The Multigenre Paper (MG) |
What | Why | How |
Format | Reflection | Work Cited
|
Examples | Topics List | Genres
|
Timeline | Criteria for Assessment |
A multigenre paper is a collection of different types of writing. Genre means a kind or type of something. Each person will write a multigenre paper about the Pacific Northwest that is something of interest to them. Your report will consist of different types (10 genres) of writing about your selected topic based on information from your research.
While you are researching, you will be recording information about your topic and experimenting with genres in your notebook. Once you have finished your research, brainstorm your ideas. Your final paper will be a complete and thorough analysis of your topic in multiple genres.
The possibilities for genres are endless. Most will be written, but some may be graphic. For example, setting could be covered with a travel brochure or magazine ad using pictures downloaded from the internet.
We will practice some genres in class at the beginning of some periods. In addition we will look at some student multigenre papers from The Multigenre Research Paper: Voice, Passion, and Discovery by Camille A. Allen.
As you are discussing your topics, also discuss ideas for genres. Once you have created an initial piece, see what ideas in it will lead to other types of writing that you can develop and then to other pieces. Your final paper will be published.
The Multigenre Research Paper is an alternative to completing a standard academic research essay. A genre is a type of writing. A newspaper editorial, and poem, are all examples of different kinds of genre. As you might be able to guess simply by thinking about the few examples I provided, different genres serve different purposes, different voices, and different audiences. For example, you would not expect to see a lesson plan written by the school custodian (an issue of voice). Likewise, you would not write a lesson plan to hand out to parents at a fair (an issue of audience). Finally, you would not write a poem to set forth a syllabus for a student (purpose). Because our knowing something is richer if we approach an issue through multiple voices for different purposes speaking to different audiences, the standard research essay is quite limiting in its ability to help us better understand a topic. We will be using the MGP, then, to...
This Paper will develop in stages over the course of the trimester. In fact, if you simply complete your weekly assignments, you will have completed this Paper. In general, the process will be:
You will publish your MGP. The Table of Contents for your MGP should include the following (at a minimum):
Your MGP will have a voice from different points of view and include ten different pieces of writing. Additionally, your MGP will include a presentation as well as a 2-3 page research paper, You may choose your other genres from the list below (or suggest a genre to me for approval):
Your reflection on this assignment is part of the MGP (see section titled "Format?" above).
Click here forMulti Genre Paper (MGP) Timeline
Click here for Research Topics
GENRE below:
Group 1:
Group 2:
Group 3:
Group 4:
Group 5 (visual)
Group 6 (verbal)
advertisement
awards
baseball cards
billboards
brochure
bumper stickers
calendars
comic/cartoon
comic strips
comic books
chart
collage
crossword puzzles
graffiti
graph
headlines
maps
movie clip
movie poster
pamphlet
picture
photo
photo-journalism
poster
postcards
puzzles
public service announcement
stamps
stickers
tickets
Criteria for Evaluation of Multi-genre Research Paper
Use of Genre-
Language and Form-
Clarity-
Meaning-
Information-
Are there at least six distinct literary forms represented here?
Is the variety of genre appropriate? Are the genre selected appropriate
to the purpose of the paper? Do they thoroughly fulfill the purpose
of the paper? (20)
Have you included a works cited page? Have you
used an adequate number and type of sources (3-4)?
Does the paper flow smoothly? Is it easy to read? Is the language
appropriate to the genre used? Are there unnecessary words which slow the
piece down? (20)
Is the paper free of spelling, grammatical, punctuation, capitalization
and paragraphing errors which would make the paper difficult to read or
distract the reader from the meaning? (20)
Do the genre work together to support one overall meaning? Does
everything in the paper work to the support the central focus? Is
this focus clear? Is it meaningful?
The piece should display unity and purpose and create a tension that
makes the reader want to read on. (20)
Does the paper supply specific details, examples, facts, etc. to back
up generalizations? Is there enough information to thoroughly treat
the topic of the paper? Are the details appropriate to the genre
and to the paper and are they carefully selected? Do they evoke imagery
in the reader? (20)