elements of nonfiction

Chapter 3 The Elements of Nonfiction Prose 51 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Introduction In this chapter, you will continue your study of nonfiction prose. Now that you have an understanding of the genre, we would like for you to explore various literary elements that are found in this type of prose. You will then be asked to write an analysis of the full-length text that you began reading in Chapter Two. You will need to take and successfully pass the quiz on your particular text by following your instructor’s directions before beginning this chapter. Passing this quiz will insure that you are ready to write your analysis. You will also continue your work with the research process. Activities to complete: 1. Take the quiz for the full-length text that you read. 2. Read the information about common elements of nonfiction prose and take the quiz to identify those specific elements. 3. Answer the questions about the use of elements of nonfiction prose in your full-length text. 4. Compose an acceptable essay that discusses one or more elements of nonfiction prose in the fulllength text you chose to read in Chapter Two. Use correct MLA format and include a Works Cited page. 5. Complete steps 3 through 5 for the research portfolio. Objectives On completion of this chapter, you will be able to • Correctly name the defined element of nonfiction prose, or correctly match an element to its definition • Correctly describe how the authors used selected elements of nonfiction prose • Analyze a full-length text and identify in an essay the elements of nonfiction prose used by the author • Support the main points of your essay using quotes and paraphrases from the source text • Correctly format the essay and document sources using MLA style guidelines • Locate sources relevant to your research topic using the library and Internet • Narrow the focus of your research using resources from the library and Internet • Compile a properly documented bibliography for your research notebook following the MLA style guidelines 52 Unit 1: WhAt Are the elements of nonfiction Prose? Assignment Checklist What you should do: Read the introduction and objectives. Complete the warm-up activity, Help! Complete the Elements of Nonfiction Prose concept map while you read the section on literary nonfiction. Complete the practice exercises related to literary nonfiction. View the Learn from the Writer interview with Joy Harjo and Carolyn Forché and complete the interview assignment. Complete the active reading exercise. Read the summary. Other assignments: Where? When? Notes: 53 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Introduction In this chapter, you will be introduced to the elements of nonfiction prose. You will learn that analyzing these various elements can help give you a clearer understanding of the author’s style just as analyzing various elements of particular musical pieces helps you to understand a musician’s style. You will discover that this chapter will build upon the information in chapter two. Now that you have a clear understanding of the types of nonfiction prose, you will examine the various characteristics that make each prose piece distinct from others. Just as Jason will have to distinguish the genres of music to help him write an accurate introduction for Skinny Jackson, you will learn to distinguish various elements of nonfiction prose. After reading about the elements of nonfiction prose, you will have a chance to test your knowledge by taking a quiz on the subject. You may take this quiz until you achieve proficiency in this area. You will also be given a chance to reflect upon your knowledge by answering questions about selected nonfiction passages and posting those answers to the discussion board. Objectives After you complete this unit, you should be able to • Correctly name the defined element of nonfiction prose, or correctly match an element to its definition on a quiz • Correctly describe how the authors used selected elements of nonfiction prose in a given set of readings Warm-Up Activity: “help!” Complete the warm-up activity for this chapter by viewing “Help!” on your CD or online, then participating in the discussion activity. 54 ELEMENtS of NoNfICtIoN ProSE CoNCEPt MAP • Literary nonfiction presents a _______ or _______________. • _______ is the author’s statement. • _______ is the primary subject matter. • Characters may be either _______ or ______, _________ or __________. • Character who dominates the story is the _________ character. • __________ contributes to how we relate to the characters. Ways to determine the theme: • Check out the ________. • Notice repeating ________ and _______. • observe what _________ are made. • Examine the _______. Theme, and Point , • _______ consists of place and time. • Events presented in the order in which they occurred are _____________. • The _______________ approach focuses on past events that led to the present situation. characters and six elements of literary nonfiction and time sequences • The “_________” for the things that happen in the story. • Contains the information needed to understand the story: ___________________ • Catalyst that begins the major conflict: ___________________ • The story’s turning point: ____________________ • Set of events that brings the story to a close: ____________________ Plot style Point of • Writer’s choice of words: ___________________ • • Length and type of sentences used: _________________ • Include description, reflection, dialogue, and action: ________________ • Point of view lets the author tell the reader ______ is telling the story and _____ the story is told. • Writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story’s action and dialogue: __________________________________ • Narrator is the “I” of the story: ________________________________ • Narrator does not participate in the action, but tells how the characters feel from what seems like an outside voice: _______________________________ 55 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose review: What is Literary Nonfiction? In Chapter 2, you learned that literary