Reading+Genre

=Authors write stories for a variety of purposes. Some write fictional stories while others are interested in writing non-fiction.= Download the power point below to learn more about the differences between fiction and non-fiction.

**Along with fiction and non-fiction, stories can also be divided into reading genres.**

 * Check out the power points below to learn more about the different kinds of genres [[file:genre powerpoint.ppt]]**

=**Historical Fiction**= Just as the title states, historical fiction is a fictional story, but what makes it historical is the time period and events that are described throughout the story that connected to events in history. Historical fiction stories will take place in the past. The story may be a character involved in a war or have some type of connection to a war that happened in the past. Some may revolve around other events in history such as the Great Depression or the Dust bowl. Others may just point out things that connect to a period in the past. Read the passage below and identify details that make this a historical fiction story.

Drew Johnson stared at the calendar hanging next to his college dormitory bed. The date was December 31, 1972. This year has gone by so fast, he thought. Drew’s bellbottom pants itched against his leg. He put down the pen and took the hair pick out of his Afro and scratched his leg. From the window, he heard the music of The Beatles and saw girls with long hair dancing. They were flashing peace signs at the Volkswagen Bugs moving past them on the street. Groovy, he thought to himself. Even if the Vietnam War was not over, the hippies at his college were still hopeful about peace and love in the New Year


 * What makes this historical Fiction?**

Mystery
Mystery stories involve stories that are filled with suspense and uncertainty. The author provides a problem that usually involves the characters trying to find clues to help solve the problem. Read the passage below and find clues or details that would make the story a mystery.

"Okay." Reaching down, I forced myself to pick up the mouse. It wriggled and squirmed in my hand and I almost dropped it, but I managed to hold on. "Green means go, so red must mean stop." I turned to the red knight and held the mouse up to its shield, then made a clicking sound with my tongue. In an instant, there was another flash of lightning, and when I opened my eyes, we were back in my room! "Man," Randy panted, "what did you do?" "The secret was a sick joke. To start the game we mouse-clicked on a green shield, right? So to get out " "You clicked a mouse on a red shield," Randy groaned. "Sorry, but this disk is going in the trash," I said, opening my CD ROM drive. But the disk wasn't there! The next day we decided to visit the little store where Randy had gotten it. But when we got there, he nearly had a cow, because there was no store, only a vacant lot. "But it was here!" he cried. "Hey, what's that?" I said, pointing to an envelope on the ground an envelope with our names on it! With shaking hands, I picked it up, opened it and read: "You won, and therefore I must go back and make my game more challenging. Perhaps we shall play again someday." It was signed: "The Darkmaster."

**What make the story above a mystery?**
=**Realistic Fiction**= A realistic fiction story is basically a made up story that connect to real life events. The story is not a true story, but the characters are real life humans, the setting takes place in place that are real life like a mall or a school. Also the problems the characters may face are real problems that can happen to people in every day life. Read the passage below and identify details that make it a realistic fiction story.

The two brothers jumped from bed to bed, squealing with delight as they

Suddenly, the room went quiet. Five seconds later, a tiny voice said, “Peep!” And a wave of giggles spread through the house.
Download the document below and determine if each passage is considered fictional or non-fiction. Also determine if a passage is either historical, realistic, or mystery fiction.

Below is an activity connecting to comparing and contrasting stories with similar genres. Download the document and complete the assignment.