Just the facts, Maam

 

   I am learning so much in my NFPB Bio class. One night I had this realization. Our teacher was helping us review primary, secondary and even tertiary sources and the key importance of each, and then it struck me. It seems somehow in our society we have lost the definition (LOST- not blurred the lines- I want to be clear) as to what non-fiction really is.

     And it occurred to me, as our instructor was helping us, that our society has somehow gone DEEP down a rabbit hole, or detoured when it comes to this definition.  As we constructed our drafts of our bios some students where asking, "Could I include a conversation that could have happened?"  Or another posed, "Could I put in something that might have happened?" All were met with a resounding "No!" We were told that if we didn't have a primary source, and we weren't positive something happened, we could not include it in our drafts. If we included it it would not be non-fiction as it is not a fact. We had to have proof. Then he went onto to explain the value of each type of source.

    Since it's non- fiction it must include facts only.

    Let that sit with you for awhile.

    Of course, while I was having my epiphany I immediately thought of my third grade teacher days and remembered how we spent weeks in circles (and we are talking WEEKS), and with partners hammering in the concept of fact vs. opinion.

   If only there were more eight year olds in the world.