Fiction, non-fiction and genre

Fiction is writing that is made up: stories, fairy tales, many poems and plays. Non-fiction gives real information or helps us do something: reports, instructions, recipes, letters, diaries, biographies, news reports and adverts. Each type of text has its own features, and stories come in genres such as adventure, mystery and fantasy.

Key facts

  • Fiction: characters, a setting and a plot that someone imagined. Non-fiction: facts, real people and real events.
  • Instructions and recipes: a title, a list of what you need, numbered steps and bossy (imperative) verbs (⟦Fold⟧, ⟦Mix⟧).
  • Letters: a greeting (⟦Dear…⟧) and a sign-off. Diaries: a date, ⟦I⟧ and feelings. News reports: a headline, facts and quotes.
  • Information texts: headings, facts and technical words. Biographies: a real person's life in time order. Adverts: slogans, prices and persuasive words.
  • Story genres: fairy tale (⟦Once upon a time⟧), adventure (danger, journeys), mystery (clues, a detective), fantasy (magic), science fiction (the future, space), historical (a real time in the past).

Worked examples

Example 1

Fiction or non-fiction? ⟦Penguins use their wings as flippers to swim fast.⟧

  1. It is a fact that can be checked.
  2. So it is non-fiction (an information text).

Answer: non-fiction

Example 2

What type of text is this? ⟦1. Fill a pot with soil. 2. Plant the seed. 3. Water it.⟧

  1. It has numbered steps and bossy verbs: ⟦Fill⟧, ⟦Plant⟧, ⟦Water⟧.
  2. It tells you how to do something: instructions.

Answer: instructions

Example 3

What genre is this opening? ⟦The robot's eyes flashed red. "The year is 3020," it said.⟧

  1. There is a robot, and it is set in the future.
  2. That is science fiction.

Answer: science fiction