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Learning About Fiction and Nonfiction

This chart compares and contrasts fiction and nonfiction:

Fiction
tells about made-up people or animals, called
characters: The characters experience a series
of made-up events, called the plot; the plot
takes place at a certain real or imagined time
in a certain real or imagined location, which is
the setting; the plot also contains a problem,
or conflict, that characters must solve
may be told from the perspective of a charac-
ter in the story (first-person point of view) or
a narrator outside the story (third-person
point of view)
takes the form of short stories, novellas, novels
to explain, inform, persuade, or entertain
Nonfiction
tells about real people, animals, places,
things, events, and ideas; presents facts and
discusses ideas; may reflect the historical
context of its time by making references to
current events, society, and culture
is told from the perspective of the author
takes the form of biographies, autobiogra-
phies, memoirs, letters, journals, diaries,
essays, articles, textbooks, and documents,
such as application forms and instructions
to explain, inform, persuade, or entertain

A. DIRECTIONS: Using clues in each title, write fiction or nonfiction on the line.
1. My Family Came From Mars
2. Historic Landings on the Moon
3. The Life of Thomas Jefferson
4. Jackie Rabbit, King of the Meadow
5. How to Make Oatmeal Bread

B. DIRECTIONS: Read this paragraph carefully, and decide whether it is fiction or

nonfiction. Indicate your choice. Then, explain what hints led you to make your choice.
The Ramirez family set off on their summer vacation yesterday. Luis was excited. It was the
first trip that his family had taken since coming to the United States last year. Luis had
brought along two books to read during the trip. Hed have plenty of time to read. After all,
flying to a distant galaxy would take at least a week.
Fiction / Nonfiction:
Explanation:

Unit 1 Resources: Fiction and Nonfiction

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