Multigenre Paper
Sandra Wilson and Chris Little
May 27th 2003
May 20th 2003
Jackie Glasgow,
We are excited about writing a multigenre paper. We decided to write our multigenre paper on our research of this topic and our experiences exploring this topic with our students. We believe that it is necessary to start small and work our way up from there. We wanted our students to have successful experiences. To be successful we knew that we needed to break the paper down into manageable parts.
We started by gathering information. Our starting point was Tom Romano’s book Blending Genre, Altering Style, Writing Multigenre Papers. Romano’s book says that a multigenre paper arises from research, experience, and imagination. It is composed of many genres and subgenres, each piece, self-contained making a point of its own, yet connected by theme or topic and sometimes by language, images and content. We also did an exploration of the Internet to see just what was out there. Exploring the topic with our students gave us a unique perspective. We understood the problems that the students were having and could anticipate many of the questions. . Our theme will be making connections.
Writing a multigenre paper is all about making connections. It seems to me that that is what we really want students to do anyway. We need to teach students to make connections among science, citizenship, writing, and reading, and ultimately connect the things that we learn to their every day lives and whatever job they have. Students always ask when will I ever need to know this? Writing a multigenre paper will maybe help students make those connections will answer that question. The students will use each genre as a lens to examine life. By using a variety of genres they will avoid the danger of looking through only that one lens.
All in all, we would say that writing a multigenre paper was a successful experience. We really just began this process with our students in a very structured step-by-step kind of way. We are looking forward working further with our students on multigenre papers next year using the Zindel novels in the seventh grade and Sharon Draper’s Tears of a Tiger in the eighth grade. The students were responding to literature in a new way; they got excited about reading! The students learned and were successful. We were responding to literature in a new way and got excited about teaching. Excitement is contagious. We also came away with lots of new ideas to try next year.
Thanks,
Sandra Wilson and Chris Little
Journal
September 25, 2002
Students have been reading a play called Choices. The play is an exploration of adolescents, their lives and what is important to them. Maybe students can relate this play to their own lives and write a monologue. They could write their monologues, read them and perform them much the way that Choices would be performed.
October 13, 2002
It would be interesting to write a multigenre paper on one topic. I know that is the intent. But, for my students I think I will spread it over several pieces of literature. This facilitates my exploration. Maybe it will help the students to make connections between the things they have read. The connection that I see between these two activities is the exploration of character, not just the character in the book but the student’s own character, exploration of self.
October 8, 2002
The next activity I want to try with the kids is the Poem in Two Voices. The students seem excited about the idea but are unclear where to begin. My classes are reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. I always individualize my reading selections to the reading level and interests of the class. The great thing about trying this multigenre paper is that it will work with all the classes, no matter what they are reading. I can individualize with out having three totally different plans.
October 10, 2002
Students are having trouble knowing where to place their lines. Lines that are said together need to be on the same line. Typing this is difficult. I am having some trouble with it myself. This is a good activity for character development. Students are looking more closely at character development and character motivation. They are also making connections between themselves and the characters. I decided to give the students a choice they could write the poem between two characters or between themselves and a character. Both ideas seem to be working.
March 24, 2003
I have discovered a wonderful novel written in a multigenre format. Tears of a Tiger is a powerful book written by Ohio author Sharon Draper. The students are enthused about reading it. Tears of the Tiger is an example of fictional writing multigenre writing. This book can serve as an example of multigenre writing that students can, read, respond to and model.
March 26, 2003
We will start by writing a dialogue between two of the characters in the novel. The students will write some monologue or dialogue based on the information in the book but will go beyond what is written to speculate on conversations that might have been. They will make connections that aren’t spelled out. The following are choices for student performances.
Student Handout
1. Andrew Jackson has one last conversation with Robert Washington. What would he like to tell him? What would he ask him?
2. Robert Washington comes back to give a message to Andrew. What would he tell him? What would he tell him what would he ask him?
3. Andrew and the Coach are talking after the first winning game since Robert’s death. What is Andy thinking? Why was he late for the game?
4. Tyrone and Rhoda are talking. Tyrone confides in Rhonda. Their relationship develops. They become friends.
5. Monologue – Robert Washington. What does he think about what is happening since his death? Does he blame Andy? Does he take responsibility?
6. Monologue – Andrew Jackson – How does it feel for him to get up and go to school every day and face his classmates? What is he thinking? Feeling?
7. Keisha and Andy are talking about things in general and the accident. How has their relationship changed since the accident? How is Keisha trying to help Andy? What is Andy telling her?
8. Rhonda and Keisha are talking. They are discussing their boyfriends, Tyrone and Andrew, the accident, and things in general.
9. Gerald and BJ are talking. Are they suffering from survivor’s guilt? What do they have in common? They discuss the accident, things in general, and how they are dealing with things.
The students actually seem excited about the script. They are writing their own and will perform them in two days. Austin asked me to write a script. “Hey Mrs. Wilson, If you write a script, I’ll perform it with you. This assignment has gotten a positive response from my students.
Sample Script
Script between two Hazelwood students in the courtyard before school written by S. Wilson.
Yvonne- Can you believe that Andy’s back in school already?
Vern – I thought he’d take some more time off. Actually I didn’t think they’d let him come back. I thought the courts would charge him with vehicular homicide. I’m surprised that they didn’t.
Yvonne- Do you know who painted KILLER on his locker?
Vern- I think it was Alex. Alex lost his sister to a drunk driver last year. He’s still really angry about it. I saw red spray paint in his locker.
