When you think of nonfiction, the new biography on sale or a story you’ve read in the daily newspaper might come to mind. In reality, nonfiction can take the shape of essays, documentaries, encyclopedias, textbooks and many more formats. Even though the way in which nonfiction is presented may differ, it normally gets grouped into four types:

Narrative Writing

This type of nonfiction tells a true story about a person, event or place. Sometimes this kind of nonfiction can be written in the first person, but it always involves some research on the writer’s part.

Expository Writing

The purpose of this type of nonfiction writing is to explain or inform a reader about a certain topic. With expository writing, the reader may or may not have prior knowledge about the topic being discussed, so research is central to successfully executing expository nonfiction.

Persuasive Writing

With persuasive writing, the writer takes a position on an issue and argues for his or her side or against an opposing side. The writer will use facts and information to support his or her own argument while trying to influence his readers’ opinions. Normally, this kind of writing takes the form of an op-ed piece or editorial in the newspaper.

Descriptive Writing

Descriptive nonfiction employs all five senses to help the reader get a visual of what the writer is trying to describe. Sensory language, rich details, and figurative language are methods used to achieve good descriptive nonfiction.