English Ten: The Multigenre Research Project
Name:______
The best way I can describe a multigenre paper is to say that each piece in the paper utilizes a different genre, reveals one facet of the topic, and makes its own point. Conventional devices do not connect the pieces in a multigenre paper, nor are the pieces always in chronological order. The paper is instead a collage of writing and artistic expression with an overarching theme that engulfs and informs the reader. [1]
The multigenre process offers a sustained argument about your chosen issue. By creating documents in different genres (e.g., the academic research essay, editorials, feature stories, brochures, short fiction, charts, scripts, etc.), you learn to write for multiple audiences, multiple purposes, and multiple forums.[2]
A multigenre paper arises from research, experience, and imagination. It is not an uninterrupted, expository monolog nor a seamless narrative nor a collection of poems. A multigenre paper 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. In addition to many genres, a multigenre paper may also contain many voices, not just the author's. The trick is to make such a paper hang together. (Romano, Blending Genre, Altering Style i-xi)
You will research a topic of your choice; create a 3-6 page paper with a correct MLA Works Cited Page and parenthetical citation; choose 3 additional items (artifacts), synthesize (create) a unified project, and display it via a wikipage. You will receive grades throughout the process as well as on the final product.
Research Planning Steps
1) Wonder: What do I find interesting about the topic? What do I want to know?
What is my research question? Supporting questions? List research question here:______
List supporting questions here (what kinds of background/factual information do I need to find?) ______
2) Plan: What resources should I use? What resources do I have to use? List possible library databases to use: ______
List keywords for searching databases:
______
3) Investigate: Is this information credible? Is it relevant to my question?
EVALUATE THE SOURCE – who wrote the page? Once you are using Google or Sweetsearch.com, make sure to verify the website. List websites and author of the website[3]: ______
4) Connect: How does the information I’ve found answer my question? Take notes that include my own thoughts.
Noodletools – note cards and citations. Make sure you have an active Noodletools account! Create note cards for each good source you find. Copy quotations and then paraphrase (use your own words) to explain the importance of the text. You can create more than one note card for each source. Cite all sources!
5) Communicate: What can I create? How will I give credit?
Written persuasive paper
--Try the following websites if you need guidance in formatting your paper correctly:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/05/
http://www.ehow.com/how_4593531_write-persuasive-essay-outline.html
Multigenre artifacts
List three artifact choices here, and explain why you are choosing them:
______
6) Evaluation: Judge the project
Look at the rubric to make sure you have met all the expectations
English Ten: The Multigenre Research Project
As you proceed in your research, consider that your Multigenre Research Project needs a unifying element, a repetend (word, sound, or phrase that is repeated; a refrain).
How to include a repetend:
1. Include the same sentence or phrase in each genre.
2. Include the same design in each genre.
3. Create a character involved somehow in each genre.
4. Create a cartoon strip at the bottom of each page that comments on the ideas presented.
5. Create a cartoon strip at the bottom of each page that comments on the ideas presented.
Multigenre Research Peer Comments Guide
In the discussion section of the wikipage you are viewing, answer the following questions. Do not forget to “sign” your name!
1. Who is the author of this page?
2. Why is this topic interesting?
3. What did you learn by viewing this project?
4. What further questions have arised from viewing this project?
Multigenre Research Self Assessment Worksheet
Please answer the following questions via email or a Word document in order to help me better understand the experience you had as a multigenre writer.
1. What surprised you? (about this project) You should write about your topic, the process of researching, and/or the process of creating the genre pieces.
2. What did you learn about writing in different genres as a way of inquiring into your topic and communicating what you know?
3. What did the multi-genre format enable you to do with your topic?
4. What could have made creating this project easier?
5. What was the main thing you were trying to convey about your topic to your reader? Do you think you succeeded? Explain how.
MULTIGENRE ARTIFACTS[4]
Your multigenre artifact should reflect some significant piece of knowledge or insight gained through your research. Ask yourself these questions before committing to a genre/artifact:
1. Why am I choosing this particular genre?
2. What do I want to show, express, or convey through this genre?
You need THREE artifacts from THREE DIFFERENT genres in addition to your “Traditional Paper.” You will get a separate grade for each artifact.
Group 1: Print Media· Newspaper OR tabloid on a character: include these elements (use Publisher):
-Obituary
-Editorial
-Letter to the Editor
-Advice Column
· Magazine Article
· Resume/Job Application / Group 2: Visual with Words
· Poster
· Invitation
· Advertisement
· Travel Brochure
· Greeting Card
· Cartoon or Manga Version/Graphic Novel
· Postcards
· Character “baseball” cards / Group 3: Visual Display
· Artwork
· Collage
· Map
· Wanted Poster
Group 4: Informational
· Interview (think People magazine or the Oprah Show)
· Trivia Game
· Timeline
· Bulletin Board / Group 5: Creative Writing
· Skit or Play
· Song
· Poem (s)
· Short Story
· Diary
· Eyewitness account
· Found poem
· Verbal collage
· Recipe / Group 6: Digital and Web 2.0
· Photo Story
· MovieMaker
· Web Page
· Glogster www.glogster.com
· VoiceThread www.voicethread.com
· ScrapBlog www.scrapblog.com
· Mixwit http://www.mixwit.com/
Other Ideas: I am open to other suggestions---please see me for prior approval. Thank you!
