Module 11: Contemporary Voices

Throughout your study of a narrative nonfiction novel, you learned how the facts of a real life event are incorporated with narrative elements to tell the story of a life. You were also introduced to many types of nonfiction and learned how each is similar and different not only from each other but also from other literary forms and genres. Biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, feature stories, and literary journalism are all unique yet engaging forms of nonfiction. Recognizing the degree of objectivity versus subjectivity in a nonfiction piece is crucial to understanding how the author may influence you and other readers. Nonfiction literature is truthful in that it reports the facts of a person or event but can also tell an engaging story. Both Into the Wild and The Color of Water are examples of compelling and unforgettable works of nonfiction.