GENRE CHARACTERISTICS CHART - Scholastic

1 142 Improving Comprehension with Think-Aloud Strategies Scholastic Professional BooksMysteryThe Basic Definition A subgenre of narrative fiction; oftenthought of as a detective story. Usually involves a mysterious death ora crime to be solved. In a closed circleof suspects, each suspect must have acredible motive and a reasonable oppor-tunity for committing the crime. Thecentral character must be a detectivewho eventually solves the mystery bylogical deduction from facts fairly pre-sented to the reader. This classic struc-ture is the basis for hundreds of varia-tions on the engage in and enjoy solving a moral satisfaction (or dissatisfac-tion) at resolution.

2 Consider human con-dition and how to solve or avoid (also known as rules of notice) Mystery, crime, or another puzzle to besolved. Main character who is a detective whosets out to solve a mystery. Suspects and their motives; these mustbe weighed and evaluated. Overt Clues about the crime are presented. Hidden Evidence is presented, ,essential details are offered in such away that they seem unimportant. Inference Gaps mysteries, by theirvery nature, do not tell the whole is up to readers to notice the gaps inthe story and try to fill these gaps byusing and connecting the informationthat is presented.

3 Suspense having to hold various possi-ble conclusions at bay as you wait tosee what happens; reader is expected toenjoy the suspense, and to read to findout what will happen. Foreshadowing clues left by the authoras to possible outcomes. Red herring a kind of foreshadowingclue that leads the reader to false CHARACTERISTICS CHARTF ollowing is an overview of some genres (text-types) that are often read by students and thetask-specific processes a reader uses to read them. As you introduce a GENRE to kids, developsuch lists of CHARACTERISTICS with your students. Through think-alouds and other lessons,model how you pay attention to these features to help you read and enjoy the Comprehension with Think-Aloud Strategies Scholastic Professional Books143 What a Mystery Requires of a ReaderThe reader s job is to put the puzzle piecesoffered by the author together to figureout the mystery, to appreciate the detec-tive s craft, and to take moral satisfactionfrom the solution to the mystery.

4 To dothis, readers must notice and make mean-ing with the codes offered above, , theymust notice the various forms of evidenceand evaluate them; they must notice infer-ence gaps and try to fill Basic Definition A subgenre of narrative nonfiction/his-torical nonfiction. Presents the facts about an individual'slife and makes an attempt to interpretthose facts, explaining the person'sfeelings and motivations. Good biogra-phers use many research tools to gatherand synthesize information about theirsubject, including the person s words,actions, journals, reactions, relatedbooks, interviews with friends, rela-tives, associates and enemies, historicalcontext, psychology, primary to understand the person and theevents and history affected by that person.

5 Tip-Offs Often starts with birth or early life andoften covers birth-to-death. Often delves in to a person's formativeyears, exploring early influences on asubject's later life. Situates person s life in historical termsand a cultural context. Uses direct quotes from person andthose who knew her. Sometimes uses fictionalized scenes/dia-logues but always based on what isknown about the person and the eventsdescribed. Often uses pictures, maps, photo-graphs, or other historically availabledocuments. Biographer possesses a point of view, alarger agenda, and a purpose in report-ing on the person s life.

6 What a Biography Requires of a ReaderReader should consider author s purposein presenting the biography. Is it idealized?fair? Why or why not? Is bio a hatchetjob? Why? Who is the biographer? Whenwas this biography written? How does thisaffect my reading of it? How does thishelp me to understand the influence ofthis person on history, and history andculture s effect on her? How might thisperson be a model for things to do or notdo in my own life?144 Improving Comprehension with Think-Aloud Strategies Scholastic Professional BooksTall TalesThe Basic DefinitionA subgenre of narrative of four categories of folktales gener-ally recognized by folklorists.

7 (Others arethe variants of European folktales, suchas Jack and the Beanstalk, the folktales of African Americans that grew out ofAfrican and European roots; and the talesof Native American groups) Tall talesinclude exuberant combinations of factwith outrageous fiction. The tales fea-ture an improvement on actual hap-penings. The contrast between fact andfiction is enhanced by giving the story a realistic framework and by a deadpan storytelling style. PurposeTo entertain, celebrate cleverness of hero,imagine What If? and show resilience of group he Realism combined with outrageousexaggeration. Often reflects the hardships endured by the American settlers.

8 Heroes embody courage, brute force,cleverness, as well as the virtues ofthrift, hard work, and Basic DefinitionA short tale used to teach a moral lesson,often with animals as instruct, to teach humans a lesson aboutrecognizing and overcoming their foibles;to critique authority figures in humorousand anonymous ways; to poke The story is very brief. Main characters are usually animalsand are characterized quickly with afew broad strokes. One animal/character usually displaysthe vice or foible being critiqued. Thisfoible is what brings embarassment or adownfall to the character and this con-clusion leads directly to the moral,which follows the fable and is stated inone a Fable Requires of a ReaderThe reader must pay attention to the title,which will cue who or what to pay atten-tion to.

9 Then the reader must figure out thesymbolic value of each animal or charac-ter what human trait does each represent?The reader must recognize introductory sit-uation and what causes the complicationand consequences. He reads moral andunderstands how the events of the story,Improving Comprehension with Think-Aloud Strategies Scholastic Professional Books145particularly the conclusion, lead to and mirror the instructive statement summa-rized by the moral. Reader should considerhow the moral might apply to her own life. Arguments The Basic DefinitionThe process of presenting or comprehend-ing a reasoned inquire into problems and possiblesolutions, to persuade or convince othersto change belief or take action, to try andget one s way!

10 Tip-Offs A need or desire for something new orfor something to change is expressed. This assertion is supported through theuse of evidence and warrants explaininghow the evidence leads to this claim. Something is being promoted.(Advertisements almost always containan argument. Argument is incorporatedinto many forms of propaganda andpersuasion.) What an Argument Requires of a ReaderThe reader must first understand what isbeing claimed and what is at stake. Whatwill happen or follow if we agree with orreject the argument? If others agree with orreject the argument? Then the reader mustrecognize and evaluate the evidence andhow it is explained or linked to the reader may want to express reservationsand see if these are or could be respondedto.