The Multi-genre Research Project [Multi-genre papers] recognize that there are many ways to see the world, many ways to show others what we see. ~Tom Romano, teacher, author, and founder of the multi-genre paper What is a multi-genre project? It s a collection of pieces written in a variety of genres, informed by your research on a particular subject, that presents one or more perspectives on a research question or topic. A multi-genre project is personal, creative, and can t be copied from some other source. It involves you, as a writer, making conscious decisions about what information is important and how it should be presented to the reader. Genre Ideas: The genres you can use are just about limitless. You can write and relay important messages in so many ways it s mind boggling! But BEWARE! This should not be a haphazard collage of disjointed elements; you must connect the genres and what they represent with a central, significant theme (a thesis). Your creative efforts MUST be informed by solid research, including research about the genres themselves. When you choose a genre ask yourself, Why am I choosing it? What do I want to show through this genre? Your purpose must be clear and each genre should express a different piece of the whole puzzle, not repeat the same thing in a variety of ways. Here is a starting point: You must have FIVE genres for this project. Please choose one from each category. Group 1: Print Media Newspaper Article Obituary Editorial Letter to the Editor Advice Column Magazine Article Recipe Application-job, school, etc. Wanted Poster Headlines/Front Page Dictionary of specific language Mission Statement Group 4: Informational Interview Timeline Directions Campaign Speech Assignment Sheet Resume Encyclopedia Entry Memo Lab Report Calendar/Agenda Membership Cards Will Police Report Pro/con List Group 2: Visual with Words Poster Invitation Ad Travel Brochure Greeting Card Cartoon Bumper Sticker Business Cards Invitation Response to Art Neighborhood Flyers PowerPoint Group 5: Creative Writing Diary Entry Song Poem many variations! Short Story Personal Narrative Conversation Pledge Top Ten List Travel Journal Report Card Telegram Prayers/Meditations Eulogy Letter Group 3: Visual Display Picture/Photograph Graph/Chart Map Certificate-award, death, degree Storyboard Postcard Menu PowerPoint Scrapbook Page Magazine Cover
Using Repetend: Repetend is something added to your multi-genre project that repeats or continues. The purpose of repetend is to create unity among the various genre pieces and to give the writer an editorial voice that the reader can easily relate to. Since multi-genre papers are unique and non-linear, they require a lot of work from a reader. You, as a conscientious writer, do not want to let your reader get confused as they move from genre to genre. If you provide your reader with reoccurring images or phrases, or a running commentary or even a narrative or story, you will create unity that will help your reader better understand your central theme. This is much like weaving your thesis throughout a traditional essay. You must find some way to incorporate repetend in your project. Ways to incorporate repetend: include the same phrase, sentence, or passage in each genre page as a heading or somewhere else in the text include a description or design in each piece (written or graphic), placed strategically and meaningfully for easy recognition include a running commentary from you, the writer, following or preceding each genre piece create a character and follow his/her reactions to pieces create a character involved somehow in each piece of writing an ongoing story create a cartoon strip at the top or bottom of each genre that comments on the ideas presented etc. Get the idea? Your Multi-genre Project will include: Title Page An Opening/Preface/Forward/Introduction that will greet the readers, introduce the subject, and provide any other information you think the readers should know. Table of Contents Five different genres from different categories. (If you have an idea that is not listed see me for approval please). Epilogue Rationale Cards A Bibliography
The Elements of the Multi-genre Project Section Description Helpful Hints 1. Title Page This cover page includes the following information : title (not label) your full name the date (due date) graphics, borders, creative stuff 2. Table of Contents This page will help your reader navigate your project. Each genre is listed with its title following. Each title is significant and meaningful on its own. 3. Opening/Preface What kind of information might I include in the preface? 3. Body Your body consists of five base pieces from five different genres. To unify the separate pieces, use some type of repetend or unifying device imagery, theme, etc. This preface, forward, or introduction will greet readers and give a bit of background information about your project. You'll need to introduce the subject and anything you think the reader should know about you and/or your project before they read it. why you chose your topic why your topic is important an introduction to the person of interest a description of a crucial setting or central activity a theme that will be carried through your genres what you learned about your topic and/or genres. Ways to incorporate repetend in your multi-genre include the same phrase, sentence, or passage in each genre page as a heading or somewhere else in the text The body of your multi-genre include a description or project is composed of the various design in each piece (written pieces you create to help your or graphic), placed reader understand your subject. strategically for easy Some of the pieces will be written, recognition some visual, and some a include a running combination. commentary from you, the writer, following or preceding each genre piece create a character and follow his/her reactions to pieces create a cartoon strip at the top or bottom of each genre page that comments on the ideas presented
4. Epilogue 5. Rationale Cards This is your conclusion. It should have its own page. Some aspects you might include: how writing about this topic has changed your perspective on your topic what you learned overall how you felt about using the multi-genre medium to write rather than just writing a traditional story/ essay what you hope your audience learns from your multi-genre web what you feel you accomplished from this project overall any information that would help clarify anything you wrote Rationale Card Genre 6. Works Cited You must have 3 (minimum) sources from a variety of information types. You will provide your rationale for choosing each genre and which source(s) you used to develop each genre. One of your sources, clearly, should be the biography that you read during this project. Your This list of your sources includes a other resources may be found in a brief description of the source and variety of places. Try to use both its value to your project primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are created at the time period you are researching. They include letters, newspaper articles, diary entries, etc. Secondary sources are sources created after the fact that reflect on the event or time period. They often analyze the primary sources. What does this genre tell us about your topic? What is your rationale for selecting this genre to present this information specifically? Source(s) Used: Citationmachine.net www.easybib.com "Everything you need to know to succeed." Your Multi-genre Web. 2002. 7 Jan 2007 <http:// www.sheboyganfalls.k12wi.us/cyberenglish9/multi_genre.htm>.
Procedures Checklist Brainstorm topics. Settle on a few that interest you and do a little researching. Pick one topic that you ll find ample resources for. Fill out the Research Plan worksheet and submit it to me for approval. Read your book and perform other research such as checking the Internet for more sources. You might want to also research by conducting interviews, or finding other hidden treasures. Throughout the researching process make sure to keep notes, ideas, questions, and reflections in your writing notebook. Remember to write down the websites or book titles of any sources you use. Play around with different genres and see which ones work for the information you have. Conference with your peers in class to get suggestions, ideas, and critiques. Conference with me. Do whatever necessary to make your project the best possible. You may choose to change some of your genres to something more suitable. Decide on an overall theme or structure to tie your project together. Make sure you have a Title Page, a Table of Contents, an Introduction, an Epilogue, Rationale Cards and a Works Cited page with appropriate citation of sources. With finished drafts in hand ( finished in the sense that it includes every required component), conference with your peers and myself. Revise and proofread. Present your project with pride.
Name Hour Genre Plan 1. What is your topic? Explain. 2. Describe what you know about your topic. 3. What do you hope to find out about your topic? 4. Which five genres are you thinking of doing at this point?