nonfiction is a broad genre that addressed varied subject matter. You also identified five major genres: nature and travel writing, biographies, memoirs, investigative journalism, and the nonfiction novel. You also discovered that all literary nonfiction possesses three characteristics that distinguish it from other genres. If you cannot at this point identify those three characteristics, you should go back to Chapter 2 and review the Introduction to Unit 1. Now that you know the five major genres of literary nonfiction as well as the three characteristics present in all nonfiction genres, you will learn the elements or three components of the style the author uses in writing the specific piece of literary nonfiction. Simply put, style is the manner in which the work is written. Style is comprised of word choice (diction), length and type of sentences (syntax) and use of description, reflection, dialogue and action (narrative modes). At this point, it would be well to discuss theme and what it is. Many students confuse theme with style. Remember, style has to do solely with the way an author writes, whereas theme is what the author actually says or implies about the subject. Generally, the author will use the theme to comment on the human condition. So remember, theme is the author’s intent or viewpoint whereas style is the manner in which he or she presents the theme. This Chapter will introduce you to the elements of style in literary nonfiction. What is literary nonfiction? Literary nonfiction is a genre often “packaged” under several names: creative nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, literary journalism, imaginative nonfiction, lyric essay, personal essay, personal narrative, and literary memoir. In a broad sense, it is memory- or fact-based writing that makes use of the styles and elements of fiction, poetry, memoir, and essay. It is a form of writing about a world that encompasses the author’s life and/or the author’s individual perspective on that world. Creative nonfiction may include various subgenres, such as memoir, personal essay, meditations, literary journalism, nature writing, urban writing, travel writing, journals, diaries, letters, cultural commentary, autobiography, and biography. What links all these forms together under the large umbrella of “literary or creative nonfiction” is the literary vision of the author. When reading literary nonfiction, we must read both as doubters and believers. What is the literary vision of the author of literary or creative nonfiction? Either explicitly or implicitly, the author is in the work. Whether it is a memoir, commentary, travel piece, or essay, the author enters into the work through his or her interaction with the space or place in which he resides. His or her work is a report from the world, and the world is that of the author, be it a public or a personal world. Whether the style is straightforward like a newspaper feature, a narrative like a biography, or metaphorical like a nature poem, the author enters into the work and we, as readers, must keep in mind that the perspective we are viewing is solely that of the author, and therefore may or may not be totally realistic or even reliable. Therefore… 56 how do you determine the theme, focus, and point of literary nonfiction? Like its fiction cousin, literary nonfiction will present a theme or central focus. This is simply the principle statement or implication of the piece. Sometimes theme is confused with focus. Whereas theme is the author’s statement, focus is the primary subject matter. For example, the theme or central focus of Walden by Henry David Thoreau is resurrection or the ability of each one of us to change our priorities and start life anew, while the focus is on nature and the woods. Theme is what the author says or implies about the subject, and how the author views the human condition. Often, however, the theme may not be obvious and the reader must “dig” to discover what it is. Here are some ways in which to determine the theme of a piece of literary nonfiction. • Check out the title – it sometimes tells a lot • Notice repeating patterns and symbols – sometimes these lead you to the theme • What allusions are made throughout the story? • What are the details and particulars? What greater meaning may they have? Theme, plot, and structure are inseparable – all help to inform and reflect back on each other. how are scenes and time sequences handled in literary nonfiction? Just as in fiction, setting in literary nonfiction is composed of place and time. However, setting in nonfiction can often be less distinct, particularly in an essay or opinion piece where the emphasis is more on ideas and thoughts rather than on particular events or places. On the other hand, in a travelogue or essay that relies on a sense of place, scenes, and time, sequences are of major importance. Here setting may be composed of not only description, but also action and time sequence as well. “Every story would be another story, and unrecognizable if it took up its characters and plot and happened somewhere else . . . Literary fiction and nonfiction depends for its life on place. Place is the crossroads of circumstance, the proving ground of, What happened? Who’s here? Who’s coming?” – Eudora Welty Scenes are not always units of action. Very often, scenes can be composed of purely action, and they may take the form of reflection. Scenes in personal experience pieces, or memoirs, are usually based on events, and therefore they are as distinct as those found in fiction. Time sequences may be presented either chronologically or nonchronologically. Generally, if a writer is describing a series of events that he or she has experienced, the writer presents these events chronologically, or in the order in which they occurred. Time sequences in a biography, travelogue, or memoir are generally presented chronologically. Presenting ideas chronologically has the advantage of providing clarity. Sometimes, however, the chronological approach may seem like a case history. In order to add interest to the piece of nonfiction writing, the writer may choose to start with the present and then reflect upon past events that led to the present situation. This type of nonchronological approach is often used in personal opinion essays where the writer begins with a description of a current situation or event and then goes back in time to demonstrate how the present has been constructed because of past situations and happenings. This is called a flashback and the present is called base time. The technique of starting and closing in base time, while the body of the writing is composed of flashbacks, is what is known in fiction as a frame story. 