Creative Nonfiction – Grade 12 Lesson 4: Nonfictional Elements in

the Text
Quarter 1 – Week 4 Prepared by: Rodaline M. Guilas

NAME: _______________________________________________ YR & SEC.:___________________

Competency:
The learner should be able to analyze factual/nonfictional elements (Plot,
Characters, Characterization, Point of View, Angle, Setting and Atmosphere,
Symbols and Symbolisms, Irony, Figures of speech, Dialogue, Scene, other elements,
and Devices) in the Texts (HUMSS_CNF11/12-Ie-f-10) after finishing this module.

To the Learners:

Before starting on the lesson and exercises in the module, leave behind other tasks
that will distract you while enjoying the topic. Read the instructions below to effectively
guide you about the module. Have fun!

1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of this
module.
2. Writing enhances learning. Keep this in mind and take note of the important
concepts in your notebook.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Analyze the post-test and apply what you have learned.
5. Enjoy studying!

Expectations:

This module was designed to help you understands delineation between and creative
and the nonfictional elements of creative nonfictional text. After going through this module,
you are expected to:

1. Analyze factual and nonfictional elements in the text

2. Learn how to depict characters in an interesting and convincing manner;
3. Appreciate the importance of staging scenes in writing nonfiction; and
4. Discuss the different types of figurative language use in a text

1
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

Pre-
test
Choose and encircle the letter best described the correct answer.

1. The basic unit for constructing a story.

A. drama C. literary elements

B. fiction D. scene
2. A real character is like three-legged element in the story, what are they?

A. character, action, scene C. drama, scene, dialague

B. metaphor, simile, personification D. emotion, character, narrator
3. The following statement best described the scene, except __________________.
A. It make the article move from one point to the next.
B. Concrete and specific give the scene substance.
C. Person’s emotional situation offers a rich source of scene.
D. All of the above
4. A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that
one thing is another thing, even though this is not literally true.
A. Metaphor C. Simile
B. Personification D. Hyperbole
5. A surprising way to describe a literary moment.

A. literature C. plot
B. figurative language D. character
6. Grind the gentle spirit of our meek reviews into a powdery foam of salt abuse.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
7. Some days my thoughts are just cocoons hanging from dripping branches in the grey
woods of my mind.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
8. As in depths of many seas, my heart was drowned in memories.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
9. The body whispers to the heart pump blood into me.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
10. Diplomacy must be our shield of defense windward.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above

2 /rmg
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

Introduction
There are three main purposes of nonfiction. The first one is to inform the
readers; the second is to entertain them and the third one is to convince them of the truth
of what is written. The major idea of the nonfiction work must be presented in a way that
accomplishes all three purposes. The idea, or essentially, what the book is about, needs to
be stated at the beginning, and throughout the course of the book it needs to be expanded
and supported with details. The details are needed to explain the major idea, and to inform
the reader of everything there is to know about the given topic.

A nonfiction writer may borrow narrative elements from fiction when writing a
nonfiction book, even if the book focuses on cooking. The writer will present the information
(the first purpose of nonfiction) along with their personal experiences and explain how they
managed to learn the information that is represented in the book. This element focuses on
the second purpose of nonfiction – entertainment, and successfully combines all three
purposes. The writer presents the information, the narrative provides a story which is
entertaining, and the first person, or personal relation of previous experiences
is persuasive in nature, representing the third purpose of nonfiction – relaying the author’s
credibility and expertise on the subject through the tale of personal experience.

A nonfiction writer must never borrow too much from fiction – or start inventing in
order to create a more interesting story. The readers will pick up a nonfiction book primarily
because they want to learn something about a specific topic. Of course, providing
entertainment is important, but not at the cost of inventing. If you step away from the facts
and wander into fantasyland, you will lose credibility with your readers, which is highly
important for a nonfiction writer. On the other hand, sticking to the facts while providing
entertainment will ensure that your readers will follow you into your future books and be
interested in what you have to offer.

The Human Force in the Story

Because nonfiction deals with the lives of real people, the characters are already
created. As a creative nonfiction writer, it would be up to you to reveal these real people to
the readers in an imaginative way. This means using the characterization techniques of
fiction. Most of the time, we want to understand the person behind an act, to understand
the act itself. Why does she wear a blue dress? Why does he drink coffee? These are usual
questions about actions done by people that we want answer by understanding their
character.
Think about these people who portray same character of Panday. What is on your mind?

Picture a real character as a three-legged

element in your story:

Character

Action Scene

The personality, values, desires, motives of the character create the action
that happens in a particular place, thus creating a scene.

3 /rmg
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

The person’s emotional situation offers a rich source of characterization.

