Fiction, non-fiction and genre · Year 5
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
What genre is this opening? The robot's eyes flashed red. "The year is 3020," it said.
Answer: science fiction