Teach 'IDENTIFYING MAIN FEATURES OF DIFFERENT GENRES' in Form Three - Part One with these techniques

Welcome to Unit 8:3(1)

Review: Previously in Unit 8:2, we discussed about how to teach the sub topic ‘Talking about reservation’ in Form Two. In this sub topic, students were introduced to the various techniques and ways of making or talking about one’s reservations or bookings to various places or areas.

In this Unit 8:3, we will learn how to teach the sub topic, ‘Identifying main features of different genres’ in Form Three. In this sub topic, we will again guide students to identify and analyse various features of play, novel, and poetry as they are applied in literature.

(Also: For Literature in English Subject, Check out my Literature in English Blog. Also check out My Diary for Diary Writing Inspiration and More! )

                                                                    

THE FOLLOWING IS THE COMPREHENSIVE TEACHING GUIDE ON THE SUB TOPIC:

A: INFORMATION OF THE TOPIC:

1. Topic: READING LITERARY WORKS.

2. Sub Topic: Identifying main features of different genres.

3. Periods per sub topic: 6
4: Class: Form Three.

B: HOW TO TEACH THE TOPIC:

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The student should be able to identify main features of different genres. In literature, there are three different genres. Each of the genres has its own features. These features are to be studied by the students so that they can be able to distinguish between the three genres. Knowing these differences also help students to become good readers of the literary works that are expected to be analysed under this course.

ACTIVITIES AND GAMES OT FACILITATE A LESSON

PART ONE: NOVEL

In PART ONE of this sub topic, we will discuss about the main features of novel. Together with these main features, meaning, history, forms, and types of novel will be covered as well

ACTIVITY 1: BRAINSTORMING ON THE MEANIN, ORIGIN AND TYPES OF A NOVEL

In this activity, a teacher guides students to discuss the meaning, origin and development, classifications of novel, and types of novels.

By definition, a novel is a long fiction narrative written in prose. Is a long written story in which the characters and events are usually imaginary.

Prose is a style of language used in speaking or writing which has little imagination. It  is a style of writing that is not poetry. Thus, while Prose is a particular style of writing that is distinguished from poetry, a novel is a particular genre of literature which uses prose style of language in delivering its message.

Origin and development

 Novel as a genre has historical roots in the field of literature. It was formerly called ‘novella’ but later the term supplied the present generic term ‘novel’. Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio applied the term ‘novella’ to the short prose narratives in his work (1353, Ten Day’s Work) but when his tales were translated, the term ‘novel’ passed into English language.

Classifications of Novel

Hence, the prose fiction has been divided into novelette, short story, novella and novel.

Novelette is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and novella is usually based upon word count.

Novella is a written, fictional prose narrative that is larger than a novelette but shorter than a novel. In English, examples of novellas include, “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, “Of Mice and Men” and “The Pearl” by John Steinbeck, and “Billy Budd”, “The Metamorphosis”, and “In the Penal Colony” by Herman Melville.

Short story is a work of fiction that is shorter than a novel, novella, or novelette. The short story is one of the oldest forms of literature and most can be read at one sitting. Examples of short stories include; O.Henry’s “Furniture Room”(1904), “The Gift of Magi”, and Anton Chekhov’s “The Party”(1888) and “The Lady and the Dog”(1899). The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America use word counts to determine which pieces of fiction are eligible for which of their Nebula Awards Categories as follows:

Classification	Word count
Novel	Over 40,000 words
novella	17,500-40,000 words
novelette	7,500-17,500 words
Short story	Under 7,500 words.

Types of novels

A teacher also guides students to the discussion of the types of novel. Genres or types of novels have been categorized according to the content they convey. Here are some of them, although there is no single agreement among the literary critics:

Ø  Social novel.

Ø  Chronicle novels.

Ø  Psychological novel.

Ø  Educational novel.

Ø  Philosophical novel.

Ø  Experimental novel.

Ø  Popular novel. Popular novels include, Detective novel, Spy novel. Science-Fiction novel, Fantasy novel, Romance novel, Historical novel, Horror novel, Gothic novel, Western novel, and Mystery novel.

Ø  Realistic novel.

Ø  Sentimental novel.

ACTIVITY 2: DISCUSSION OF THE FEATURES OF A NOVEL

In this activity, a teacher is going to guide students to discuss the Features of novel.

Novel is one of the most popular forms of literature. This makes it different from other genres of literature as well.

