Multi-Genre Project for The House on Mango Street

What do you mean by “multi-genre”???? No single genre may tell the “whole” story, but a collection of genres centered around the same focal point, theme, question, or concern can offer the writer and reader multiple ways of understanding it.

Where do I begin? Choose a topic/theme/issue from The House on Mango Street around which to center your paper. (see your bookmark for ideas) Consider multitudinous ways you might explore it – poetry, narration, journal entries, articles – there are limitless mediums for exploration. Juxtapose your intellectual and emotional responses by carefully selecting the genres you feel will represent your perspective effectively.

IMPORTANT!!!! Make sure that each piece you choose is connected to the BIG idea that you chose: Home Identity, Self-Identification Dreams, Hope Society, Social Class Gender Roles, Gender Stereotypes “Othering” or Borderlands Family, Friendship Innocence, Growing up, Autonomy And any other logical topic that you can see reflected in THOMS

Choose 5 pieces We’ve completed a name story, a want ad, a 2-voice poem, and a found poem. You’ll need to create at least one more piece. (any genre)

Choose a “bridge” to connect each piece This is a way to connect your 5 pieces together Your “bridge” is a separate genre, not included in your 5 pieces: Hashtags, song lyrics, “Dear Abby…”, quotes from famous people, recipes, photos, diary entries, grocery lists, dialogue, advertisements, haikus, graphs, bumper stickers, etc. Things to think about to make your bridge effective: Use the same phrase, sentence, or passage in each genre page as a heading or somewhere else in the text include a running commentary from you, the writer, following or preceding each genre piece

Other genre pieces to consider: Resume Album cover Newspaper article Journal entry Greeting card Eulogy Campaign speech Descriptive paragraph Character sketch Wanted poster Encyclopedia entry Comic strip Interview Menu Travel poster Brochure Job application Other types of poetry

How should the project look??? Cover page with your topic and name (you can leave this plain or decorate it) Big piece #1 Bridge #1 Big piece #2 Bridge #2 Big piece #3 Bridge #3 Big piece #4 Bridge #4 Big piece #5 These can be one right after the other and don’t need to be on their own sheet of paper. You can create this completely as a Word document, or do something more artistic or “crafty” like the examples I showed you in class. You can scan in your artwork or you can hand draw it. Bottom line: It should look clean, polished, and publishable. It should be typed unless there’s a very specific artistic point of view you’re trying to show in writing it by hand. No sloppy work!

Due Date Projects are due AT THE START OF CLASS on Friday, May 26 and Tuesday, May 30. Absolutely no late ones will be accepted, for any reason. If you are absent on that day, your project is still due. Make arrangements to get me your project. Remember – we’ll be looking at each other’s projects in class, so keep that in mind when deciding how personal (or impersonal) you want your writing to be.