57 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose What are the elements of style in literary nonfiction? Style in fiction or nonfiction is the manner in which the work is written. Word choice (diction), length and type of sentences (syntax) and use of description, reflection, dialogue and action (narrative modes) all work together to present a certain style or overall effect to the reader. The words a writer chooses, the diction, carry certain overtones. Therefore, a writer chooses words carefully to present a certain overtone or level of diction. Let’s look at the following three sentences, which say the same thing, but in strikingly different ways. • The music of Johnny Cash has found an enduring niche in the annals of American country culture because of the multi-faceted manner in which it portrays blue collar cultural icons. • The music of Johnny Cash has become a part of the American country scene because it shows many different sides of working class life. • Johnny Cash’s music is really big in the country music scene because it talks about working stiffs and their probs. The first sentence employs a formal style, which may seem a bit stiff. The second sentence presents a less formal or neutral style and may be appropriate for most forms of nonfiction. The third sentence, because of its slang, presents an informal style, which may not be appropriate for an essay or newspaper article, but it might work very well in dialogue. Thus, diction is a major factor in determining the level of usage, formal, informal, or neutral. It is important to remember that “literary” does not mean elegant or formal; it means the level of usage that is appropriate for the particular piece of writing. Plot: Just as in literary fiction, plot is a crucial element in many genres of literary nonfiction. Plot is the author’s arrangement of incidents in a personal narrative, memoir, or experience essay. It is a causal sequence of event – the “why for the things that happen in the story. The plot serves to draw the reader into the lives of the characters, and it helps the reader understand the choices that the characters make. These events can be presented in a variety of ways. Generally, they are presented in a chronological arrangement, i.e. what happens first, then second, and so on until the last incident is related. However, sometimes the author will choose other methods in developing the plot. In media res literally means “in the middle of things.” In this type of presentation of events, the author may begin unfolding the plot by starting in the middle of the action. The reader enters the story on the verge of some important event. Generally, with this form of plot development, the author will also utilize a form of plot development called the flashback. Here the author informs us of events that happened before the opening scene. Whatever the form, the plot contains four major parts or sections. The first section - exposition – contains the information needed to understand the story. After the author presents this basic information, he or she will introduce a complication, the catalyst that begins the major conflict. The turning point in the story that occurs when the characters try to resolve the complication is the climax, which is quickly followed by the resolution, the set of events that bring the story to a close. Point of View: Various narrative modes may be utilized in revealing the elements of plot to the reader. The point of view the author utilizes informs the reader who is telling the story and how it is told. The tone and feel of the story, and even its meaning, can change radically depending upon who is telling the story. Consider the following story. Think about how different the various points of view might be. 58 An automobile accident occurs. Two drivers are involved. Witnesses include four sidewalk spectators, a policeman, a man with a video camera who happened to be shooting the scene, and the pilot of a helicopter that was flying overhead. How many different points of view could there be? Which is the most reliable? Which is the least reliable? Just as the author may use various forms of plot development, so too may he or she adopt various points of view. With the Objective Point of View, the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story’s action and dialogue. The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think, feel or desire; the narrator is a detached observer. When an author adopts the third person point of view, the narrator does not participate in the action of the story. We learn exactly how the characters feel from what seems like an outside voice. Generally, the word “omniscient” means all-knowing, and the third person narrator generally knows everything, but with certain small distinctions. Omniscient point of view takes us inside the character; whereas with limited omniscient narration, the narrator takes us inside the mind or minds of one or two characters. The editorial omniscience point of view narrator evaluates the character for the reader, while the neutral omniscience narrator allows the character’s actions and thoughts to speak for themselves The first person point of view gives the piece of writing a very personal and confidential tone; however, this point of view has it drawbacks. The narrator participates in the action of the story and is the “I” of the story. But, what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth because all opinions, thoughts, actions, and expressions are filtered through the narrator’s perspective. As readers, we need to learn to question the