Nonfiction Vocabulary Terms

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The description of the documenting of historical, or "real life" events. The main types are autobiographies, biographies, encyclopedias, essays, feature stories, interviews, newspaper articles, and textbooks.

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Nonfiction

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Nonfiction that is written mainly to provide factual information.

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Informational nonfiction

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Nonfiction that reads like fiction but provides factual infomation.

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Literary nonfiction

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A book written about a person's life or one main event. The author's purpose is to inform the reader.

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Biography

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A biography written by the author about his or herself.

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Autobiography

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When information is organized by the topic alphabetically. The entries are short and it is commonly used for research. The author's purpose is to inform the reader.

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Encyclopedia

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A conversation between two people where questions and answers are exchanged. These conversations are recorded and then broadcasted or reported.

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Interview

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Focuses on one topic or main idea. The author's purpose is to inform or persuade the reader.

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Newspaper articles

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When information is organized chronologically or by topic and is used for reference. The author's purpose is to inform.

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Textbook

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An online source of information providing international access.

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Website

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The phrase most often located at the top of a page. It provdes the name of the passage and often refers to the main aspect, or point of the paper.

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Title

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An attention grabber that often includes the main idea of the paper.

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Headings

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A heading underneath the main heading.

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Subheadings

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Text that is made darker because of significant importance.

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Boldface

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Slanted text that could be of importance occasionally used in websites, references, books, or articles.

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Italics

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The important points within the text.

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Main ideas

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More information about the main idea.

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Supporting detail

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An optional answer to the problem that will lead to the resolution.

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Propsed solution

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The cause is one or more actions and the effect is the result of those actions. Example: Cause-you punched your brother. Effect-he got a black eye.

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Cause and effect

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Comparison is stating the similarities between two or more objects. Contrast is stating the differences between two or more objects.

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Compare and contrast

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Original, firsthand accounts.

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Primary sources

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Descriptions based on primary sources.

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Secondary sources

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A way to organize and record information.

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Chart

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A quick summary of the passage located on the side of the page.

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Sidebar

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The process of raising questions while reading.

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Question

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The process of forming a mental picture based on a written description.

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Visualize

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Telling the main ideas of a piece of writing briefly in your own words.

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Summarize

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The process of judging something or someone in a work of literature.

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Evaluate

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Pausing while reading to review past events in the literature and to check one's understanding.

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Clarify

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An opinion is given and is backed up with reasons and facts against another opinion.

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Argument

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A problem is a situation which is difficult to solve. A solution is the act of solving a problem.

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Problem and solution

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The order of events in a work of literature.

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Sequence

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Something said or written by a different speaker or author.

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Quotation

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To restate information in your own words. Paraphrasing help readers clarify.

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Paraphrase

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To be in favor of, or to pre-judge something or someone. Example-against war in Afghanistan, you are aniwar.

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Bias

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To draw out, protract, or prolong. It can also mean to have a particular bias.

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Spin

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The process of over exaggerating a word or phrase. Example-"I have never succeeded at anything".

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Overgeneralization

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Something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish.

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Objective

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Using what you know to draw a conclusion about what may happen.

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Predict

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A reader's process of relating the content of a literary work to their knowledge and experience.

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Connect

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A short description or reference of a drawing or picture.

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Captions