Analyzing Nonfiction

Question 1

Audience

Answer 1

The person for whom a writer writes. Know the audience for a piece of writing affects a writer’s diction, tone, and content

Question 2

Bias

Answer 2

prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another,usually in a way considered to be unfair

Question 3

Credibility

Answer 3

the quality of being trusted or believed

Question 4

Authority

Answer 4

Who published the source? Is the source an expert on the subject? Does the source contain a list of sources?

Question 5

Receny/Currency

Answer 5

When was the source published? Is it out of date?

Question 6

Purpose

Answer 6

Is the information fact, opinion, or propaganda? Is the author’s point of view objective and impartial?

Question 7

Diction

Answer 7

An author’s word choice. Diction helps a writer to create a tone.

Two common categories of diction are:
Formal diction: Language used in the classroom and in situations that are serious or that involve people we don’t know well

Informal Diction: Language used in casual situations

Question 8

Primary sources

Answer 8

A first hand source, original material that has not been interpreted or edited by other writers
Exp: autobiographies, diaries, letters, novels, speeches

Question 9

Second Sources

Answer 9

Something created by a writer who did not participate directly in events he or she interprets, relates, and analyzes

Examples: biographies, most newspaper and magazine articles, textbooks