truthfulness or trustworthiness of what is being revealed. We need to read first person narration with the question in mind, “How trustworthy is this narrator?” first person narration requires readers to read critically and precisely. A variation on the first person narration point of view is stream of consciousness. Here, the author takes the reader inside the character’s mind to reveal his or her perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. The reader views firsthand the flow of thought as well as content. Very often complete sentences can give way to fragments. With the objective point of view, the narrator reports action and dialogue without telling the reader directly what the character thinks or feels. The narrator maintains a very detached and impersonal perspective. As you read, you should think about the following: • How does the point of view affect your responses to the characters? • How is your response influenced by how much the narrator knows and how objective he or she is? • Does this narrator seem trustworthy? Why or why not? Characters and Characterization: Very often, it is the portrayal of the characters or persona in a piece of nonfiction writing that make it the most interesting and memorable. Characters may be either major or minor, static (unchanging), or dynamic (changing). The character who dominates the story is the major character, but remember, major characters do not have to be dynamic. As readers, we learn about characters in several ways. The most common methods writers utilize to make characters come to life and jump off the page are through physical traits, dialogue, actions, attire, opinions, and point of view. Emotion, both the characters’ and ours, contribute significantly to how we relate to the characters presented in literary nonfiction. “Blessed are all the emotions be they dark or bright.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne. 59 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Practice Activities: matching Now that you have read about the elements of nonfiction prose, go to your CD or online and complete the practice activities to check your understanding of the elements. Author Interviews: Harjo and Forché introduction to Joy harjo, author of The Influence of the Landscape and Light on Writing and the Imagination in the American Southwest Book Rags has described Joy Harjo’s writing as a way in which “to hear the voice of the earth, to see the landscape of time and timelessness, and, most important, to get a glimpse of people who struggle to understand, to know themselves, and to survive.” In this provocative interview, Harjo speaks of how one’s landscape, one’s sense of place, holds the keys to understanding the complex nature of twentiethcentury American life. introduction to carolyn forché, author of The Landscape and History of a Sense of Place in El Salvador Carolyn Forché is well-known as a poet--winner of the Yale Younger Poets Prize, the Lamont Prize, and the L.A. Times Book Award, among other honors. Forché has also made an international reputation as an essayist, tackling difficult political and social subjects, including the U.S. intervention in El Salvador and human rights abuses around the world. In this interview, she discusses the manner in which a sense of place and history is an integral part of creative nonfiction. Interview assignment Read “The Elements of Literary Nonfiction Writing” and view the interviews of Harjo and Forché. In one page, summarize the main points of the interviews and discuss how you might use time and place in a memoir of your own life. Consider these questions: What was the significance of the time? How would you describe the place? What other people did this event involve? Submit this assignment following your instructor’s directions. active reading exercise In the content of this unit, you have read that, either explicitly or implicitly, the author of nonfiction prose is in the work. Whether it is a memoir, commentary, travel piece, or essay, the author enters into the work through his or her interaction with the space or place in which he resides. His or her work is a report from the world, and the world is that of the author, be it a public or a personal world. Whether the style is straightforward like a newspaper feature, a narrative like a biography, or metaphorical like a nature poem, the author enters into the work, and we, as readers, must keep in mind that the perspective we are viewing is solely that of the author, and therefore may or may not be totally realistic or even reliable. 60 The text also says that the following five elements help us to understand the author’s viewpoint and purpose: • Scenes and time sequences • Style • Plot • Point of View • Characterization Directions: Submit the answers to these questions according to your instructor’s directions. refer to the full-length text you have read when answering the questions. 1. In a well developed paragraph, discuss how the author of your full-length text effectively used setting to engage your interest in the topic of the essay. Use specific quotes to support your point. 2. How does the author use dialogue or style to help you, the reader, understand the main character? Summary In this unit, you have begun a deeper probing into the genre of nonfiction prose. Through reading lecture notes, listening to a published author, and discussing the elements of short pieces of fiction with other students, you have begun to see that the elements of a piece of nonfiction work give that piece its particular tone and identity. You should now be ready to write a critical analysis of the full-length text that you have been reading this semester. Carefully read the guidelines and explanation of the critical analysis in the next unit before writing your first draft of the analysis. 