Reading and Writing Nonfiction at All Levels
from NCTE INBOX 10-25-11
A recent post in the NCTE Connected Community raised a concern about students who come to college without enough knowledge of nonfiction. This college composition instructor noted that most high school students have read literature almost exclusively and are therefore underprepared to deal with nonfiction. She also points out that "in most college composition courses, they will be writing nonfiction -- that is, they'll be engaging in academic writing on a variety of nonfiction topics. This requires them to obtain, read, understand, and use factual information in their writing." How can we provide students with more experience with nonfiction? The following resources can be a start.
The Orbis Pictus Award was established by NCTE's Elementary Section in 1989 to honor nonfiction for children. "The Significance of Topics of Orbis Pictus Award-Winning Books," from NCTE's The Best in Children's Nonfiction (E-M), explores the elements that come into play as the committee chooses the winner. The book itself offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the world of children’s nonfiction, as well as practical tips on teaching these texts.
The best nonfiction books for teens defy simple distinctions between the dryness of fact and the pleasures of fiction. They draw on photos, interviews, and archival documents to bring the past to life or introduce readers to previously untold stories. In the podcast episode from ReadWriteThink's Text Messages series "Nonfiction Books for Teens" (M-S), you'll hear about new nonfiction books that explore, among other things, the role of women in the NASA space program, the Civil Rights Movement, and the experiences of Arab American youth in the post-9/11 era.
"'It Sounds Like Me': Using Creative Nonfiction to Teach College Admissions Essays" (S), from English Journal, shares how the creative nonfiction workshops led by a high school reading and writing center specialist inspired students to attend more closely to their personal experience, voice, and sensory detail in their college essays.
The College English article "The Place of Creative Nonfiction" (C) discusses the topic of creative nonfiction and suggests that how creative nonfiction is placed, both on library and store shelves and in English studies, does have implications for literature and writing, both creative and non.
Looking Ahead: November Is Native American Heritage Month
See these resources for strategies to explore Native American literature and heritage in your own classroom.
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