Features of Two Genres

What are we learning today?

You will learn the typical features of a biography and of a novel. You will see them in layout, tense and punctuation.

Explanation

• A biography is non-fiction. The title is the name. The dates are in brackets: (1819-1880).
• It uses the past simple: grew up, left, moved. It uses time words like "ten years later".
• A novel is fiction. Direct speech is in quotation marks. Each new speaker starts on a new line.
• A novel uses speech verbs such as said, whispered and exclaimed.
• It also has sound words like "Snip!" and it shows feelings.

Examples

1. She was born in 1819.
2. "What are they for?" said Tom.
3. Snip! went the scissors again.

Remember!

• Biography: dates and the past simple.
• Novel: quotation marks, speech verbs and feelings.

Check yourself

1. Which tense is typical for a biography?
2. How do we mark direct speech?
3. Is "Snip!" typical for a novel or a biography?