Elements of Nonfiction

A true story about a person's life told by that person.

• biography

• autobiography

• interview

• article

A writing piece that focuses on one topic. The author's purpose is to persuade.

• autobiography

• textbook

• speech

• biography

A reference book organized chronologically or by topic.

• textbook

• biography

• article

• interview

Writing based on real people, places and events.

• nonfiction

• article

• interview

• essay

A conversation between two people where questions and answers are exchanged.

• autobiography

• literary nonfiction

• article

• interview

A true story about a person's life told by someone else.

• autobiography

• biography

• literary nonfiction

• interview

Written to be informative and entertaining.

• biography

• informative nonfiction

• literary nonfiction

• textbook

A short nonfiction piece that focuses on one topic or subject. Students write these types of non-fiction texts.

• textbook

• article

• essay

• interview

Favoring of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another; a personal interest.

• objective

• coincidence

• informative

• bias

Nonfiction writing that explains, gives information, defines, or clarifies a concept or idea.

• expository

• descriptive

• persuasive

• narrative