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The CSSE 11+ English paper may include a non-fiction text — a passage based on real facts, events, or ideas. Non-fiction passages require a slightly different approach from fiction, because the writer's purpose is usually to inform, explain, persuade, or argue rather than to tell a story.
Non-fiction is writing about the real world. Unlike fiction, which is imagined, non-fiction is based on facts, real events, or genuine opinions.
| Type of non-fiction | Example |
|---|---|
| Newspaper article | A report on a scientific discovery |
| Biography or autobiography | A passage about the life of a famous person |
| Diary or journal | A personal account of daily events |
| Speech | A persuasive address to an audience |
| Letter | A formal or informal letter expressing views |
| Travel writing | A description of a journey or place |
| Information text | A factual explanation of a topic (e.g. how volcanoes work) |
In the CSSE exam, the non-fiction passage may be drawn from any of these types. The key is to identify what type of text it is and what the writer is trying to achieve.
| Feature | Fiction | Non-Fiction |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Imagined characters and events | Real facts, events, and ideas |
| Purpose | Usually to entertain or explore themes | To inform, explain, persuade, argue, or describe |
| Structure | Story with a beginning, middle, and end | May use headings, paragraphs, topic sentences |
| Language | Often descriptive and literary | May be factual, formal, or persuasive |
| Evidence | Characters, settings, and plot | Facts, statistics, expert opinions, examples |
Always ask yourself: Why has the writer written this text?
The main purposes are:
| Purpose | What the writer is doing | Clues to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Inform | Giving facts and information | Statistics, dates, neutral language |
| Explain | Helping the reader understand something | Step-by-step structure, "because", "this means" |
| Persuade | Trying to change the reader's mind | Emotive language, rhetorical questions, "you should" |
| Argue | Putting forward a point of view | "I believe", "however", presenting evidence |
| Describe | Painting a picture with words | Adjectives, similes, sensory details |
A single text may combine more than one purpose. For example, a charity leaflet might inform readers about an issue and then persuade them to donate.
This is a very common question type in the CSSE exam.
| Definition | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| Fact | Something that can be proved true or false | "The Great Fire of London started in 1666." |
| Opinion | A personal view or judgement | "The Great Fire of London was the most devastating event in English history." |
Watch out for opinions disguised as facts! Words like "best", "worst", "most important", "should", and "surely" are often clues that a statement is an opinion.
Non-fiction texts are often organised in a particular way. Understanding the structure helps you find information quickly.
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