In discussing the features of a novel, students are guided to use correct structural patterns in describing the features of novel. The following patterns can be used:

• A novel is divided ….( For example, a novel is divided into chapters)
• A novel consists of …. (For example, a novel consists of imaginary settings and characters)
• A novel is made up of …. (For example, a novel is made up ten chapters)

If there are available copies of some novels, a teacher may supply them to the students and have them discuss what features they see in groups. Let them discuss what they see by using appropriate patterns you have given them. After getting their various responses, now you can lead them to the discussion of the features of novel.

The following are the features that distinguish a novel as a prose fiction from other literary genres:

•   The subject matter of novels covers the whole range of human experience and imagination. Short stories may cover a single subject of human life.
•   A novel is a narrative, that is, a story presented by a teller. It differs from a drama which presents a story through speech and actions of the characters.
•   Novels are longer than short stories, fairy tales and most other types of narratives. Because of their length, novels can cover a longer period and include more characters than most other kinds of narratives.
•   A novel is written in prose, rather than in verse. The novel uses common daily language rather than poems.
•   Novels are works of fiction. That is, novels are fictitious works or imaginary creations. They differ from histories, biographies, and other long prose narrative that tell about real events or the lives of real people.
•   A novel is flexible in its arrangement. Novelists can arrange incidents, describe places, and represent characters in an almost limitless variety of ways. For example, in some novels, one of the characters can tell a story, but in others the author can tell the story himself/herself.
•   Novels also include many characters than any other genre of literature. For example, you may find more than 40 characters in the single novel.

ACTIVITY 3: PRACTICE TIME

After completing this lesson, students can be given an assignment to work on. This assignment is aimed to test them how to explain and understand the features of novel. The following questions can be asked by the teacher:

What are the features of the novel?

What make novel different from other genres of literature?

‘Novels are unique’. Discuss this statement.

6: CONNECTION: Beyond the Sub Topic. This sub topic gives a room for student to explore different features of different genres. These features help them to understand better the genres of literature. They also give students a time to think broadly about the particular genres.

7: NOTE: Understanding literature is the only way for the students to be able to analyse literary works. By learning these different features of literary genres, students are being prepared to be better readers who can independently read and analyse various literary texts. Forms of Novel/Prose and types of novel are crucial aspects for students to know before starting analyzing the novels for the course.

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Check out how to Study & Teach other Form Three Sub Topics in this Blog!

1. Listening for specific information  
2. Listening for general information  
3. Participating in debates, dialogues, interviews, impromptu speeches and discussions Part 1  
4. Participating in debates, dialogues, interviews, impromptu speeches and discussions Part 2  
5. Participating in debates, dialogues, interviews, impromptu speeches and discussions Part 3 l
6. Reading intensively for comprehension  
7. Reading extensively  
8. Identifying and analysing setting, main plot, and characters Identifying themes  
9. Identifying main features of different genres Part 1  
10. Identifying main features of different genres Part 2  
11. Identifying main features of different genres Part 3  
12. Writing narrative compositions/essays (not less than 200 words) Part 1  
13. Writing narrative compositions/essays (not less than 200 words) Part 2  
14. Writing expository compositions/essays (not less than 200 words)  
15. Writing descriptive compositions/essays (not less than 200 words)  
16. Writing argumentative compositions/essays (not less than 200 words)  
17. Creative writing  
18. Creative Writing (Six stages of teaching how to write poems)
19. Writing letters to the editor
20. Writing business transaction letters

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8. TEACHING STUDENTS 'INFERENCE MAKING SKILLS' FOR THEIR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXTS
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Also check out:

Form I Sub topics, at FORM I SYLLABUS TOPICS REVIEW

Form II Sub topics, at FORM II SYLLABUS TOPICS REVIEW

Form IV Sub topics, at FORM IV SYLLABUS TOPICS REVIEW  

For more on Literature Topics, check out Literature in English Blog

For how to be professional keeper of your Diary in Kiswahili or English, check out My Diary

For Form IV NECTA Examination Sections, check out ELABORATED CSEE NECTA EXAMINATION SECTIONS

Resources

1. Abrahams, M.H (1971) A Glossary of Literary Terms, Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc. New York.
2. Daniel, K et al (ed.) (2003) Elements of Literature: Fourth Course with Readings in World Literature; Florida Edition, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Austin.
3. Daniel, K et al (ed.) (2003) Elements of Literature: Sixth Course; Literature of Britain with World Classics; Florida Edition, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Austin.
4. Kinsella, K et al (2003) Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes; Copper Level, Pearson, Upper Saddle River.