Non-fiction: Difference between revisions
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'''Non-fiction''' or '''nonfiction''' is an account, [[narrative]], or representation of a subject which is understood as [[fact]]. This presentation may be accurate or not; that is, it can give either a true or a false account of the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition. Note that reporting the beliefs of others in a non-fiction format is not necessarily an endorsement of the ultimate veracity of those beliefs, it is simply saying it is true that people believe them (for such topics as [[mythology]], [[religion]]). Non-fiction can also be written about [[fiction]], giving information about these other works. |
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Non-fiction is one of the two main divisions in writing, particularly used in [[libraries]], the other being fiction. However, non-fiction need not be written text necessarily, since [[picture]]s and [[film]] can also purport to present a factual account of a subject. |
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==Major types of non-fiction== |
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[[Essay]]s, journals, [[documentary film|documentaries]], [[histories]], [[scientific paper]]s, [[photograph]]s, [[biography|biographies]], [[textbook]]s, [[travel books]], [[blueprint]]s, [[Technical writer|technical documentation, user manuals]], [[diagram]]s and some [[journalism]] are all common examples of non-fiction works, and including information that the author knows to be untrue within any of these works is usually regarded as dishonest. Other works can legitimately be either fiction or non-fiction, such as journals of self-expression, [[Letter (message)|letter]]s, [[magazine]] articles, and other expressions of imagination. Although they are mostly either one or the other it is possible for there to be a blend of both. Some fiction may include non-fictional elements. Some non-fiction may include elements of unverified [[supposition]], [[Deductive reasoning|deduction]], or [[imagination]] for the purpose of smoothing out a [[narrative]], but the inclusion of open falsehoods would discredit it as a work of non-fiction. |
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==Distinctions== |
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The numerous [[literary]] and creative devices used within fiction are generally thought inappropriate for use in non-fiction. They are still present particularly in older works but they are often muted so as not to overshadow the information within the work. Simplicity, clarity and directness are some of the most important considerations when producing non-fiction. Audience is important in any artistic or descriptive endeavour but it is perhaps most important in non-fiction. In fiction, the writer believes that readers will make an effort to follow and interpret an indirectly or abstractly presented progression of theme, whereas the production of non-fiction has more to do with the direct provision of information. Understanding of the potential readers' use for the work and their existing knowledge of a subject are both fundamental for effective non-fiction. Despite the truth of non-fiction it is often necessary to persuade the reader to agree with the ideas and so a balanced, coherent and informed argument is also vital. [[Mark Twain]] said, paraphrased: "The difference between fiction and nonfiction is that fiction must be absolutely believable." |
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Semi-fiction is fiction implementing a great deal of non-fiction,<ref>[http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=981296 The Role of Narrative Fiction and Semi-Fiction in Organizational Studies] G. Whiteman. N. Phillips. 13 2006, 12</ref> e.g. a fictional descriptions [[based on a true story]]. |
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==History== |
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[[Cave painting]]s, from 32,000 years ago, are one of the oldest forms of human expression and could be either a record of what prehistoric man caught on hunting trips, i.e. '''non-fiction''', or alternately a story expressing what they would like to catch on future occasions, i.e. '''fiction'''. If cave art is ambiguous on this matter then [[Cuneiform script|cuneiform]] inscriptions which hold the earliest writings seem to have been initially for non-fiction. |
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Much of the non-fiction produced throughout history is of a mundane and everyday variety such as records and legal documents which were only ever seen by a few and are of little interest except to the historian. The non-fiction that transcends its original time tends to be viewed as either exceptionally well made or perfectly embodying the ideas, manners and attitudes of the time it was produced, even if it was not actually created as history. |
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At any one time in history there is the body of non-fiction work which represents the currently accepted truths of the period. Although these non-fiction works may be contradictory they form a [[wiktionary:Corpus|corpus]] that is regularly being altered with better explanations of ideas or with new facts. A good example of this are the non-fiction scientific books and papers which explain the science of the day but are then superseded by better representations. Textbooks for explaining and teaching the current state of scientific and historical knowledge are regularly updated and manuals for operating new technology are also produced. |
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==Specific types of non-fiction== |
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{{col-2}} |
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*[[Almanac]] |
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*[[Autobiography]] |
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*[[Biography]] |
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*[[Blueprint]] |
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*[[Book report]] |
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*[[Creative nonfiction]] |
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*[[Design document]] |
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*[[Diagram]] |
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*[[Diary]] |
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*[[Dictionary]] |
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*[[Nonfiction films]] (e.g. [[documentaries]]) |
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*[[Encyclopedia]] |
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*[[Essay]] |
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*[[User guide|Guides and manuals]] |
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*[[Handbook]] |
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*[[History]] |
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{{col-break}} |
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{{col-2}} |
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*[[Journal (disambiguation)]] |
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*[[Journalism]] |
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*[[Letter (message)|Letter]] |
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*[[Literary criticism]] |
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*[[Memoir]] |
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*[[Natural history]] |
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*[[Philosophy]] |
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*[[Photograph]] |
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*[[Research paper]] |
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*[[Science book]] |
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*[[Scientific paper]] |
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*[[Statute]] |
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*[[Textbook]] |
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*[[Travel literature|Travelogue]] |
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==See also== |
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* [[Fiction]] |
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*[[Documentary practice]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/whatiscnf.htm What is Creative Non-fiction] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Non-Fiction}} |
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{{commonscat|Non-fiction}} |
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[[Category:Literary genres]] |
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[[Category:Non-fiction| ]] |
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[[Category:Genres]] |
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[[bar:Sochbuach]] |
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[[ca:No-ficció]] |
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[[ceb:Di piksiyon]] |
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[[cs:Literatura faktu]] |
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[[da:Faglitteratur]] |
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[[de:Sachbuch]] |
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[[eo:Nefikcio]] |
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[[ko:논픽션]] |
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[[hu:Ismeretterjesztő irodalom]] |
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[[nl:Non-fictie]] |
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[[ja:ノンフィクション]] |
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[[no:Sakprosa]] |
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[[pl:Literatura faktu]] |
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[[pt:Não ficção]] |
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[[ru:Документальная проза]] |
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[[simple:Non-fiction]] |
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[[sk:Literatúra faktu]] |
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[[fi:Tietokirjallisuus]] |
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[[sv:Facklitteratur]] |
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[[th:สารคดี]] |
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[[tr:Kurgusal olmayan]] |
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Revision as of 20:10, 16 May 2011
I am the reaper of souls.
And I have deleted this page!