Writing fiction vs. non fiction

In a nutshell

A non-narrative text is a text which does not have a plot, or contain a series of events. Instead, non-narrative writing focuses on facts about a topic or subject.

Non-narrative texts

The language used in a non-narrative text is formal.

Examples

English; Writing skills; KS2 Year 3; Writing fiction vs. non-fiction

Research papers

English; Writing skills; KS2 Year 3; Writing fiction vs. non-fiction

Dictionaries

English; Writing skills; KS2 Year 3; Writing fiction vs. non-fiction

Speeches

Differences between narrative and non-narrative writing

Narrative and non-narrative writing create different reading experiences. Narrative writing always tells a story, and is usually used to entertain. Non-narrative writing on the other hand, is written to inform. Here are some of the main differences between both:

Narrative	non-narrative
It includes a lot of imagery and is descriptive in terms of the characters, plot and setting.	It includes a lot of research and is based heavily on evidence and research.
It revolves around a storyline, or plot.	It is organised logically.
It is easy to picture when reading.	It is not necessarily easy to picture when reading.

Example

'Is too much homework harmful to your child? Research shows that excessive amounts of homework is not helpful and can cause health problems.'

This is an example of the beginning of an article which is an example of non-narrative writing. This example is not telling a story and has no direct starting point in terms of order. It is factual information that is used to inform the reader about the effects of too much homework.