J.M.J. Marist Brothers Name: Albania, Ranel Joy Strand & Section: HUMSS 12- St.

Lawrence
NDMU-IBED SHS Subject: CNF Date of Submission:Jan 8, 2021 Koronadal City
Teacher: Mr. Jether Z. Capillo Score: _______/

Lesson 3: Principles, Elements of Creative Non-Fiction

Learning Competencies:
⚫ Analyze and interpret factual/nonfictional aspects in the texts.

References:
⚫ Solmerano, ET. Ondevilla, MK. Chancoco, JJ. Garcia, M.& Palencia (2017). Creative Non-
Fiction. Manila Fastbooks Educational Supply, Inc.

Lesson Notes:
⚫ Creative Non-Fiction has 4 Parts: I-Introduction to Literary Genres. II- Principles, Elements,
Techniques and Devices of Creative Non Fiction. III-Forms and Types of Creative Non
Fiction and IV-Reading and Writing. Every part requires written output.

The overarching element or requirement that distinguishes Creative Nonfiction from any other
genre of writing is that while other literary genres can spring from the imagination, Creative
Nonfiction is, by definition, true.

The 5’Rs of Creative Nonfiction

Lee Gutkind, who is a writer, professor, and expert on creative nonfiction, wrote an
essay called “The Five R’s of Creative Nonfiction.” In this essay, he identified five essential
elements of creative nonfiction. These include:

1. Creative nonfiction has a “real life” aspect. The writer constructs a personal essay,
memoir, and so forth, that is based on personal experience. He also writes about real
people and true events.

2. Creative nonfiction is based on the writer engaging in personal “reflection” about

what he/she is writing about. After gathering information, the writer needs to analyze
and assess what he/she has collected. He then must evaluate it and expression his
thoughts, views, opinions. Personal opinion is permissible and encouraged.

3. Creative nonfiction requires that the writer complete research. The writer needs to
conduct research to learn about the topic. The writer also needs to complete research to
discover what has been written about the topic. Even if a writer is crafting a personal
essay, he will need to complete secondary research, such as reviewing a personal journal,
or primary research, such as interviewing a friend or family member, to ensure that the
information is truthful and factual.
J.M.J. Marist Brothers Name: Albania, Ranel Joy Strand & Section: HUMSS 12- St. Lawrence
NDMU-IBED SHS Subject: CNF Date of Submission:Jan 8, 2021 Koronadal City
Teacher: Mr. Jether Z. Capillo Score: _______/

4. The fourth aspect of creative nonfiction is reading. Reading while conducting research
is not sufficient. The writer must read the work of the masters of his profession.

5. The final element of creative nonfiction is writing. Writing creative nonfiction is both an
art and craft. The art of creative nonfiction requires that the writer uses his talents,
instincts, creative abilities, and imagination to write memorable creative nonfiction. The
craft of creative nonfiction requires that the writer learn and deploy the style and
technique.

Basic Principles of Creative Nonfiction

In writing your piece, you should consider the following:

1. Introduction
2. Point of View
3. Characterization
4. Plot
5. Conflict
6. Style
Literary Elements

Creative nonfiction is the literature of fact. Yet, the creative nonfiction writer utilizes many
of the literary devices of fiction writing. The following is a list of the most common literary
devices that writers incorporate into their nonfiction writing.
Elements Description

1. Plot These are the main events that make up the story. In a personal essay,
there might be only one event. In a memoir, there are often several
significant events

2. Characters The nonfiction piece often requires a main character. Example: If a

writer is creating his/her memoir, then the writer is the central
character.

3. Characterization In nonfiction, your 'characters' are real people. . This helps bring the
reader into the story, because they experience their own response to
the character/individual.

4. Point of View The perspective from which a speaker or writer recounts a narrative or
presents information. Writers of nonfiction may rely on the first-person
point of view (I, we), the secondperson (you, your, you're), or the third-
person (he, she, it, they).
J.M.J. Marist Brothers Name: Albania, Ranel Joy Strand & Section: HUMSS 12- St. Lawrence
NDMU-IBED SHS Subject: CNF Date of Submission:Jan 8, 2021 Koronadal City
Teacher: Mr. Jether Z. Capillo Score: _______/

5. Angle The precise way you choose to tell your story — it's the element that
sets your story apart from all the rest

6. Setting and Atmosphere This refers to the place, time, where and when an event happens
Atmosphere or mood in creative nonfiction refers to the elements that
evokes certain feelings or emotions

7. Symbols and Symbolisms Symbols add layers of meaning to a story, poem, or other creative work.
They enable an author to deliver an idea or message within a narrative,
a message on multiple levels. Symbolism occurs whenever one thing
represents something else. For example, a book could represent
knowledge.

8. Figures of speech The writer often uses simile and metaphor to create an interesting
piece of creative nonfiction. The writer constructs “word pictures” using
sensory language

9. Dialogue These are the conversations spoken between people. It is an important

component of creative nonfiction

10. Scene The writer creates scenes that are action-oriented; include dialogue;
and contain vivid descriptions. The stories or scenes not only must be
factual and true. Writing in represents the difference between showing
and telling.

11. Other devices This includes the theme which is the universal truth of the piece.

To summarize the 1ST QUARTER (Modules 1 & 2) the following are important
concepts:

• True stories and often told in first person

• Prose. The narrator is often the author or a persona of the author
J.M.J. Marist Brother Name: ___________________________ Strand & Section: _______
NDMU-IBED SHS Subject: Creative Non-Fiction Date of Submission:Dec.18,2020
Koronadal City Teacher: Mr. Jether Z. Capillo Score: _______/

The best Creative Nonfiction tells a true story in an artistic -- or literary -- way. This
means that the story has certain elements, such as descriptive imagery, setting, plot,
conflict, characters, metaphors, and other literary devices.

