CREATIVE NONFICTION

MODULE (WEEK 2)
Content Standard:
✓ The learner understands the literary conventions that govern the different
genres. (e.g., narrative convention of fiction, etc.)
Performance Standard:
✓ The learner clearly and coherently uses a chosen element conventionally
identified with a genre for a written output.
Most Essential Learning Competency:
✓ Analyze the theme and techniques used in a particular text.
✓ Analyze factual/nonfictional elements in the text.

Activity 1
Multiple Choice. Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. How do you call a narration that shows something is happening?
A. Story C. Setting
B. Plot D. Character

2. Which writing style is used by an author when writing his or her story?
A. Story C. Literary Genre
B. Fiction D. Nonfiction

3. What do you call the writings or stories created mainly from the author’s
imagination?
A. Fiction C. Setting
B. Nonfiction D. Literary Genre

4. How do you call the writings that are based on facts, existing and not imaginary?
A. Setting C. Fiction
B. Literary Genre D. Nonfiction

5. What do you call the persons, animals, things or creatures doing the actions in
the story?
A. Story C. Character
B. Settings D. Plot

6. What do you call the narration of actions that took place in a story?
A. Story C. Setting
B. Plot D. Character

7. How do you call the sequence of events that took place in the story?
A. Story C. Setting
B. Plot D. Character

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8. How do you call the place and time where the story happened?
A. Story C. Setting
B. Plot D. Character

9. Which type of genre did the author use in writing the story of Harry Potter?
A. Genre C. Nonfiction
B. Narration D. Fiction

10. Which type of genre was used in writing the life story of Jose Rizal?
A. Plot C. Literary Genre
B. Nonfiction D. Fiction

A short story, novella, or novel presents a narrative to its reader. Perhaps that
narrative involves mystery, terror, romance, comedy, or all of the above. These works
of fiction may also contain memorable characters, vivid world-building, literary
devices like metaphor and foreshadowing, and even some random quirkiness. But is
that all that novels, novellas, and short stories offer? In short, the answer is no. The
best works of literary fiction are driven by an overriding theme.

How to Develop a Theme for Your Story (Masterclass 2019)

Sometimes you’ll have a clear thematic core for your story before you begin the
writing process; other times the theme of the story will reveal itself to you after you’re
well into your first draft. If you’re struggling to recognize a theme for your story,
consider the following tips:

1. Seek Universal Themes.

Ask yourself: What aspect of my plot recurs in the stories of people of all ages, races,
genders, and walks of life?

2. Choose a Theme That Sticks with Your Reader.

Consider what ideas you want your reader to keep thinking about long after they’ve
forgotten the specific plot of your book.

3. Start with Another Story Element.

While the theme of your story can elevate it above other books with similar narratives,
few authors start a good story with a theme. Typically, they begin with another story
element—a captivating premise, an amusing main character, a touching love story,
or a real-life event— and build from there. Some authors even embark upon a first
draft without fully knowing what their overall theme will be.

4. Create an Outline.
To ensure that a good theme is present throughout your own novel, make your theme
part of the outlining process.

5. Weave Your Theme Throughout the Narrative.

As you fill in the details of each act, make sure your main character encounters
situations that highlight the theme. If you’re balancing multiple story lines, see if

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you can make your theme manifest in each of those narrative threads—ideally in a
different way in each story line.

6. Include Multiple Themes.

Many books and stories aren’t rooted to a single theme. Some authors begin writing
with a central idea they wish to convey but, over the course of the writing process,
uncover a different theme that also resonates within the boundaries of their
narrative.

7. Don’t Limit Yourself.

Take care to not limit your thinking to the way themes have been expressed in past
novels, novellas and short stories. While some would argue there are a limited
number of themes in fiction, every story is different. Even the most universal of
themes can appear quite different in the context of different stories.

Let us now read the synopsis of the story “Morning in Nagrebcan” by Manuel E.
Arguilla.

