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RE: The barriers to writing quality NF
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From: Heather Montgomery <sipsey21_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 02:54:19 +0000
Thank you all for responding to my comments about the barriers to writing NF. I realized that I wrote the message in haste and was not as clear as I should have been. It is true that older young adult readers do (and should ) read adult nonfiction. My concern is for the upper middle grade and younger YA who are not ready to make that leap.
For example, as a 6th grader I was eager to read anything I could get my hands on about animals but the nonfiction available to me was only the standard educational market material. I don't mean to disparage that (I am proud of the educational books I write), but I believe those books fill a different need. I did access adult nonfiction for reference (i.e. a guide book on insects) but I would have been totally intimidated by any other adult nonfiction at that age.
I guess I am wondering if we don't need something more/different for the 5th - 8th grade student who wants to dig more deeply in to their area of interest. I think this is why the fabulous Scientist in the Field series is popular and I wonder if there isn't a need for more on that level.
I didn't mean to take the discussion away, though, from the point - quality nonfiction.
One of the things I struggle with is finding vocabulary to articulate nonfiction techniques, methods, voice, style, tone, etc. Can anyone point me to a good reference for that (for example, the NF categories developed by the Uncommon Core)? I realize there is a lot of cross-over with fiction but some things are specific to nonfiction and I think a more common, agreed upon language would help develop the discussions about nonfiction.
Heather
Heather L. Montgomerywww.HeatherLMontgomery.comNature Books for Kids 256-426-5871
Wild Discoveries: Wacky New Animals (Scholastic, 2013)
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Received on Sun 08 Jun 2014 09:54:41 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 02:54:19 +0000
Thank you all for responding to my comments about the barriers to writing NF. I realized that I wrote the message in haste and was not as clear as I should have been. It is true that older young adult readers do (and should ) read adult nonfiction. My concern is for the upper middle grade and younger YA who are not ready to make that leap.
For example, as a 6th grader I was eager to read anything I could get my hands on about animals but the nonfiction available to me was only the standard educational market material. I don't mean to disparage that (I am proud of the educational books I write), but I believe those books fill a different need. I did access adult nonfiction for reference (i.e. a guide book on insects) but I would have been totally intimidated by any other adult nonfiction at that age.
I guess I am wondering if we don't need something more/different for the 5th - 8th grade student who wants to dig more deeply in to their area of interest. I think this is why the fabulous Scientist in the Field series is popular and I wonder if there isn't a need for more on that level.
I didn't mean to take the discussion away, though, from the point - quality nonfiction.
One of the things I struggle with is finding vocabulary to articulate nonfiction techniques, methods, voice, style, tone, etc. Can anyone point me to a good reference for that (for example, the NF categories developed by the Uncommon Core)? I realize there is a lot of cross-over with fiction but some things are specific to nonfiction and I think a more common, agreed upon language would help develop the discussions about nonfiction.
Heather
Heather L. Montgomerywww.HeatherLMontgomery.comNature Books for Kids 256-426-5871
Wild Discoveries: Wacky New Animals (Scholastic, 2013)
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Received on Sun 08 Jun 2014 09:54:41 PM CDT