Reading Activity

1. Directions: Do a close reading activity on the sample of Nonfiction, “Another

Universe by Kurt Joshua Comendador”.

Another Universe
Kurt Joshua O. Comendador
He was about my age and about my size. He
first approached us while we were eating at a
cottage at a spring resort.
“Champorado mo, Ma’am. Sir”, he said.
“Init pa.” Champorado. Chocolate porridge.
Still hot.
I declined.
I watched him as he went on his way, selling
champorado in a small pot to other resort- goers.
He might have more customers if only he has
better container than peddle an iron pot. I took a
plunge into the cold. Everything was familiar.
Too familiar even: The laughter of the persons
around me, the giant splash as a kid cannonballs
into the water, the off-key singing from a karaoke
booth, the jovial mood, and the calming effect as
I float in the spring water. I
always believe that cold waters cleanse the body and the mind from any stress. It’s
like floating in your own universe, as I like to describe it.
Then there he was again, walking on top of the wall that separates the water into
smaller pools.
“Champorado, Champorado. Init pa,” he shouted, hoping someone would buy his
hot champorado.
“I want to eat some more. Do you like to have some champorado?”
I asked my girlfriend.
“No, would you like to buy?”
“We still have siopao in the bag.”
From the water, I watched him as he peddled his pot. I noticed that it was not only
small, it was also blackened by soot; he must’ve used it over open fire frequently.
We kept swimming until twilight. The people began to thin down; but he kept on
peddling his champorado.
I let my girlfriend change her clothes first while I sat on a circular bench nearby. I
noticed a guy, looking so miserable, sitting next to me. On his side, on the bench,
was the small, sooty pot. He must be the champorado vendor. I figured. On his
other hand was a slipper. I saw that the front strap broke.
J.M.J. Marist Brother Name: ___________________________ Strand & Section: _______
NDMU-IBED SHS Subject: Creative Non-Fiction Date of Submission:Dec.18,2020
Koronadal City Teacher: Mr. Jether Z. Capillo Score: _______/

He remorsefully shook his head. I held back tears.

I watched as he tried reattaching the broken strap. Unconsciously, I followed him
with my eyes as he softly placed his slipper on the ground. He tried wearing it, but it
immediately broke again. Then I noticed something- he was wearing two different
footwear. On his left foot is a slide slipper, the one athletes commonly wear, while on
the other foot, the one that broke, is a traditional flip-flops.
I wanted to help him - maybe give him some money to buy a new pair of slippers.
But money, I have none too plenty, I might need it on the way home. Give him my
old pair of shoes? I can’t drive my motorcycle bare-footed. I might get caught by the
traffic enforcers. I saw plenty of slippers repaired by sticking a wire through the
rubber to hold it down. The least I can do is to help him fix his slipper, but the resort
is too dark to find any wire that might be laying on the ground.
I wanted to say something, but no words came out of my mouth.
After a while, he went inside the changing room, carrying his pot on one hand, and
his slipper on the other. He also had a backpack, I concluded that he might have
carried his utensils there.
I was left alone. Trapped in another universe.
He was about my age and about my size. We could’ve been similar in many ways;
he might also be the eldest, he might also have four siblings. He might also want to
plunge into the cold, spring water. I liked to ask him questions: Where he lives, was
the champorado sold out, what happened to his slippers and what he would do next.
But the biggest question was for myself: would I do the same if circumstances
dictate me so?
My girlfriend finished changing. It was already my turn. He still didn’t come out.
I tried to take my mind off of him while I change into dry clothes. It bothered me why
it took so long inside the changing room. Was he able to fix his slipper? I had no
way of knowing. When I got out, out of the dusk, at a distance, I saw the vendor. He
had backpack to be exact., there was a little light to see him clearly. He was sort of
walking with a drag. I just hoped he gets home safe and sound. It was already dark
when we were ready to leave. The frogs already began their chorus. To me, it
sounded like a woeful dirge.
I wanted to jump into the cold again- to wash my guilt away.

Comprehension Check

After reading and understanding the text, explain what is asked in every item.
Example: Introduction- The introduction of the story is all about the description of the
author to the champorado vendor and the setting of the story which is the resort.

1. Point of View
The point of view in the story are first-person it is because the author used pronoun
“I” which states that the story is all about his experience and perspectives.
J.M.J. Marist Brother Name: ___________________________ Strand & Section: _______
NDMU-IBED SHS Subject: Creative Non-Fiction Date of Submission:Dec.18,2020
Koronadal City Teacher: Mr. Jether Z. Capillo Score: _______/

2. Characterization The characterization in the story are the author, author’s

girlfriend, and Champorado vendor.

3. Plot
A young man was trying to help a champorado vendor, yet, he could not do anything
because he only had enough money for him to go home.

4. Conflict
The conflict in the story is man against himself. It is about the author which
explains that as a man he wants to help the champorado vendor but then there
were many walls of the things he trying to do, just like he wants to give his
slippers but he has only one and he also need it for him to drive a motorcycle so
that he will not be punished in the road rules. That’s’ why he was very guilty
because he could not help the Champorado vendor.

5. Style
The style that was used in the story is descriptive narrative in view the fact that the
story is about the happenings that occur in the author’s live. He narrates it’s context
and he reflects to the story by his feelings and thoughts.