Fiction Genres

What kind of story are you reading?

Essential Questions

• How can I identify fiction genres?• And why should I care?

What is a genre?

• A genre is a kind of text• Different genres have different kinds

of settings, conflicts, and characters

Fiction Genres

• Historical fiction• Realistic fiction• Fantasy• Science fiction• Mystery• Folktales• Genre hybrids

Fiction Genres

• Historical fiction• Realistic fiction• Fantasy• Science fiction• Mystery• Folktales• Genre hybrids

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction stories take place in the past

They might include real people, events, and places, but also include parts that are made up by the author

Historical Fiction

Which one is the beginning of a historical fiction story about school?

Marcy rode the school bus to school. She was excited about her day. Today there would be an assembly about reptiles! She couldn’t wait to see some real, live snakes.

John walked to school. He needed to arrive early so that he could start the fire in the stove. Without the stove, the schoolroom would be very cold!

Historical Fiction

Which one is the beginning of a historical fiction story about school?

John walked to school. He needed to arrive early so that he could start the fire in the stove. Without the stove, the schoolroom would be very cold!

Historical Fiction

What details show that this is historical fiction?

John walked to school. He needed to arrive early so that he could start the fire in the stove. Without the stove, the schoolroom would be very cold!

Historical Fiction

What details show that this is historical fiction?

John walked to school. He needed to arrive early so that he could start the fire in the stove. Without the stove, the schoolroom would be very cold!

Historical Fiction

Which should you think about and notice as you read historical fiction?

A.How people use really cool machinesB.How children everywhere are all the

sameC.How the conflict often comes from

historical events or settings

Historical Fiction

Which should you think about and notice as you read historical fiction?

A.How people use really cool machinesB.How children everywhere are all the

sameC.How the conflict often comes from

historical events or settings

Why should I care?

• Readers can often learn a great deal about history from reading historical fiction

• As you read, notice the names of the important people, places, and events

Learning from historical fiction

Think about a historical fiction book that you have read. What was it about? What did you learn?

Fiction Genres

• Historical fiction• Realistic fiction• Fantasy• Science fiction• Mystery• Folktales• Genre hybrids

Realistic Fiction

• Realistic fiction stories take place in the PRESENT

• They include characters and situations that could really happen

• But realistic fiction stories are still made up by the author

Realistic Fiction

• Realistic fiction stories usually look at topics like friendship, growing up, and being in a family

Realistic Fiction

Can you find the example of realistic fiction?

Cousins can be so annoying! Robert stood outside on the kitchen porch. His cousin had tramped into his bedroom and stolen his new video game console. What a pain!

Hmm..this gadget had real possibilities. As I looked at the Time Travel 2000 Zapper, I imagined all of the great places I could visit. I couldn’t wait!

Realistic Fiction

Can you find the example of realistic fiction?

Cousins can be so annoying! Robert stood outside on the kitchen porch. His cousin had tramped into his bedroom and stolen his new video game console. What a pain!

Realistic Fiction

Can you find the example of realistic fiction?

Cousins can be so annoying! Robert stood outside on the kitchen porch. His cousin had tramped into his bedroom and stolen his new video game console. What a pain!

This takes place in the present. It includes events that could happen in real life, so it is realistic fiction.

Why should I care?

• Realistic fiction stories often involve characters like you

• Reading about how other kids solve their problems can help you to think about your own life and how you can solve problems

Comparing genres

• How are historical fiction and realistic fiction different from one another?

• Which one do you prefer? Why?