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English Lesson Plan - Identifying Literature Genres - Part I

The starting point for the study of literature would, of course, be identifying or reviewing the four genres of literature. This include, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. Simple definitions could be:

1.) Fiction - works of literature created from the imagination of the writer. Most common forms include novels, short stories, and vignettes. Providing examples of novels and shorts stories is easy enough. A great example of vignettes might be The House On Mango Street.
2.) Nonfiction - works detailing actual events or providing information. This genre includes biography, autobiography, essays, informative nonfiction, and interviews. Essays can be either expository (a presentation of information or ideas), persuasive (expressing and defending an opinion in hopes of convincing readers to accept the writer's view), and personal (an informal presentation of information or ideas). This genre also includes interviews and informative articles(which might include encyclopedias, etc.)
3.) Poetry - Literature generally intended to be spoken. Although there are numerous styles, poetry is presented in stanza and verse and includes heavy use of figurative language. Rhyme, rhythm, similes, and metaphors are important concepts that might be touched upon briefly during an introductory lesson.
4.) Drama - a work written with an intention that it be performed an a stage. Important concepts include set, setting, stage directions, scripts, and dialog.

Objectives: Students will be able to identify the different genres of literature.

Activator: Have students list what they know about "literature". (Having students spend a few moments listing what they know about a topic is a valuable tool in conducting a formative assessment of students prior knowledge.

Teacher Directed Activity: Lecture should contain a brief review on the definitions of the different genres of literature. It is helpful to provide examples appropriate to the classes level. Asking students to follow up with examples of their own allows students to connect the topic with self.


Student Directed Activity: Have exemplars of the different genres such as poems, anthologies, novels, scientific text, and plays. This exercise works well when students are working in groups. Depending on the level of the students, the complexity of the task might be increased by using historical novels, anthologies with both fiction and short stories, and parodies. This might be followed with a "cut and pasted" worksheet mixing paragraphs form the different genres and having the student identify and label the paragraphs with the appropriate genre.


Wrap-up: Students can either create strips of the literary discussed for inclusion on a word wall or to add the terms to the glossary section of a class notebook.
lesson plans