Chapter overview

English

Writing fiction vs. non-fiction

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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

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

Want to find out more? Check out these other lessons!

Planning a draft

Identifying your audience and purpose

Structuring a text: paragraphs, sentences, conjunctions

Hooking the reader

Organisation: bullet points, lists and paragraphs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQs

  • Question: What language is used in non-narrative writing?

    Answer: The language used in a non-narrative is formal.

  • Question: What is the difference between non-narrative and narrative writing?

    Answer: Narrative writing always tells a story, and it is usually used to entertain. Non-narrative writing on the other hand, is written to inform.

  • Question: What is non-narrative writing?

    Answer: A non-narrative text is a text which does not give any information on events. Instead, it is writing on facts about a topic or subject.

Theory

Exercises

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