Name: ________________

Course: _______

Nonfiction Texts &

Research

Types of Nonfiction Writing

Narrative Nonfiction
Literary Journalism
Biography/Autobiography
Memoir
The Bible
True stories happening to real
people

Informational/ Explanatory
Argumentative/ Persuasive
Nonfiction
Nonfiction
Hard news stories
Travel books
Cookbooks
Clear and organized
No opinion

Sways readers to one side of an

issue
Uses opinion

Need help finding articles?

Google search:
USA Today
Christianity Today
The New York Times
The New Yorker
The Wall Street Journal
The Union Tribune (signonsandiego.com)
LA Times
San Diego Reader
Time Magazine
Outside Magazine
*Ask your parents if they have any newspapers you may look at/bring to
school
the articles are not required to be printed from an online source.

Concept Map
New Concept:
Narrative Nonfiction
Example Sentence:
Narrative nonfiction, also called literary journalism, blurs the lines
between fiction and nonfiction writing.
Synonyms:
Literary journalism
Biography/autobiography
Memoir
Personal Essay
Creative non-fiction
The Bible

Examples

Essential Characteristics

Purpose:

Non Examples

My Sentence:

Concept Map
New Concept:
Argumentative/ Persuasive Nonfiction
Example Sentence:
A writer who argues a position or takes a side on an issue uses
argumentative or persuasive writing to get his or her point across.
Synonyms:

Essential Characteristics
Mixes facts with persuasive
language and logical argument to
sway readers to one side of an
issue
Purpose:

Examples

Non Examples

Political speeches
Law documents
Propaganda
Commercials
Any article or book that uses
facts to back up a strong point
of view

My Sentence:

Concept Map
New Concept:
Explanatory/ Informational Nonfiction
Example Sentence:
Explanatory/ Informational nonfiction includes no opinion from the
writer, and it must be clear, organized and exhibit strong detail.
Synonyms:

Essential Characteristics
Purpose:

Examples

Non Examples

My Sentence:

How nonfiction works are

organized.....

Analyzing Nonfiction Text

Structures
1.

First: Skim, scan, preview the text

2.

Next, look at all the text features:

___________, ____________, ____________, ______________, ____________

3.

Finally, ask yourself the following questions:

What is the author's purpose? ____________, ____________,
______________ (based on inferences* drawn from the text)
What is the subject or topic?
How is it organized?
Does it follow a timeline? Logical sequence, indicate a problemsolution? Simple list of items? Comparison of two things? Cause and
effect relationship?
What type of signal words are used?
What sort of language or vocabulary do you see?

Which text structure does the author use?

When analyzing texts use these codes:

I = Inference (what in)

MI = Main Idea
C = Connections (within or outside the text)
? = Confusing word or phrasing

What is an inference*?
Using what you already know
8
text

+ Evidence in the

"Reading between the lines"

Making Inferences
Def: Using your personal knowledge (schema) + textual
evidence
Why do we make inferences?
1. Understand the author's view on life or the world
2. Understand the meaning of words used in context
3. Recognize an author's bias
4. Determine the author's main idea

Read the example below and explain the story's message

Four Oxen and the Lion

A lion used to prowl about a field in which four oxen used to dwell. Many a
time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their
tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met
by the horns of one of them.
At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off
to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Then the lion attacked them
one by one and soon made an end of all four.
Your understanding of the story's message. Use Textual evidence:

1. Homework _______________
Browse USA Today, Christianity Today, the Union Tribune, the NY Times, or the Wall Street Journal.
Then
Spend 25-30 minutes reading articles that interest you. Then share one article with a parent, teacher,
or tutor. After they have read the article, discuss it together for at least 5 minutes. BRING PRINTED
COPY INTO CLASS!
Consider as you discuss together:

Dont

What does the article explicitly say? What can you infer from what is not said?
forget to
What is the authors point of view or purpose of writing? Does the author have an agenda?get this
signed for
What did you find interesting? Confusing?
homework
What did you agree or disagree with?
credit!
Why might it be important to read the newspaper with a Christian lens?

What print or online newspaper did you read?

________________________________________________
How many minutes did you read?
___________________________________
What is the title of the article that you shared?
____________________________________
Did you discuss that article with a parent, teacher or tutor? __________

2. Homework: _____________________

****Parent, Teacher, or Tutor Signature:

Browse USA Today, the Union Tribune, the NY Times, or the Wall Street Journal. Then:

Dont
forget to
get this
signed for
typeshomework
of
credit!

Find one example of a persuasive article

Find one example of an explanatory article. Go back to your notes for guidance.

Then show both articles to a parent, tutor, or support teacher and explain how these two
expository texts are different.
When you have completed the above instructions, have that person sign below.

Title of Persuasive article: __________________________________________________________________

Title of Explanatory article:
____________________________________________________________________
Source of articles: _________________________________________________
A note about plagiarism

****Parent, Teacher, or Tutor Signature:

_________________________________________
10

Is This Source Legit?

Finding Credible Sources

C
A
R

Credibility
Is the author listed?
Are the authors credentials listed?
How do you know they are an authority on the subject?
Are there spelling or grammatical errors?

Accuracy
Is there a date for publication?
Is the information up-to-date?
Does the information agree with other sources?
Is the information complete?
Does the author acknowledge all viewpoints?
Is the information factual or opinion?

Reasonableness
Is the author fair?
Is the author concerned with telling the truth?
Is it clear why the source was created?
What is the quality of the images?

11

Support
Are all sources listed?
Can you contact the author for clarification?

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