Nonfiction Flood Stories
Nonfiction is a genre of literature that relates the real events or real ideas of real people. In short, nonfiction is the true story of real people, places, and events. And, just as there are many different types of fiction, there are many different types of nonfiction: narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive. Biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, journals and diaries, personal letters, essays, articles, speeches, and informational texts (textbooks, instruction manuals, and applications) are forms of nonfiction.
There are certain characteristics that all nonfiction literature works share. The people, events, places, and ideas depicted in the work must be real, not imaginary. The narrator is always a real person, who discusses real facts and real-life experiences. Nonfiction is written for a specific reason and to a specific audience. The purpose is either to inform, to explain, to persuade, or to tell a story.
Types of Nonfiction
You are probably very familiar with the types of fiction. Fiction includes novels, short stories, screenplays, or dramas. On the other hand, you might not be as familiar with the types of nonfiction. In this interactivity, click on each marker to explore the four different types of nonfiction and view examples of each. Click the player button to get started.
View a printable version of this interactivity.
Reading Nonfiction
Just as there are strategies to use while reading fiction and poetry, so too exist strategies to help you understand nonfiction literature. Follow the steps below to become more efficient at reading nonfiction literature.
Preview the text. Find out as much about the information presented in the reading before you actually begin to read it. What can you tell about the topic or subject based on previewing the text?
- Look at the title.
- Read headings and subheadings.
- Examine pictures, illustrations, charts, graphs, and other visual graphics.
- Determine the purpose of the piece. Remember, nonfiction is written to inform, explain, persuade, or tell a story. What is the purpose of the piece of literature?
- Pose questions and evaluate as you read. Periodically stop and ask yourself questions. Why did things happen this way? How did the people feel? Why is the author taking the time to explain/describe this incident, event, or person? How does this piece of information relate to what you have already read or you already know? Is this piece of information fact or opinion based on fact?
- Form your own opinions. Do you like the way the piece was written? How do you feel about the topic or subject discussed in the piece? Will this information or story be useful to you later? Can you use it now?
The Great Floods
Now that you have explored the different types of nonfiction and how to properly read this type of literature, it is time to apply your knowledge. You will read two different pieces of nonfiction literature and watch one video clip dealing with flood events in the United States.
“The Tennessee Valley Reporting Act” was a legislative act regarding the creation of an organization specifically concerned with the development and protection of the Tennessee Valley area. The purpose of this nonfiction is to convey information. One of the main purposes of the Tennessee Valley Authority is to provide flood control. Read “The Tennessee Valley Reporting Act” from eMediaVA℠ . As you are reading, think about the historical context provided by the date the act was signed into law (at the top of the first page). What kind of irreparable damage would be caused by a flood in this region during that time period?
Arkansas City during the Flood of 1927
You learned from the previous nonfiction article that The Tennessee Valley Authority took action to reduce flooding in 1933. If you noticed, the date on the article was from March, 1933. In the spring of 1927, a great flood occurred in the American Midwest. Heavy rains fell and caused the Mississippi River to flood along with its tributaries. The Tennessee River is a tributary of the Ohio River, the largest tributary of the Mississippi River. The flood caused an estimated one billion dollars in damage and displaced five hundred thousand people. Why do you think it took so long for the Tennessee Valley Authority to create an act to reduce flooding impacts?
The Missouri Capital Building
during the Flood of 1993
Have other great flood events occurred? In 1993, the most costly flood to ever occur in the United States took place. Again, the Mississippi River and its tributaries were affected. The flood caused an estimated fifteen billion dollars in damage, making it the most costly flood in the United States on record. To learn more about a catastrophic flood that occurred in the United States, view, “The Great Flood of 1993” from eMediaVA℠. As you watch this video, think about the following questions:
- What are some ways that people can control flooding?
- Why would people need to, or want to, control flooding?
- How can you apply this information to your own life?
- Does it benefit you to know about flooding and flood control?
Does flooding still occur today? As a matter of fact, flooding is a major concern to many global scientists. As the Earth warms, sea levels could rise worldwide. How will the United States be prepared if such an event occurs?
Where do you think the authors of certain fictional works found their inspiration? Works such as Ovid’s Metamorphoses could have been influenced by a real flooding event. Many authors get their inspiration from actual, real-life events. Weather and weather-related events are areas that humans have yet to be able to control or dominate. They remain unpredictable, and as such, capable of devastating any area of the globe. No community, country, race or ethnic group, social status, or political party is immune. Perhaps this is why so many writers and artists get their inspiration from these real events. After all, it is said that man fears what he does not understand or cannot control.
Types of Nonfiction Review
Now that you have explored and applied your knowledge of nonfiction literature, it is time to test your knowledge. In this non-graded interactivity, read the example of nonfiction. Then, use your mouse to determine what type of nonfiction the example represents. To check your answer click SUBMIT. Click the player button to get started.