Forms of Nonfiction Writing
What is nonfiction?
Forms of writing that present facts or discuss real life.
The 3 main purposes for writing
1) To inform
2) To persuade
3) To entertain
The main idea the author wants the audience to understand and remember
Thesis or central idea
Information must be presented in a clear order for ideas and connections to be developed--this is called ________ __________.
Text structure
Name the 3 modes of persuasion
1) Logos (Logical appeal)
2) Pathos (Emotional appeal)
3) Ethos (Ethical Appeal)
The 3 major forms of nonfiction writing
1) Essays
2) Articles
3) Speeches
This purpose for writing tries to influence an audience's attitude or actions
To persuade
The reason the author is writing about the topic
Purpose
One example of text structure (the way information and ideas are organized) is chronological order, or the order in which events happen. Name 2 other examples of text structure.
1) Comparison-and-contrast: grouping details according to similarities and differences
2) Cause-and-effect: grouping details to show how one event led to the next
This MOP appeals to a person's feelings/emotions: ___(1)___.
This MOP appeals to a person's credibility and ability to see right vs. wrong: ___(2)___
This MOP appeals to a person's logic/reasoning:
___(3)___
1) Pathos
2) Ethos
3) Logos
Nonfiction writing organizes factual information to present a particular ______________________.
Point of view
This purpose for writing provides facts and explains how they relate to one another
To inform
The order in which information and ideas are presented and the connections that are drawn between and among them
Organizational Structure
Authors will use specific words in ways designed to help achieve the purpose. One example of the way authors do this is through diction. What are 3 other ways?
1) Tone
2) Figurative Language
3) Rhetorical Devices
“Doctors all over the world recommend this type of treatment.” This is an example of which mode of persuasion?
Ethos (Ethical Appeal)
This type of nonfiction writing provides information about a topic and form an objective point of view-- they just give facts.
Articles
This purpose for writing engages and moves the emotions of an audience.
To entertain
The author's attitude toward the topic and audience as conveyed in his or her word choices
Tone
List at least 3 types of figurative language.
-Simile
-Metaphor
-Personification
-Alliteration
-Allusion
These are all examples of which mode of persuasion?
Pathos (Emotional Appeal)
These 2 types of nonfiction writing present a thesis (a central idea about a topic) and express the author's point of view or perspective on a topic.
1) Essays
2) Speeches
Provide 1 example of a medium for each of the 3 main purposes of writing. Example: A textbook would be an example of a medium used by an author to inform.
Answers will vary.
The author's word choice, including the level of formality and difficulty, the use of figurative language (language that is not to be taken literally) and the use of rhetoric (patterning of words).
Diction
List at least 3 types of rhetorical devices
-Repetition
-Parallelism
-Restatement
-Analogy
-Rhetorical Question
Aristotle believed that people are rational, and appealing to the rational mind with data, research, and evidence is the best way to win them over. Therefore, Aristotle most likely favored which mode of persuasion?
Logos (Logical Appeal)