Physical objects also tell a lot about a person

Depicting the Story in Scenes

The scene depicts the writer’s encounter or experience of a particular event to the
readers. The scene is the space inside your literary mind, but do not make it so obvious to
the reader’s imagination. It is the basic unit for constructing a story. Writing a scene means
recreating the event and crafting it in a way that transports readers to a new or unexpected
realm of real life. As a creative nonfiction writer, your task is to show and tell. You are a
witness to an event, which means you must tell the facts about it and be imaginative
because you want reader’s interest to stay.
Scenes involve people in some actions
They talk (dialogue) as a way of supply facts or information – Facts arising
from dialogue
Readers get glimpse of something they might know about in the form of
private details. – Informational revealed from private details
It happens in place at particular time. – The Setting

The scene shows the summary tells.

Summary Methods
a. Descriptive Summary – gives the readers a general and heightened awareness of place
where the event happened.
Example: Typhoon, you can make it interesting by capturing the sound of wind, the rush of
water, the fearful cries of the people
You give the readers imagery, but no explanation of the wind or rain so strong that it
sways the trees.
It also can be done in two ways:
a.1: Informative Description – presents the facts by describing them. You aim for a
complete description.
Example: Describing the radar system of the weather bureau, how it works
a.2: Suggestive Description – the opposite of informative description. It evokes
sensory impression and relies on the reader’s imagination. It will not completely and
logically describe. It recommends, to create a feeling of wonder.
b. Explanatory Summary – report to the readers the sequence, logic and explanation of the
event when it happened.
Example: You tell about the time the typhoon made a landfall, the scale of typhoon strength
the number of areas and people affected, the day it is expected to leave the country.

Using Figurative Language

Even though reality stands before our very eyes, we cannot see it. Sometimes, we
cannot believe it. Sometimes, common words are not enough to describe such a reality.
If someone declares to you, “You are my sun, my moon, my universe.” He or she is using
figurative words. This person is trying to tell how extraordinary and special you are in away
that could not be accomplished by simply saying “You are extraordinary and special”.

Figurative language refers to language that uses words in ways that differ
from their literal interpretation to achieve a more complex or powerful effect.

Common Types of Figurative Language

4 /rmg
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

Metaphor is a figure of speech that claims two things are the same, taken literally, they are
not. It usually contains a
tenor – the intended meaning of the image
vehicle – the image that communicates the meaning.
It has three underlying elements:
A. the original image or object being described
B. the actual image or object used to described A
C. the similarity between A and B

Tenor Vehicle

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,

Vehicle Tenor

The curtain of night fell upon us

"The curtain of night fell upon us." In this metaphor, the evening did not develop into a
velvet curtain. Rather, simple words are being used to paint a colorful picture. Now, we
know it is nighttime, but it is been written in a manner that alludes to how quickly night
arrived with the kind of darkness that comes from closing a thick curtain.

Some examples of metaphor:

 Laughter is the best medicine
 I smell success in this building.
 Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. (The
Princess Bride)
 You sit on a throne of lies. (Elf)

Writing Metaphor

Overall, as a literary device, metaphor functions as a means of creating a direct comparison

between two seemingly different things. This is effective for readers in that metaphor can
create an association between two dissimilar entities or ideas that, as a result of the
metaphor, illuminate each other and deepen the meaning of both. Metaphor is an essential
figure of speech for writers of both poetry and prose.

Metaphors allow writers to create imagery for readers that is limited by description alone. In

other words, an effective metaphor eliminates the need for excessive explanation or
description on the part of the writer.

Simile is distinguished by the presence of one of two words: “like” and “as.” Metaphors
create direct comparisons without using either of these words.

A good example to distinguish between these two literary devices comes from the movie
adaptation of the novel Forrest Gump by Winston Groom. One of the movie’s themes is
based on a comparison between life and a box of chocolates. The main character, Forrest
Gump, quotes his mother: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re
going to get.” In this case, the comparison between life and a box of chocolates is a simile
due to the presence of the word like.

In a different scene, the audience hears Forrest’s mother say: “Life is a box of chocolates,

Forrest. You never know what you’re going to get.” This comparison is a metaphor due to
the absence of the word like (or as). Both quotes feature comparative figures of speech.
However, the uses of metaphor and simile create subtle differences in the meaning of
comparing life to a box of chocolates.

5 /rmg
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

Short Examples of Simile in a Sentence

1. The glow of the tube-light was as bright as the sunshine.

2. In winter, when it rained, he climbed into bed and felt as snug as a bug in a rug.
3. At exam time, the high school student was as busy as a bee.
4. The beggar on the road looked as blind as a bat.
5. When the examination finished, the candidate felt as light as a feather.

