonfiction Nonfiction is about facts.
Details are important. You look at more than “the big picture.”
Questions usually have one best answer.
It’s often hard to form mental images.
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32. How to Read Nonfiction Nonfiction is often difficult to remember.
The main idea is often – not always – in the first sentence of the paragraph.
The last sentence of the paragraph often – not always – sums up the main idea.
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33. How to Read Nonfiction
Often there are charts, tables, and graphs to help you understand what you’re reading.
This writing often uses titles and subtitles, which can help you figure out the main ideas.
The size of the headings, bold print, italicized and underlined words are there for a reason. Use them!
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34. Practice Question
Which of the following is not a characteristic of nonfiction?
Uses charts, tables, and graphs
Easier to remember
Details are important
Mostly read for a particular purpose
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35. Practice Question
Which of the following is not a characteristic of nonfiction?
Uses charts, tables, and graphs
Easier to remember
Details are important
Mostly read for a particular purpose
Answer = B
How did you do?
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36. Practice Question Which of the following is an example
of nonfiction writing?
A short story
A novel
An autobiography
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37. Practice Question Which of the following is an example
of nonfiction writing?
A short story
A novel
An autobiography
Answer = C
How did you do?
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38. A Quick Review Today we discussed reading fiction –
Use your imagination to form mental
images
“Big picture” more important than
details
Read for pleasure
Read more quickly
Easier to remember
Fiction
RPDP Secondary Literacy

39. A Quick Review When reading nonfiction –
Figure out writer’s purpose and
audience.
You have a purpose for reading
Look at content and organization.
Read more slowly and carefully.
Details important.
Difficult to form mental images.
Harder to remember.
Nonfiction
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40. It doesn’t matter whether you read or nonfiction -
Remember!
As long as
you take
the time to
read!
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41. Copyright © 2006 by Jill M. Leone
Copyright Notice
Permission is granted to copy (unmodified) all or part of this PowerPoint for educational, personal, non-commercial use off-line as long as the copyright message (Copyright © 2006 by Jill Leone) is maintained on the title page. This material may not
be sold, duplicated on other websites, incorporated in commercial documents or products, or used for promotional purposes.
Copyright © 2006 by Jill M. Leone
RPDP Secondary Literacy