Writing Forms and Genres

genre

A category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content. The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.However, genre is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions that are often called genres themselves. For example, prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction (essays, biographies,autobiographies, etc.). Poetry can be divided into lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, etc. Drama can be divided into tragedy,comedy, melodrama, farce, etc. On the AP language exam, expect the majority of the passages to be from the following genres: autobiography, biography, diaries, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing. There may be fiction or poetry.

poetry

A kind of rhythmic, compressed language that uses figures of speech and imagery designed to appeal to our emotions and imagination.

personal narrative/memoir

A self-revelatory, piece of autobiographical writing that highlights meaningful events in one's life. This category includes non-fiction work only. Fictional essays should be submitted in the Short Story or Flash Fiction categories.

fairy tale

A type of folktale that features supernatural elements such as spirits, talking animals, and magic

prose

Any writing that is not poetry

mystery

Fiction that deals with solving a crime or unraveling secrets to understand the unexplained or unknown

fiction in verse

Full-length novels that are presented in blank verse form. Ex. Ellen Hopins novels (Crank, Burn, Twisted)

form

TBD

biography

The story of a real person's life, written or told by another person

science fiction

Writing based on real or imaginary scientific developments and often set in the future.

realistic fiction

Writing that attempts to show life as it really is.

speech

a formal address or discourse delivered to an audience, usually written or planned in advance A talk or public address. The purpose of a speech may be to entertain, explain, persuade, or inspire.

nonfiction

a main category of literature which is informational text dealing with actual real-life subjects. Includes biographies, history, essays, speech, memoir, and narrative nonfiction

essay

a short literary composition that reflects the author's outlook or point, usually in prose and generally analytic, speculative, or interpretive A piece of prose writing, usually short, that deals with a subject in a limited way and expresses a particular point of view.

legend

a story that is often about a national or fold hero. They are based on fact but also exaggerated and imaginative material

short story

a story with a fully developed theme and plot but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel

historical fiction

a story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting, ex. The Book Thief

mythology

a type of legend that is often based in part on historical events and reveals human behavior and natural phenomena through symbolism

flash fiction

a work of fiction that is extremely short, usually telling a story without more than a page or two of writing; a snapshot of a scene should be give the reader the information they need to understand the piece and its background; often uses the iceberg effect; important to learn how to be able to get a point across in a short yet effective manner; ex: "Little Things" Raymond Carver

horror

fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread, fright, or shock in both the characters and the reader.

fantasy

highly imaginative writing that has elements not found in real life

narrative nonfiction

information based on fact that is presented in a format which tells a story Prose writing of real people, places, objects, or events. It comes in multiple forms, including autobiography, biography, journal, diary, personal narrative, correspondence, email, or journalism.

fiction

literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary events and people.

verse

metrical lines of poetry, or poetry in general (as opposed to prose)

folklore

oral tradition of a group, which includes proverbs, prayers, common expressions, superstitions, beliefs, narrative tales, and legends

drama

stories composed in verse or prose usually for theatrical performance, in which conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action. Ex. Shakespeare's plays

Journalism

the activity or profession of writing for newspapers or magazines or of broadcasting news on radio or television.

autobiography

the history of a person's life, written or told by that person, based on facts, often written in narrative form

classics

works of art or literature considered to be of the highest rank or excellence. works of art or literature from ancient Greece or Rome; works about architecture, law, medicine and much more.