When you’re researching a topic, the best sources of information
are factual texts and videos. However, you can learn some
important things about a topic by reading fictional accounts,
too.
You’ve already seen two examples of this: the video you watched
at the beginning of this lesson and the scene in the novel
you’re reading, when Esperanza and her friends talk about their
quinceañeras. To learn more about the differences between
factual and fictional texts, study the tabs below.
The most obvious difference between facts and fiction is
that facts are based on information that is known to be
true. This may mean that scientific studies were conducted
to arrive at the facts or that numerous eyewitness accounts
can verify the truthfulness of a statement. Either way,
facts are based on evidence. The details in a fictional
story come from the writer’s imagination. Even if
the writer bases a story’s events on a similar true story,
the actual events in the novel never occurred in real life.
Of course, historical fiction is a little
different—it includes both historical facts and made-up
characters and situations. Certain kinds of facts typically
appear in historical fiction. These include interactions
between large groups of people, a country’s government,
important historical events, and well-known customs and
traditions of the time. However, in historical novels, the
day-to-day accounts of one person’s life almost always come
from the writer’s imagination.
Question
Historical fiction stories tend to include major events
that are historically accurate while the characters’
day-to-day activities are fictional. Why does that make
sense?
The historical accounts that writers use to learn about
history usually focus on really big, important events.
These sources don’t usually discuss the day-to-day activities of
the people who lived through the events. Therefore,
writers have to imagine those.
Factual texts tend to generalize—they make
broad statements based on details from several different
sources of information. However, when a fiction writer uses
this same information in a story, he or she won’t include
all those generalizations.
Instead, the writer will choose several specific details and
focus on those.
Reread the excerpt below from the informational text about
birthday celebrations in Mexico. As you read, notice how the
article makes broad statements about Mexican birthday
celebrations.
For instance, Mexico has its own traditional birthday song
called “Las Mañanitas," which means “birthday serenade.” A
serenade is a song performed by a group of people,
usually outside, and usually directed at one specific
person. On her birthday, a young girl is likely to be
awakened by family and friends singing outside her window.
Another unique Mexican birthday tradition is the
piñata. A piñata is a colorful container made of
paper or pottery that is filled with candy and small toys.
Piñatas often take the form of animals, especially llamas
or donkeys. The piñata is hung from a tree branch or
rafter, and then blind-folded guests try to break it open
with a stick, which causes the sweets inside to scatter on
the ground.
Mexican families often play games together on birthdays.
They also typically serve a meal, followed by a special
birthday cake called tres leches, which means
“three milks.” Other features of birthday parties in
Mexico include both music and dancing. And no birthday
celebration would be complete without gifts, which in
Mexico, typically come from the birthday child’s parents
rather than from friends. As you can see, Mexico, like
other places around the world, enjoys both common and
unique traditions, all of them meant to make birthdays a
very special occasion.
Now, reread the section in Esperanza Rising that
describes what will happen during Esperanza’s birthday
celebration. Once you’ve reread this part of the novel,
think of an answer to each question below. When you
think you know the answer, click the question to see a sample
response.
It discusses the birthday song, how girls are
serenaded, the piñata, the type of cake usually
served, typical events at birthdays, and who
generally gives gifts.
Her birthday will begin with her father and other
men serenading her with the traditional Mexican
birthday song, the family is planning a big feast,
and she is looking forward to receiving birthday
presents.
Because roses and grapes are so important to the
family, they will use them as decorations. Besides
her family giving her gifts, Esperanza anticipates
that her friends will give her something, too. The
novel also shows you how excited Esperanza is.
Texts that are written in an
objective manner do not include the
writer’s thoughts or feelings.
Subjective texts, on the other hand,
do
show you what the writer thinks and feels about a topic.
Informational texts are generally written objectively, which
means that the reader never knows what the writer truly
believes about the subject matter. Fiction writings,
however, are almost always subjective. They are meant to
tell a story and to communicate the writer’s feelings
about different parts of that story.
This doesn’t mean that writers of fiction will tell you
directly what they think about a topic. Instead, they will
express their thoughts and feelings about a topic through the
characters and in how the setting is described. Their
feelings also come through in the themes, or big ideas, that
are suggested by the story’s events.
Reread this paragraph from the article about birthday
celebrations in Mexico. As you read, ask yourself how the
writer feels about the topic.
Mexican families often play games together on birthdays.
They also typically serve a meal, followed by a special
birthday cake called tres leches, which means
“three milks.” Other features of birthday parties in
Mexico include both music and dancing. And no birthday
celebration would be complete without gifts, which in
Mexico, typically come from the birthday child’s parents
rather than from friends. As you can see, Mexico, like
other places around the world, enjoys both common and
unique traditions, all of them meant to make birthdays a
very special occasion.
Question
Can you tell what this writer thinks and feels about
Mexican birthday customs?
Because this text is written objectively, you don’t
really know what he or she thinks.
Next, think about the description of Esperanza’s birthday
celebration that you just reread. Now, see if you can answer
this question:
1.
Based on the description of Esperanza’s expectations
for her birthday, how does Pam Muñoz Ryan, the
author of the novel, feel about traditional Mexican birthday
customs?
She thinks they’re silly and should not be
continued.
She believes they are important traditions to
uphold.
She sees them as unnecessary and a waste of time
and money.
Although Esperanza’s birthday celebration never
happens, the writer shows both respect and reverence
toward the birthday traditions of Mexico.
Although Esperanza’s birthday celebration never
happens, the writer shows both respect and reverence
toward the birthday traditions of Mexico.
Although Esperanza’s birthday celebration never
happens, the writer shows both respect and reverence
toward the birthday traditions of Mexico.