Aurora Pioneers Memorial College

(Formerly: Cebuano Barracks Institute)

Bonifacio St., Poblacion, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur
Tel. # (062) 945-0256 / Email: apmc2k7@yahoo.com
Name:_______________________ Yr.&Sc.______________ Subject: Creative Non-Fiction
Teacher: Arnel G. Boholst/Dahlia S. Zamora Contact No.09555585599/09355695917 Email: arnelgaye117@gmail.com/
dynazora@gmail.com
Module 2 Types of Creative Nonfiction
INTRODUCTION
Creative nonfiction covers a very broad field in the writing discipline; however, at the end of it is the
term literary journalism or new journalism- writing in a personal way about the facts in a news event, and on
the other end is the literary memoir, what Annie Dillard referred to when she said “works of nonfiction can
be coherent and crafted work of Literature” (1995).
The earlier statement which is “a writer of creative nonfiction may not alter the facts in the interest of improving his
story (Hidalgo)”, may not necessarily be applied in literary memoir or a travel essay where it may be useful to say or
invent a travelling companion who would serve as a foil to the narrator by presenting entirely different expressions of
the place described.
ADVANCE ORGANIZER

Creative Nonfiction

Literary Journalism Magazine feature article Literary Memoir

Newspaper column as
cultural commentary
Review
Interview story
Character sketch
Personal essay
Autobiographical sketch

Individual Activity
Write about your most memorable stay in a place in at least 3 paragraphs.
ANALYSIS:
The facts, pieced together from the accounts of several people are as follows. Baltazar Endriga, who
may or may not be the president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, depending on whose side you’re
taking in this long drawn-out conflict, arrived at the CCP on Monday evening for the Mamila Premiere of
Carmen,, in radical new version, by choreographer Mats Ek, kicked off the festivities, though perhaps in a
more literal fashion than th organizers have envisioned. Mr. Endriga was also there in his capacity as the CCP
President, his position having been recently upheld by the Court of Appeals, which used a Temporary
Restraining Order against Endriga’s oppositors, Gloria Angara and her trustees. In the first place, Endriga,
being a citizen of this country, presumably has the right to set foot on the lobby of the CCP; he was not
carrying nuclear weapons and other explosive devices.
As Endriga who was accompanied by officers of the French embassy, approached the entrance to the
main lobby, six or ten security guards- the witnesses’ accounts vary- stood in his path. They announced that
they were under instructions to prevent Endriga from entering the building. These instructions have been
issued by their superiors, who received their orders from Ms. Angara and her Board of Trustees. The French
representatives explained that Endriga was their guest, and they were going to watch the ballet. The security
guards repeated that Endriga was barred from the premises. Words were exchanged (a lovely turn of phrase,
as if you were to say to me, “Thaumaturgy” and I were to reply “Periodonist”), and when reason made no
dent, physical force was applied.
The security guard pushed Endriga and company out the door. The French representatives took hold
to Endriga and attempted to push their way in. The security guard tried to push them out.. People started
cussing. Soon everyone was yelling, and the jostling match erupted into full-blown melee. The commotion
was such that a group of performers rehearsing on an upper floor heard the noise, ran downstairs, and
beheld the chaos.
- Jessica Zafra, “The New Uncouthness,” June 2, 1999;Twisted 5(Anvil 2000, 166-67)

With the various characteristics present in the text, compare your essay with the text above. Use an advance
organizer to show their relationship.
ABSTRACT/GENERALIZATION
Due to the extensive range it covers, creative nonfiction, aside from being classified as a literary memoir and literary
journalism mentioned earlier in this module, there are still some terms to be considered in identifying the types and
classifications of writing under the mentioned two types, which may be under literary memoir or literary journalism
depending upon their manners of construction and the information they ought to provide.
1. Profile- an in-depth article or essay that concentrates on one person or a place.
2. Literary journalism or new journalism- writing in a personal way about the facts in a news
event.
3. Personal narratives or “life stories”- may be divided into autobiographical narratives (e.g.,
journals, memoirs, travel narratives, etc.); and biographical narratives (e.g., character sketches,
interview stories, etc.)
APPLICATION
Reconstruct the advance organizer presented on this unit incorporating the classifications of creative nonfiction
according to the manner of text construction and the information various texts provide. Write a short explanation of the
advance organizer you shall construct.
Writing Exercise
From the Types of Creative Nonfiction, I learned that …