Poems have a certain form like stanzas or lines and use rhythm, rhyme, and figurative language. Dramas tell stories through action and dialogue. Letters have a heading, greeting, body, closing, and signature. Ads must be persuasive to change beliefs and often use imagery. Historical fiction blends facts with fiction to study history through stories. Biographies are about a person written by an author. Autobiographies are written by the person about their own life.

2. Characteristics of Poems
Poems have a certain form, such as stanzas or a
group of lines
Rhythm
Rhyme
Figurative Language

3. Poetry:
“Italian Food” by Shel Silverstein

4. Characteristics of Drama
A story that often involves human conflict
Told in action
Uses dialogue

5. Characteristics of Letters
Heading
Greeting
Body
Closing
Signature
Postscript (P.S.)

6. Characteristics of Ads
Must be persuasive
Tries to change our beliefs, attitudes, and
behaviors
Often uses spokespersons, fantasy characters,
children and puppies, music, drama, and
imagery

7. Ads

8. Characteristics of
Historical Fiction
Blends actual facts
With fiction
Can be used to study history if we remember
that the story is not actually true.
Especially effective for eras in history that have
few books written from that era, such as some of
the history of Africa.

9. Example of Historical
Fiction

10. Characteristics of
Biographies
Story about a person
Written by an author
Is not written by the person whose story it is

11. Biographies

12. Characteristics of
Autobiographies
Comes from Greek words meaning “self,” “life,”
and “write”
Tells the story of a person
Is told by the person who the story is about

13. Example of Autobiography

14. Now Your Turn!
Write on a piece of paper at least one thing you
learned from studying genre. Include information
about why reading a variety of genres is important
to you.