Multigenre Research Artifact Rubric Name:
20 / 15 / 10 / 5-0Visual Element / Appealing to the eye. Meaningful to the intellect. Enhances understanding, conception, or appreciation. Shows something that could not be conveyed by words alone. / Somewhat appealing to the eye. Interesting to the intellect. Attempts to enhance understanding, conception, or appreciation. Attempts to show something that could not be conveyed by words alone. / Not appealing to the eye. Uninteresting to the intellect. Does not enhance understanding, conception, or appreciation. Does not show something that could not be conveyed by words alone. / Simple clip art level or missing visual.
Originality / Shows creativity, originality, effort, and thought. Planning and detail are evident. / Shows some creativity, originality, effort, and thought. Some planning and detail are evident. / Shows little creativity, originality, effort, or thought. Planning and detail are not evident. / Shows no creativity, originality, effort, or thought. Planning and detail are not evident.
Evidence of Research / Effectively represents a key piece of knowledge gleaned from research. / Sufficiently represents a key piece of knowledge gleaned from research. / Attempts to represent a key piece of knowledge gleaned from research. / Does not represent a key piece of knowledge gleaned from research.
Relevance / Highly relevant to project as a whole. Engages the audience and makes them want to know more about the topic. / Relevant to project as a whole. Interests the audience and makes them want to know more about the topic. / Somewhat relevant to project as a whole. Attempts to interest the audience and tries to make them want to know more about the topic. / Seemingly irrelevant to project as a whole. Does not interest the audience or try to make them want to know more about the topic.
Conventions / Free of writing convention errors. / Few writing convention errors. / Several writing convention errors. / Many writing convention errors.
Multigenre Research Project Rubric[5] Name:
Category / 20 points / 17 points / 15 points / 12 pointsProduct (Wikispace Page) Layout / Product is very well organized, extremely neat, easy to view, and attractive to the eye. All links work. / Product is organized, easy to view, and is attractive to the eye. All links work. / Product is organized, easy to view, and is attractive to the eye. Most links work. / Product is not organized and is difficult to view. Few links work.
Genre Choices and Explanation / Three genres from three different categories, and three fully explained, error-free choice explanations. / Three genres from three different categories, and three adequate choice explanations with 2 or fewer errors. / Three genres from three different categories, and three or more errors in three choice explanations. / Genres from repeated categories, and/or inadequate/nonexistent choice explanations.
“Traditional Paper” Section with Sources and Citations / 3-6 page essay with at least 1 print source and 4 electronic (3 must be from databases) sources used, and all in-text citations are correctly documented. Works Cited is in correct MLA format. / 3-6 page essay with at least 1 print source and 4 electronic (3 must be from databases) sources used, and most in-text citations are correctly documented. Works Cited is in mostly correct MLA format. / Fewer than 3-6 page essay with fewer than 1 print source and 4 electronic (3 must be from databases) sources used, and most in-text citations are correctly documented. Works Cited is mostly incorrect. / Fewer than 3-6 page essay with fewer than 1 print source and 4 electronic (3 must be from databases) sources used, and few in-text citations. Works Cited is incorrect.
Self and Peer Assessments / Self and Peer Assessment shows evidence of deep reflection and thoughtful constructive criticism and/or commentary, and at least three peers' products were reviewed. / Self and Peer Assessment shows evidence of reflection and commentary, and at least three peers' products were reviewed. / Self and Peer Assessment shows little evidence of reflection and commentary, and/or only two peers' products were reviewed. / Self and Peer Assessment shows no evidence of reflection and commentary, and/or 1 or no peer's product was reviewed.
Conventions / No grammatical errors. / Few grammatical errors. / Multiple errors. / Distracting errors.
Checklist
____ Carefully read through this document and take notes on presentations by Ms. Arkans and your instructor.
____ Join the class wikispace and create your own page here: http://english10nphs.wikispaces.com/
____ Step One (topic)
____ Step Two (find sources, create resources list)
____ Start using Noodletools notecards.
____ Continue research.
____ Start choosing and designing artifacts.
____ Start the written portion of the project.
____ Continue research.
____ Hand in artifacts for grading.
____ Finish the written portion and hand in for grading.
____ Create a unified wikipage and evaluate it.
____ Complete the self-assessment.
____ View at least three other complete projects and respond to them.
7
[1] From Camille Allen's The Multigenre Research Paper (2001)
[2]From http://writing.colostate.edu/gallery/multigenre/sampleassignment.html
[3] Do not forget to review the NPHS Library Evaluating a Website link at http://nphslib.weebly.com/how-to-evaluate-websites.html
[4] Adapted from http://hamilton11th.wikispaces.com/file/view/Multigenre%20Artifacts%20Fall%202008.pdf
[5] Adapted from http://multigenreresearchandcomposition.wikispaces.com/Sample+Rubric