CNF Module 8

• Organization


  • Ideas are well-developed when there is a clear statement of purpose, position, facts, examples, specific details, definitions, explanation, justifications, or opposing viewpoints
• Coherence


  • Sentences are arranged in a logical manner, making them easily understood by the reader
• Cohesion


  • Connection of ideas at sentence level
• Structure


  • The arrangement or organization of the text
• Types of structure

  • Chronological structure
  • Flashback structure
  • Parallel structure
  • Collage or Mosaic structure
  • Question and Answer structure
  • Frame or The story-within-a-story
• Chronological structure


  Arrangement of events in a linear fashion as they occurred in time
• Flashback structure


  Beginning in a certain point of the story then moving back in the past
• Parallel structure


  A type of structure that has several stories, running side by side with occasional cross-cutting or convergence
• Collage or Mosaic structure


  It involves pasting together small fragments, which all together build up the total picture of what happened
• Question and Answer structure


  It allows the reader to hear the subject's voice without awkwardness of having to repeat "he said" or "she said" before or after every direct quotation
• Frame or The story-within-a-story


  It is a good structure to use when you want to say two stories- say, a travel narrative, where the actual physical journey is paralleled by an inner journey
• Parts of Creative Nonfiction writing

  • Introduction
  • Body
  • Ending/Conclusion
• Introduction


  Grab the readers' attention and compel them to read further. It should have a strong and dramatic beginning
• Body


  Highly effective use of sensory details and different literary devices bring the story to life
• Ending/Conclusion


  The logical conclusion of the flow of your text or of the development of your ideas. The reader must be left with the impression that the subject was adequately discussed or presented
• Title


  Not necessarily written before the piece is written, but it is good to have a working title to help you focus
• First paragraph


  Lead the reader to reading the whole text
• Literary Elements


  Refer to particular identifiable characteristics of a whole text
• Critique


  Critical discussion or review that describes, summarizes, analyzes, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of a work. It is written in paragraph form
• Peer critique or peer review


  Practice of writers to review and provide constructive criticism of each other's works
• Peer Critique Guidelines


  • Be kind
  • Be specific
  • Be helpful
  • Participate
• How to Write a Critique: Suggested Critique Format

  • Summarize and interpret
  • Say what you think is working well
  • Give constructive criticism