61 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Unit 2: Writing the criticAl AnAlysis Assignment Checklist What you should do: Read the introduction and objectives. Read the assignment for your essay, paying particular attention to the guidelines. Review the model essay. Complete the Planning and Guidelines worksheet. Write the rough draft of your essay and submit it to your instructor as directed. Complete a peer evaluation worksheet for a fellow student’s paper. Revise and submit your essay for evaluation. Read the summary. Other assignments: Where? When? Notes: 62 Introduction In this chapter, you have been introduced to the elements of nonfiction prose. In this unit, you will be asked to demonstrate your ability to use this knowledge by writing an acceptable essay which discusses the full-length text that you have read this semester. You should use quotes and paraphrases to support the main points and correctly use MLA style. Objectives After you complete this unit, you should be able to • Analyze a full-length text and identify the elements of nonfiction prose used by the author in an essay • Support the main points of your essay using quotes and paraphrases from the source text • Correctly format the essay and document sources using MLA style guidelines Critical essay assignment In the content of this unit, you have read that either explicitly or implicitly, the author of nonfiction prose is in the work. Whether it is a memoir, commentary, travel piece, or essay, the author enters into the work through his or her interaction with the space or place in which he resides. His or her work is a report from the world, and the world is that of the author, be it a public or a personal world. Whether the style is straightforward like a newspaper feature, a narrative like a biography, or metaphorical like a nature poem, the author enters into the work, and we, as readers, must keep in mind that the perspective we are viewing is solely that of the author, and therefore may or may not be totally realistic or even reliable. The text also says that the following five elements help us to understand the author’s viewpoint and purpose: • time and time Sequences • Style • Plot • Point of View • Characterization 63 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Your assignment: You have read a full-length nonfiction prose text during this course. You now need to write a 750-word essay that discusses one or more elements of the text. Your paper must be typed and double spaced. example: Perhaps you feel that characterization is one key element in the text you have selected. You should identify that element. Now, you should explain why the characterization in the text is important. You might want to imagine how the selection would be different without the particular element or elements you chose to discuss. Remember: You must discuss the use of one or more elements in the text you have read during this course. guidelines and format: Follow these precise guidelines. These guidelines will help you include those elements that a formally written academic essay should possess. first Paragraph/introduction: In your first paragraph, identify the title of the text and the full name of the author that will be the subject of your essay. All references to an author, after the initial one, may be made by using only his or her last name. Your opening paragraph must provide a broad and concise synopsis of any article, essay, or book that you will be mentioning in your essay. Remember, you must assume that your reader is unfamiliar with the reading assignment. Finally, your opening paragraph must include a clearly defined thesis statement. Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph of your essay should focus on one nonfiction form. Each body paragraph must also utilize correctly cited quotations from the book that support your observations and opinions. You must work towards combining summary and analysis into each body paragraph. Finally, if you mention a secondary character or related plot that is not explained in the summary you provided in the opening paragraph, this character or plot point should be explained. closing Paragraph/conclusion: Your closing paragraph should restate the main ideas you have discussed in your essay, but a great conclusion should include something fresh, something that offers resonance. 64 Use the Practice Planning Sheet to help you create your draft. other considerations: • Your essay must be written in the present tense and not include the word “I” • Your essay must follow MLA format and include a Works Cited page (refer back to the MLA presentation in Chapter 2 as a resource) critical Analysis model Paper You will find an example of a critical analysis on your course CD. 65 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose planning and Guidelines Worksheet Directions: Before beginning your essay, fill out this planning sheet and submit it following your instructor’s directions. 1. For this assignment, your opening paragraph should include the first and last name of the author and title of the full-length text that you are analyzing. Write the title and author’s name. Remember, on second and subsequent reference to the author, you will only use his or her last name. 2. List the element or elements you have chosen to discuss in your essay. 3. State your thesis statement or controlling viewpoint about your book. 4. List the order in which you intend to discuss the element(s) in your paper. These will be the topics for your body paragraphs. 5. List three examples from the book that you will use in your paper. 66 peer evaluation Worksheet Directions: Use this form to complete your review of another student’s writing. Submit the Peer Evaluation Activity as requested by your instructor. title of Paper: Author: 1. Does the writer’s introduction give the following information: a. The element or elements discussed__________________ b. The source names_________________ 2. Write the paper’s thesis: 3. List five signals or transitions (however, although, first, in addition) the writer uses. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 4. Write one quote from each author that the writer uses. 5. Write one paraphrase from each author that the writer uses. 6. In the final paragraph, does the writer provide us with an evaluation of the elements used in the sources? What was that evaluation? 7. If this were your paper, what would you do to the paper before turning it in for a grade? 