Nonfiction Skills

Imagine you have been asked to write an additional paragraph to include in the passage. Of the four paragraph topics listed in the chart, choose the one that fits with the text structure of the passage.

• A paragraph explaining an additional step in the process of growing crystals.

• A paragraph comparing and contrasting uses for alum.

• A paragraph outline problems occurring during the transfer of the crystals from one jar to another.

• A paragraph describing the history of the magnifying glass.

Which sentences in a nonfiction text give you information or clues about the main idea?

• Conclusion Sentence

• The Lead/Hook

• Topic Sentence

Which best describes a summary?

• a really long detailed piece of writing

• the entire text told in your own words

• a dumb thing that teachers make you write

• the main ideas and supporting details of a text

Which text feature's purpose is to provide extra information at the bottom of the text?

• Footnote

• sidebar

• subheading

• stand out words

Which of the following describes a nonfiction selection?

• an explanation of the scientific principles behind gene splicing

• a narrative that portrays the life of a famous time-traveler

• a story about a horse that can fly

• a diary written from the perspective of an ant

Created to inform, describe or explain

• Narrative Nonfiction

• Expository Nonfiction

Which of the following is an example of nonfiction writing?

• novel

• a novella

• a short story

• an essay

True or false: we should keep an open mind when reading nonfiction

• True

• False

Created to present life experiences

• Narrative Nonfiction

• Expository Nonfiction

This literary nonfiction tells about a person's life and is written by that person.

• autobiography

• anecdote

• dialogue

• biography