Reading non-fiction forms: letters, diaries, obituaries and more

The specification lists the kinds of non-fiction you may meet: journalism (articles and reviews), speeches, journals and reference book extracts, plus literary non-fiction such as autobiography, letters, obituaries and travel writing. Knowing what each form usually does helps you explain the writer's choices.

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Forms and features

FormUsual purposeTypical features
LetterCommunicate with a known readerDirect address, tone shaped by the relationship (formal or intimate)
Diary or journalRecord private thoughts and eventsFirst person, dates, present feelings, honest and immediate
ObituaryMark a death and celebrate a lifePast tense, life story in order, achievements, respectful tone, often a warm anecdote
Travel writingBring a place to lifeFirst person, vivid description, contrasts with home, personal reactions
SpeechPersuade or inspire listenersDirect address, repetition, rhetorical questions, signposting
Reference bookInform clearlyThird person, impersonal, factual, organised by topic

Practice extract: an obituary

An original obituary.
Margaret Okafor, who has died aged 91, was the first woman to run the town's market. Born in 1934, she left school at fourteen and sold vegetables from a handcart before opening her own stall in 1958. For forty years she was there at five every morning, whatever the weather. She was known for her sharp eye, her sharper tongue and her habit of slipping an extra apple into every child's bag. She campaigned successfully to save the covered market from demolition in 1987. She is survived by her three children and seven grandchildren.
Practice extract, written for GCSE-ready

Older texts

One Paper 2 text may come from the 20th century. Expect more formal vocabulary, longer sentences and attitudes that were normal then.
Do not judge an older writer for being 'old-fashioned': explain how the language and viewpoint reflect the time and purpose.
Worked example

How does the obituary's form shape its content?

  1. It starts with the essential facts: name, age, achievement.
  2. It tells her life in time order, in the past tense.
  3. It balances facts (dates) with affectionate detail (the extra apple) to celebrate her character.

Answer: As an obituary it opens with the key facts, traces her life in chronological order and mixes achievements with warm anecdotes to honour her.

Key idea

Each non-fiction form has a typical purpose and features: letters address a known reader, diaries are private and immediate, obituaries celebrate a life in order, travel writing brings a place alive, speeches persuade, reference books inform impersonally.

Key words
Literary non-fiction
True writing that uses literary techniques, such as autobiography, memoir, travel writing, diaries and letters.
Autobiography
A writer's account of their own life, written by themselves. A form of literary non-fiction.
Travel writing
Literary non-fiction describing journeys and places, often from a personal perspective.
Form
The type of text, such as an article, letter, speech, review, guide, leaflet or story, each with its own conventions.
Purpose
What a text sets out to do, such as to argue, persuade, inform, advise, describe or entertain.
Viewpoint
The opinion a writer holds and wants the reader to share.

All GCSE and International GCSE English Language key terms and definitions →

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Which detail from the obituary celebrates Margaret's public achievement?

    1. 'She is survived by her three children'
    2. 'Born in 1934'
    3. 'She campaigned successfully to save the covered market'
    4. 'she left school at fourteen'
    Show the answer

    Answer: 'She campaigned successfully to save the covered market'

    Saving the market is a public achievement.

  2. What does 'her sharp eye, her sharper tongue' suggest about Margaret?

    1. She was observant and outspoken
    2. She was quiet and shy
    3. She was unkind to children
    4. She had poor eyesight
    Show the answer

    Answer: She was observant and outspoken

    The phrase is affectionate but honest.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 16 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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