NF - Module Overview

Nonfiction: Speeches, Essays, and Informational Texts

Introduction

Nonfiction is any kind of writing, speech, or broadcast based on facts, real events, or real people; and nonfiction literature includes a wide variety of texts including speeches, newspapers, memoirs, and essays. Reading nonfiction may seem less exciting because reality and truth affect us differently than the imaginary situations or outlandish experiences found in fiction. However, reading and understanding nonfiction can give us valuable insight into history and society. It can teach us about people and groups, connect us to our world, and broaden our complex thinking. And, it exposes us to the mighty power of rhetoric or, the art of persuasion. Persuasion is when someone uses devices or methods to persuade a reader to believe something. Many powerful people in society and in the media use rhetoric to convince audiences to believe ideas that may or may not be true. Rhetoric in speeches and essays has existed for centuries, and the power of persuasion has caused both harm and good in society. In this module, we will learn about the elements and structures of nonfiction. We will examine the use of rhetoric for both good and evil and will find examples even in our own contemporary society.

Essential Questions

  1. Can I determine the hidden meanings of words and phrases in order to understand how these words and phrases create a certain meaning and tone?
  2. Can I figure out an author's purpose in a text and analyze how that author uses rhetoric (persuasion) to convince the reader about a certain belief or idea?
  3. What devices do authors use to create convincing evidence in his or her persuasive argument?
  4. How might I analyze elements of nonfiction in important documents in history and literature in order to figure out how they address certain themes and ideas that are related?

Key Terms

Nonfiction: A text based on facts and reality, including biography, history, and the essay

Essay: A short piece of writing on one subject, usually presenting the author's own views

Speech: A formal address or discourse delivered to an audience

Audience: The assembled spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, movie, concert, or meeting

Purpose: The reason an author decides to write about a specific topic

Rhetoric: The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing; the ability to convince someone to do or believe something

Ethos: A type of rhetoric that uses the credibility or ethical appeal of a writer or speaker  to persuade an audience

Pathos: A type of rhetoric that is an appeal to the emotions and attempts to convince an audience by creating an emotional response

Logos: A type of rhetoric that is an appeal to logic and is a way of persuading an audience by reason

Anecdote: A short story used to engage the audience that serves to make the listeners laugh or ponder over a topic

Bias: The way the audience or reader already feels about a topic or person prior to reading or listening to the person's ideas—may be favorable or unfavorable

Propaganda: Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view

Key Terms Review

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