All types of texts we'll explore in this course are either nonfiction or fiction. Imagine them as two big categories, like two giant libraries. One has stories based on fact and reality - that's nonfiction. The other library is filled with imaginary stories, ones not necessarily rooted in real events or people - that's fiction.

Example: Nonfiction would be like a biography of J.K. Rowling, telling us about her real life and experiences. Fiction would be like the "Harry Potter" series, a magical world she created, with characters and events that are purely imaginary.

Nonfiction is a huge category covering many types of texts, all sharing one common factor: they are based on facts. Think of it like a documentary film - it's about real people and real events. However, remember, factual doesn't mean it's entirely neutral or "correct". Even documentaries can present a particular perspective or bias.

Example: If two different authors write about global warming, their factual information might be the same, but one might highlight its threats (biased towards immediate action), while the other might downplay its impact (biased towards less intervention).

Nonfiction doesn't just present the facts like a list, it creates a portrait of these facts, aiming to make a certain impact. It's like a photograph that not only captures reality but also tells a story.

Just like fiction, nonfiction has elements like mood, tone, character, setting, and theme. This means we approach nonfiction with the same analytic tools as fiction, asking questions about the author's style, the work's purpose, and the relationship between its form and subject matter.

Example: In a biography of Martin Luther King Jr., the mood could be inspiring, the tone respectful, and the setting would be the various places where he led civil rights marches. The theme could be the fight for equality.