Literary genres

With a partner, or independently, brainstorm the titles of some stories you may have read, explored, or examined. Each story can be placed in a category called a genre. A genre refers to a story that is characterized by a certain form, style, and subject matter.

If you had to categorize the stories that you brainstormed, try to determine what genre each story may fit. Some examples are:

• science fiction
• fantasy
• realistic fiction
• historical fiction
• horror
• comedy
• action
• adventure
• musical

There are many other genres of stories.

Science fiction & fantasy

Fantasy and science fiction will require the author to create and bring the reader into an alternative world. It requires a lot of specific descriptions and creation of terminology and names to effectively establish a setting that supports the complex plot development.

Fantasy includes elements of magic (characters, setting, plot) and adventure and does not have to adhere to physical laws and rules of reality.

Science fiction often involves fictional world(s) or universes and one or more of the following:

• futuristic settings, post-apocalypse settings
• multiple universes, intergalactic wars
• alternative rules of society, governments or lack of governance (anarchy)
• advanced technology - time travel, teleportation, space exploration/travel
• telepathic, supernatural abilities - morphing, cloaking (invisibility)
• aliens, bionic beings and experiments, rogue characters, multiple species

Begin your own fantasy or science fiction story

Think of a short story or a folk tale, or a pre-existing (not a science fiction or fantasy) story that you are familiar with. It may be one that you have examined or explored before.

You will need to transform characters, change the setting, and create new parts of the story to incorporate science fiction or fantasy elements.

Use a story map, mind map, mind web, or a technique of your choice to help you brainstorm at the start as well as throughout your writing.

Write the beginning of your story to establish the science fiction or fantasy setting, characters, and introduce the problem.

Try to develop your own writing style as you write in the science fiction or fantasy genre.

• sentence structure and grammar - complex, simple sentences, the way the words are arranged in the sentence and punctuation
• word choices and phrasing
• tone (includes mood and feeling created)
• use of literary devices
• the point of view from which the story is told

If possible, share your draft and seek partner or teacher feedback based on this criteria. You can also revise and edit your story based on this criteria independently. Respond to questions and thoughts you receive in the feedback through edits and revisions of your story. Then you are ready to publish your revised draft!

Make it meaningful

In the Action section, you began to create your science fiction or fantasy story. How will you share your story ideas to others? Create an announcement or a poster that shares the elements of your story that you have completed. Who are your characters? What is your setting? What is the problem? Be creative in your descriptions. You can use an audio recording, paper, or a computer for your announcement or create a print or digital poster!

Reflection

As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.

Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

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