67 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Summary In this unit, you have had a chance to delve deep into the text that you chose to read during this course. Choosing to analyze the elements of this text should have given you a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the careful choice authors make when writing nonfiction prose. In the final unit of this chapter, you will continue your research project as you become familiar with the various sources available to the modern researcher. Completing the worksheets should help you to narrow the topic for your research project and arrive at a sharp focus for your research paper. 68 Unit 3: the reseArch Portfolio Assignment Checklist What you should do: Read the introduction and objectives. Complete Step Three: Gathering Information for the Research Portfolio and submit according to your instructor’s directions. Complete Step four: Using Books as Sources for the research Portfolio and submit according to your instructor’s directions. Complete Step five: Narrowing Your Resources for the Research Portfolio and submit according to your instructor’s directions. Respond to the graded summary question. Read the summary. Other assignments: Where? When? Notes: 69 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Introduction You began your research project in Chapter Two by becoming familiar with some of our library sources and by choosing a broad topic. You will continue to work on the portfolio in this Chapter by completing Worksheets 3, 4, and 5 While filling out the worksheets, you should become proficient in accessing our library’s online catalogue for book, magazine, and newspaper articles. You should narrow the focus of your research while completing these worksheets and also learn to determine the reliability of your sources. Objectives After you complete this unit, you will be able to • Locate sources relevant to your research topic using the library and Internet • Narrow the focus of your research when given a list of resources from the library and Internet • Compile a properly documented bibliography for your research notebook following the MLA style guidelines 70 Step three: Gathering General Information 1. Visit the virtual library and access the Encyclopedia Britannica in the electronic databases. List general subject headings which might have information about the issue you have chosen to research. For instance, if you were interested in the effect of obesity on America, you might look up nutrition or health. 2. find an article listed under one of your topics in Step two: Locating resources related to Your Topic and give the title of the article and a piece of information you learned from reading the article. 3. Find aWebsite for one of the subject headings you listed in item 1 on this worksheet. Give the Website’s name, last date updated (if given), and the UrL. List a piece of information you learned from reading the Website. If you have trouble accessing the suggested Websites, contact your instructor or your online library help desk. 71 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose Step Four: Using Books as Sources In this step in the process, you continue to gather resources related to the topic of your research paper. 1. return to the Virtual Library in the online Student Survival Kit and access LINCC (this is the catalog of books available to fCCJ students; other students should use their library’s resources). Give the bibliographical information for a book on your topic in the space provided. This can be an online book or a “real” book. For help with writing the bibliographical information in the correct form, visit the MLA Website at www.mla.org . 2. What kind of information do you think you will find from this book? 72 Step Five: Narrowing Your resources 1. After you locate and cite some of the resources related to your topic, you will narrow your focus and the number of resources you will use in your paper. Typically, you would revisit the databases that you used in your first round of research. For example, at FCCJ, you might revisit the Virtual Library. Look for articles about the issue that you have chosen to research. These articles should be about a narrow topic which you will use for your research paper. For instance, if you had chosen education reform as a broad issue you might wish to research a particular reform such as home schooling or use of technology. List the bibliographical information for one of the articles below. Remember to give the author (if listed), title of the article, name of the magazine, date published, print pages, name of database, library, date accessed, and the URL of the database. 2. Read the information about using Websites. Find a Website that discusses your narrowed topic. Give the bibliographical information for that source. If you have questions about the form or information needed for this, contact your instructor or the online librarian. 3. You have now had the opportunity to read some information about your topic. Write five questions you would like to answer while writing your research paper. 73 Chapter 3: The Elements of Nonfiction Prose graded summary Question Complete the graded summary question activity for this chapter according to your instructor’s directions. Chapter Summary In this chapter, you have continued your study of nonfiction prose and now have an understanding of the various literary elements that are found in this type of prose. You have also continued your work with the research process. Upon completion of this chapter you should have • read the information about common elements of nonfiction prose and taken the quiz to identify those specific elements • read a series of essays and answered questions about how the authors used selected elements of nonfiction prose by posting your responses as well developed paragraphs to the discussion board • Composed an acceptable essay that discussed one or more elements of nonfiction prose in the readings from this course, using correct MLA format and including a Works Cited page • Completed steps 3 through 5 for the research portfolio • Constructed a working bibliography using correct MLA form 74