Morning in Nagrebcan
by Manuel E.Arguilla

It is a pleasant sunrise in Nagreban. The puppy is curled up to their mother's

paws under the ladder’s house. Baldo noticed a cute black-spotted puppy at the
threshold while rubbing his sleep-heavy eyes with his fists. He was wearing one of
his father undershirts and descended the ladder leaning heavily on the single
bamboo pole that served as railing. Bending down, he reached between his legs for
the black spotted puppy and he started to relish the puppy. And when he returned
to their house his mother Nana Elang asked him to get three burning coals and
brought them home on the rice straw. After a while his mother started to cook for
their meal. Baldo played with the puppies. He sat on the bridge and took them to his
lap one by one. When Ambo his younger brother had awakened, he saw his brother
Baldo in the bridge so he came and played with the other puppies, but he soon
became tired of them. He wanted the black-spotted puppy, so he came closer to Baldo
and he begged his brother to hold the black -spotted puppy. Baldo didn't allow him
to touch the puppy. Because of this Ambo tried to snatch the puppy away that cause
them to fight. The puppy howled shrilly and Ambo had to let go of it. But Ambo kept
hold of the tail and the dog fell on the ground .It turned around and snapped at the
hand holding its tail, its sharp teeth, sank to the fleshy edge of Ambos' palm. At the
moment the window of the house facing the street was pushed violently open and
the boy's father Tang Ciako, poked out his head. He saw the blood from the tooth
marks on Ambo's hand. Ambo hid his bitten hand behind him. Tang Ciako
approached, a piece of firewood held firmly in one hand. His father throwing an angry
look and cursed at Nana Elang for letting her sons play with the dogs, He was a
carpenter. Most often he drank great quantities of basi and came home at night and
beat his wife and children. And as expected he hurt again his family. If Nana Elang
ventured to remonstrate, he beat them harder and cursed her for an interfering
whore. Tang Ciako roared at them to get away from the dog. Baldo and Ambo moved

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back hastily like what their father says. The puppy attempted to follow them, but
Tang Ciako caught it with a sweeping blow of peace of firewood. The puppy died.
Tang Ciako took hold on Baldo‟s arms ang jerked him his feet then began to beat
him. Nana Elang came down. Ambo run to her, and Tang Ciako pushed Baldo toward
her. He faced the curious children and neighbors who had gathered by the side of
the road. He yelled at them to go away and told them that it’s none of their business
if he killed his children. After ward Baldo and Ambo searched among the tall corn for
the body of the dead puppy. When they found it, they buried it in one corner of the
field. Baldo dug the grave sharp pointed stake while Ambo was holding the dead
puppy. The mist on the tabaco fields had completely dissolved.

Activity 2
Answer the following questions and write your answer on the space provided.
1. Who are the characters in the story?

2. The author makes use of the sun in the first and last. Discuss the significance of
the opening and closing the story with sunlight.

3. Explain the relationship of the father to his wife and children.

4. The story was written several decades ago. In what way does it strike a chord with
the contemporary reader? What social issues suggested in the story are
“contemporary”?

Activity 3
Using Morning in Nagrebcan as your guide write the theme at the center and
support your answer by writing the evidences that support your answer.

Evidence 1 Evidence 3

Theme

Evidence 2 Evidence 4

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Activity 4

Explain briefly. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. How did the actions or thoughts of the characters help you determine the
theme?

2. Why do you think the author chose to include them in this story?

3. What details or characters from the story helped you determine the theme?

4. Write a different scenario of what happened to the characters that would

have changed the theme of the story?

5. Was the theme of the story directly stated or was it implied? How do you
know?

References

Lising, S. (2020). Creative Nonfiction. City of San Fernando. Department of

Education-Schools Division of Pampanga
Moratilla, Noel Christian A. & Teodoro, John Iremil E. (2016). “Morning in
Nagrebcan”. Creative Nonfiction: A Textbook on Humanities and Social Sciences.
Quezon City. The Phoenix Publishing House Inc. pp. 51-57. ISBN 978-971-06-
3911-3

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