Using similes attracts attention and appeals directly to the senses of listeners or readers,
encouraging their imaginations to understand what is being communicated. 

Personification is a figure of speech in which an idea or thing is given human attributes

and/or feelings or is spoken of as if it were human. Personification is a common form
of metaphor in that human characteristics are attributed to nonhuman things.

It is particularly effective in making concrete and specific something abstract and

conceptual.

Take the concept of justice. We might say that is “blind and deaf”, if we are not happy with
the judgment on crimes committed against us. In this instance, we are personifying justice
as a blind and deaf person.

Nonfiction text, such as scientific writing, is based on facts. Scientific studies of animals
should not personify them because scientists are expected to be objective. That means they
should base judgments on fact, not opinions. We can only understand an animal and its
behavior if we are objective about it.

Activities
Activity 1.1 Character Building

In this activity, analyze in three sentences the kind of person Father is, and e the child who
narrates about the Father. The Father is fictional, but his personhood speaks about the
many characteristics and qualities of a real father. The child also speaks about usual traits
of a regular child.

Father (an excerpt) The character of Father

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

He never made a fortune, or a noise

In the world where men are seeking after fame;
But he had a healthy brood of girls and boys
Who loved the very ground on which he trod.
They thought him just a little short of God;
Oh you should have heard the way they said
his name-
‘Father.’ The character of child

There seemed to be a loving little prayer

In their voices, even when they called him
‘Dad’.
Though the man was never heard anywhere,
As a hero, yet you somehow understood
He was doing well his part and making good;
And you knew it, by the way his children had
of saying ‘Father.’

6 /rmg
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

Activity 1.2 Scene Staging

Using the techniques like selecting, sorting and rearranging facts and figurative language,
stage the scene for the following objects: Write a 300 word for each of the objects. Intimate
details will come from the power of your eyes-observe these objects. Awaken all the five
senses of the readers. Make them hear, touch or taste something. Write on the separate
sheet of papers.

1. (the priest, children and the trial)

Reference: https://bit.ly/3hmnf2Z

Remember

As a creative nonfiction writer, it would be up to you to reveal these

real people to the readers in an imaginative way
The personality, values, desires, motives of the character create the action that
happens in a particular place, thus creating a scene
Simile is distinguished by the presence of one of two words: “like” and “as.”
Metaphors create direct comparisons without using either of these words.

Check your
Understanding
Let us improve your understanding of showing and telling by going back to Activity 1.2
Scene Staging. Identify the scenic and summary methods you have used.

Scenic Method:
Action:

Facts arising from dialogues:

Information revealed from private details:

The Setting:

7 /rmg
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

Descriptive Summary

Explanatory Summary

Informative Description

Suggestive Description

Post-test

Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. A surprising way to describe a literary moment.

A. literature C. plot
B. figurative language D. character
2. Grind the gentle spirit of our meek reviews into a powdery foam of salt abuse.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
3. Some days my thoughts are just cocoons hanging from dripping branches in the grey
woods of my mind.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
4. As in depths of many seas, my heart was drowned in memories.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
5. The body whispers to the heart pump blood into me.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
6. Diplomacy must be our shield of defense windward.
A. Metaphor C. Personification
B. Simile D. None of the above
7. The basic unit for constructing a story.

A. drama C. literary elements

B. fiction D. scene
8. A real character is like three-legged element in the story, what are they?

A. character, action, scene C. drama, scene, dialague

B. metaphor, simile, personification D. emotion, character, narrator
9. The following statement best described the scene, except __________________.

8 /rmg
GRADE 12 CREATIVE NONFICTION_QUARTER 1_WEEK 4

A. It make the article move from one point to the next.

B. Concrete and specific give the scene substance.
C. Person’s emotional situation offers a rich source of scene.
D. All of the above
10. A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating
that one thing is another thing, even though this is not literally true.
A. Metaphor C. Simile
B. Personification D. Hyperbole

Reflective Learning Sheet No.1

Directions: Write a reflective learning about Literary Genre and Basic Facts About Fiction
by answering questions inside the box. You may express your answers in a more creative
presentation of your great learning. Have fun and enjoy!

Guide me to ponder on… What learnings I have What examples can I

found from this lesson? contribute to explore
more?

What learning can I What is my conclusion

What skills I have
share with my family on the lesson?
developed from this
and peer?
lesson?

References:

Perl, S. & Schwartz, M. (2006) Writing true: The art and craft of creative nonfiction.
Boston, New York: Houhgton Miffin Company

Israel, L. (2017) Creative Nonfiction. G. Araneta Avenue, Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc.

9 /rmg