Understanding and Evaluating Literary Nonfiction

Contributor: Allison Crews. Lesson ID: 13861

Literary nonfiction is a method of presenting factual information artistically. This lesson will help you understand, analyze, and evaluate these types of texts.

categories

Comprehension, Writing

subject
English / Language Arts
learning style
Visual
personality style
Lion, Otter
Grade Level
High School (9-12)
Lesson Type
Quick Query

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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  • What do you think of when you think about nonfiction texts?

Jot down the first five words or phrases that come to mind.

brainstorm

  • What is the mood or tone of your chosen words?
  • Do you consider nonfiction creative, artistic, or expressive?

Today, you'll explore a type of nonfiction that may have you thinking just that. It's called literary nonfiction.

Keep reading to find out more!

Literary Nonfiction

Literary nonfiction merges fiction and nonfiction writing to tell a true story with creative elements. It is often referred to as creative nonfiction.

Literary nonfiction includes life stories (autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, diaries), histories, historical documents (letters, speeches, proclamations), and literary journalism (telling a news story through narrative form).

Literary nonfiction utilizes narrative structures like plot, setting, tone, and theme. It makes characters of the people in the narrative by showing who they are as people with whom the reader can empathize (or not).

Sometimes, it includes literary techniques that make fiction and poetry artistic, like metaphors and other figurative language.

To learn more, watch the following video.

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Quick Review: Literary Devices

Review a few of the most common literary devices with this quick quiz.

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  • How did it go?

If you feel comfortable with the concept of literary nonfiction and standard literary devices, you're ready to move on!

If you need additional support, review these 10 Important Literary Devices in Prose: Examples & Analysis.

When you're ready, click through to the Got It? section.

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