Types of Literary Genres Notes
1. Informational Texts
- Texts that are written to provide factual information about real topics.
A. Biography: A true story about a person’s life by someone else.
B. Autobiography: A true story about someone’s life by that person.
C. Essays: Short pieces of writing on a single subject; often presents the personal view of
an author.
D. Newsletters: A written report, usually issued periodically, prepared by a group or
institute to present information.
2. Fiction
A. Realistic Fiction: A made up story but includes elements that are believable could really
happen.
B. Science Fiction: A made up story that incorporates both fact and fiction with futuristic
technology.
C. Historical Fiction: A made up story that takes place in a certain time and place in the
past. These stories may include real historical figures and events from the past.
3. Traditional Fiction
- Stories from different cultures that are passed down from one group to another,
such as tall tales or fables.
A. Fables & Fairy Tales: Short moral stories that try to teach a lesson; often have animals
as characters.
B. Myths & Legends: Stories that often attempt to explain why things are the way they are
now.
C. Folktales: Short stories handed down from earlier times, especially one popularly
believed to be historical.
D. Tall Tales: Short stories that are untrue and greatly exaggerated; usually events that
couldn’t possibly happen.
4. Poetry
- A type of writing that often uses rhyme and rhythm to inspire feelings for its reader.
- Usually written in short lines; the first letter of every line begins with a capital letter.
- Haiku, limericks, cinquains.