Getting the Most Getting the Most fromfrom

Non-Fiction BooksNon-Fiction Books

What is the purpose of non-What is the purpose of non-fiction?fiction?

Provide Provide factualfactual informationinformation TeachTeach new new factsfacts, , ideasideas, ,

proceduresprocedures and and conceptsconcepts

How Should You Read Non-How Should You Read Non-Fiction?Fiction?

SomeSome non-fiction books can and should non-fiction books can and should be read be read like a fiction booklike a fiction book – in order, – in order, start to finish, tells a storystart to finish, tells a story

OtherOther non-fiction books (reference non-fiction books (reference books) are alphabetical collections of books) are alphabetical collections of unrelatedunrelated articles that could be read articles that could be read in in any orderany order..

Yet Yet othersothers fall fall in betweenin between – the – the chapters or sections might be self-chapters or sections might be self-contained, yet loosely related to nearby contained, yet loosely related to nearby chapters.chapters.

How do Non-Fiction Books How do Non-Fiction Books look different?look different?

Often Often heavily illustratedheavily illustrated with photos, with photos, drawings, maps, graphs, charts, close-drawings, maps, graphs, charts, close-ups, and cut-away illustrations – look for ups, and cut-away illustrations – look for captionscaptions, , legendslegends and and explanationsexplanations

Use of different sizes and kinds of Use of different sizes and kinds of fontsfonts and and headingsheadings to highlight new words, to highlight new words, the start of a new section, etc.the start of a new section, etc.

Text may be broken into Text may be broken into boxesboxes or or sidebarssidebars to provide added information to provide added information

What Tools Help You What Tools Help You Navigate Non-Fiction Navigate Non-Fiction

Books?Books? Where is the info?Where is the info?

– Check Check table of contentstable of contents and and indexindex What does the word mean?What does the word mean?

– See if there is a See if there is a glossaryglossary or list of terms with or list of terms with definitionsdefinitions

What’s the deal with this picture?What’s the deal with this picture?– Look for Look for captionscaptions or or labelslabels

What do the symbols on this map mean?What do the symbols on this map mean?– Look for a Look for a map legendmap legend

Where can I get more information?Where can I get more information?– Look for a Look for a bibliographybibliography or or list of related list of related

books & websitesbooks & websites

What are some common What are some common information patterns in information patterns in

non-fiction?non-fiction? Problem/solution Problem/solution

– (can we find a way to replace oil as an (can we find a way to replace oil as an energy source?)energy source?)

What are some common What are some common information patterns in information patterns in

non-fiction?non-fiction? Cause/effect Cause/effect

– (how does pollution contribute to global (how does pollution contribute to global warming?)warming?)

What are some common What are some common information patterns in information patterns in

non-fiction?non-fiction? Compare/contrast Compare/contrast

– (how are an inclined plane and a screw (how are an inclined plane and a screw alike and how are they different?)alike and how are they different?)

What are some common What are some common information patterns in information patterns in

non-fiction?non-fiction? Question/answer Question/answer

– (like a FAQ on a website – tries to (like a FAQ on a website – tries to predict common questions and gives predict common questions and gives answers)answers)

What are some common What are some common information patterns in information patterns in

non-fiction?non-fiction? Sequence of events in time order Sequence of events in time order

– (a timeline showing important (a timeline showing important inventions developed over the years, inventions developed over the years, starting with simple machines and going starting with simple machines and going forward in time)forward in time)

What are some common What are some common information patterns in information patterns in

non-fiction?non-fiction? Description, definition, or list Description, definition, or list

– (here are the simple machines…)(here are the simple machines…)

How is the Non-Fiction How is the Non-Fiction Section of the LMTC Section of the LMTC

Arranged?Arranged? Non-fiction books are arranged by Non-fiction books are arranged by

subjectsubject Dewey Decimal is a numbering system Dewey Decimal is a numbering system

where different numbers mean where different numbers mean different subjectsdifferent subjects

Helps you find books with the same Helps you find books with the same subject, which is a common need for subject, which is a common need for research projectsresearch projects

Non-Fiction Call NumbersNon-Fiction Call Numbers

Non-fiction call Non-fiction call numbers start numbers start with a number with a number that represents that represents the subjectthe subject

Next line has Next line has letters that letters that usually (but not usually (but not always!) refer to always!) refer to the authorthe author

598598

SMISMI(a book about birds by (a book about birds by

an author named Smith)an author named Smith)

940.54940.54

JONJON(a book about WWII by (a book about WWII by

an author named Jones)an author named Jones)

Non-Fiction Call NumbersNon-Fiction Call Numbers To arrange, start with the numbers, To arrange, start with the numbers,

arrange low to higharrange low to high Think of them as “dollars & cents”Think of them as “dollars & cents” If two numbers are exactly the same, then If two numbers are exactly the same, then

use the letters to arrangeuse the letters to arrange

389.389.22

SMISMI

398.398.2 2

SAMSAM

938.938.2 2

SAMSAM389.389.

22

SMISMI

398.398.2 2

SAMSAM

938.938.2 2

SAMSAM

Non-Fiction Lists on Non-Fiction Lists on DestinyDestiny

If you’re looking for an interesting non-If you’re looking for an interesting non-fiction read for a book report, check fiction read for a book report, check out the Non-Fiction for Book Projects out the Non-Fiction for Book Projects visual search category in Destinyvisual search category in Destiny

How Can You Improve Your How Can You Improve Your Non-Fiction Reading Skills?Non-Fiction Reading Skills?

Read more non-fiction!Read more non-fiction!

We have lots of fun and We have lots of fun and interesting non-fiction interesting non-fiction on all sorts of topics!on all sorts of topics!

Bibliography Format for Bibliography Format for BooksBooks

Author name if given.  Author name if given.  TitleTitle.  .  Place: Publisher, Year of Place: Publisher, Year of publication. Medium.publication. Medium.

Lemann, Nicholas.  Lemann, Nicholas.  The Promised The Promised Land, the Great Black Migration Land, the Great Black Migration and How It Changed Americaand How It Changed America. . New York:  Knopf, 1991.New York:  Knopf, 1991. Print.Print.

Bibliography Format for Bibliography Format for Encyclopedia ArticlesEncyclopedia Articles

Author if given.  "Title of article."  Author if given.  "Title of article."  Title of EncyclopediaTitle of Encyclopedia.  Year. .  Year. Medium.Medium.

Temperley, Nicholas.  "Johann Temperley, Nicholas.  "Johann Sebastian Bach."  Sebastian Bach."  World Book World Book EncyclopediaEncyclopedia.  1993. Print..  1993. Print.

““Space Exploration."  Space Exploration."  Encyclopedia Encyclopedia BritannicaBritannica.  1998. Print..  1998. Print.