Science Fiction, Myth, Nonfiction and Realistic Fiction

Introduction

In this lesson, we will study about four literary genres.

Objectives:

- identify four literary genres

- improve 4 language skills 

- produce at least ONE short story of any genre

Task

1. The following list tells you about four genres. Please study the definition of each genre.

  • Science Fiction: a make-believe story based on scientific possibilities. science fiction is also called fantasy, but it can include scientific facts.
  • Myth: a make-believe story that explains how something came to be. Myths often describe how the world was created. 
  • Nonfiction: factual information. Nonfiction stories are true.
  • Realistic Fiction: a make-believe story that could actually happen. These stories aren't true, but is's easy to believe they are.

2. Read the short stories on Process page.

3. Write the genre of each story on the line that follows.

4. Choose a partner and discuss what clues in the stories help you choose your answer. Mark the clues in the stories and share your answers and reasons with your classmates.

5. Homework: Writing Assignment

Write a short story with any ONE of the four genres of this lesson unit. Minimum 8, maximum 12 sentences.

Due: The next class meeting. Early submission via Engrade is welcome.

Process

3. Write the genre of each story on the line that follows

A. Juniper trees grow in Arizona. Tiny fairies live in their trunks. During the full moon, the fairies come out and dance at night. While dancing, they place blue berries in each tree for decoration. That’s how the juniper gets its berries.

A. _____________________________________________________

B. “It’s a bird!” Tim shouted. “It’s a plane!” Connie said. But it was a spaceship! It landed next to a juniper tree. Little green men got off the spaceship. They clipped off several branches of the tree. “They’re collecting tree samples to study on Mara,” Connie whispered. They watched, amazed, as the spaceship disappeared into the sky.

B. _____________________________________________________

C. Jason and Patrick went for a hike. Because they were in the high desert, they carried water with them. When they got tired, the two boys sat in a shade of a juniper tree to rest and drink their water. That’s when the rattlesnake appeared. “Don’t move!” Patrick said to Jason. The boys sat still until the snake3 moved away. “What an adventure!” Jason said as the two boys returned home.

C. ______________________________________________________

D. Juniper trees are small, gnarly trees that grow in many parts of the world. Members of the evergreen family, they remain green all year round. Juniper trees can be easily identified by their tiny blue or red berries. There are 13 different kinds of juniper trees in the United States. One kind of juniper tree is called alligator juniper because its bark looks similar to the skin of an alligator. It grows in the Southwest.

D. ______________________________________________________

4. Choose a partner and discuss what clues in the stories help you choose your answer. Mark the clues in the stories and share your answers and reasons with your classmates.

5. Homework: Writing Assignment

Write a short story with any ONE of the four genres of this lesson unit. Minimum 8, maximum 12 sentences.

Due: The next class meeting. Early submission via Engrade is welcome.

Evaluation
  1. Rubric for writing assignment

Standards

INTASC 6c, 6e, 6g

GPSS 6.4

TESOL/NCATE 4a, 4b

C = Emerging

B = Acceptable

A = Target

Few strategies and resources including language conventions and structures are included in the writing so that the meaning/message is not clear or understood

Some strategies and resources are used in writing and the message get across to the reader for narrating the given topic

Sufficient strategies and resources are manifested in collecting and synthesizing the data for effectively composing the given topic
Credits

Textbook

Identifying genres. English Language Arts. Spectrum Test Prep. Grade 6. (2007). Carson-Dellosa Publishing. Greensboro: NC.

Photo Credits

1. Alligator juniper. http://www.stillpointaromatics.com/arizona-juniper-wood-essential-oil

2. Tree and Shrub Gallery. Cypress Family: Juniper. 

http://www.catnapin.com/WildFlowers/TreeShrub/tsConiferJuniper.htm

Teacher Page

[img_assist|nid=10654|title=Me, with the tetrameles nudiflora tree in the back. Yangon University. January 2014.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=478]

Greetings.

My name is Lwin Gugin. I'm originally from Yangon, Myanmar and currently residing on the tropical paradise of Guam. I have my B.A (English) from Yangon University and B.A (English/Language Emphasis) from the University of Guam. I have been pursuing a graduate degree in TESOL at the School of Education, UOG since January 2013. My passion in teaching English to speakers of other languages has been impeccable and I will continue to be a better teacher with deeper knowledge in the field.