Yvonne – I heard someone spit on Andy from the top of the stairs.
Vern- Yah, boy, I’d hate to be Andy. You know after prom last year, a bunch of us went out drinking and cruising around. It could have been me behind the wheel of that car.
Yvonne- Yah, Vern, but you were careful.
Vern – Maybe Andy was careful too. But when you’re drinking man everything looks different.
Yvonne- I don’t know if I could live with the guilt. Even Andy didn’t intend to kill Robert. He has to live with that for the rest of his life. Robert was Andy’s best friend too, and now Andy even has his position on the team.
Vern- You know I don’t think Andy’s parents even care. They weren’t at the game last night, and I heard that Andy almost didn’t come.
Yvonne- Robert’s parents were at the game. That must have been hard for Andy playing Robert’s position with his parents watching.
Vern – What happened to Andy, Robert, BJ and Tyrone is bad all the way around. It looks like they ‘re all going to need our support right now.
Yvonne – I only hope I know what to say to him.
Vern - Maybe we don’t have to say anything. Just be his friend.
March 30th
A man shrieks in pain crying to the universe. Panic is abrupt.
This is a quote from Tears of a Tiger. Students could respond to this quote as a formal essay, in stream of consciousness, with a picture, with a poem or some other genre.
Response to quote:
Pain happens to each and every one of us at sometime in our life. Life is not so much about what happens to us as what we do with what happens to us. Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
To me panic is a reaction. Today I want to learn how to respond and not react. When something bad happens to me, my initial reaction is panic. But if I take time to think, I can respond in a more reasonable way. Often times for me this is a process. I have friends who listen, understand and do not judge. I need to avail myself of these people. Andy had people who were there for him. He reacted and made the wrong choice.
May 4, 2003
There is a wonderful essay in Tears of a Tiger on pages 33-34.
If I Could Change the World
Gerald’s English Homework
November 29
Gerald Nickleby
English Homework
November 29
Personal Essay
Topic – If I Could Change the World
If I could change the world I’d get rid of peanut butter, Band-Aids and five-dollar bills. I know this sounds like a weird list, but I got my reasons
First, I’d get rid of peanut butter. When I was little, peanut butter was my favorite kind of sandwich. Mama would fix it as a special treat and it always made my lunchbox smell good. But Mama left and the peanut butter stayed. We get it free so there’s jars of it sitting around. Sometimes that’s all there is. It sticks to my teeth and it seems like it sticks my bones together- it always makes me feel clogged up.
I’d also get rid of Band-Aids- for two reasons. One, They’re beige. They say on the box, “skin-tone” is the color of the bandages inside. Whose skin? Not mind! So I HATE wearing Band-Aids because they are so noticeable and people always say, “How’d you get that cut, or that bruise, or those stitches?” And I always have to make up a reason about how I hurt myself. When Andy came back to school after the accident, he was wearing a bunch of Band-Aids. At least it took the attention away from me for awhile. But I’d still eliminate Band-Aids- at least beige ones.
Finally, I’d get rid of five-dollar bills. With a five-dollar bill, somebody’s stepfather can buy a bottle of whiskey, a nickel bag of pot, or a rock of crack. He smokes it, or drinks it, and goes home and knocks his kids around or his wife (before she got sick of it and left). He makes his kids wish they could leave. The next morning he doesn’t remember what he did. With a five-dollar bill, Andy and the guys bought a six-pack of beer. They ended up buying five dollars worth of death. It seems like all a five-spot can do is buy trouble, so I’d get rid of five-dollar bills.
So, To make my world better, I’d get rid of peanut butter, Band-Aids, and five-dollar bills.
If I Could Change the World
Sandra’s English Homework
November 29
Sandra Wilson
English Homework
May 6, 2003
Personal Essay
Topic – If I Could Change the World
If I could change the world I’d get rid of fleas, tardiness and I’m sorry’s. I know this sounds like a weird list, but I got my reasons
First, fleas are the bane of a dog’s existence. They cause set up housekeeping on my pet’s back, or ears or nose and make them miserable. They literally suck the blood out of them. I try to kill them. When I find one and put it in a Kleenex, it just crawls away. To really kill them you have to squeeze them till they pop and blood squirts all over the place. Fleas carry disease and are expensive to get rid of. When you find one flea that means there are a 1,000 you don’t see. I can’t think of one positive thing about fleas. The world would be a better place without them.
There is no excuse for tardiness. If tardiness didn’t exist think of all the extra time we would have. There would be no waiting in doctor’s offices and dentists office. There would be no waiting at all. I spend at least one hour a week waiting; that’s 52 hours a year, 2 1/6 days. That’s 156 days over an average life span of 72 years, and one hour a week is a conservative estimate. The time I spend waiting could be used to write a novel, take a walk, talk on the phone or invent something. Without tardiness the productivity of the world would increase tenfold.
I’m sorry are words that come too easily to the lips for some people. They forget an appointment. Hey I’m sorry. They hurt someone’s feelings. Sorry about that. They interrupt a conversation. Sorry. But what happens is nothing changes. They next week they forget another appointment. Oh, hey I’m really sorry. Did I hurt your feelings? Sorry again. Sorry to interrupt but. Without the words I’m sorry, maybe people would have to amend their behavior. I’m sorry is meaningless without changed behavior. In fact, I’m sorry is disrespectful without changed behavior. So what do you say we get rid of fleas, tardiness and never again say I’m sorry?