The Multigenre Paper: An Alternative to Traditional Research Daniel A. Krack Greater Latrobe Senior High School 24 Sept 2014

Talking Point/Back Channel In the context of writing and composition, what is GENRE? What are the most common writing genres employed in your classroom? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Both pieces are biographies, but what’s the difference? Count Basie Bio 1 Count Basie Bio 2 Both pieces are biographies, but what’s the difference? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Basie

Multigenre Writing Defined “A multigenre paper arises from research, experience, and imagination. It is not an uninterrupted, expository monolog nor a seamless narrative. A multigenre paper is composed of many genres and subgenres, each piece self-contained, making a point of its own, yet connected to the other pieces by theme and content and sometimes repeated language, images, and genres. A multigenre paper may also contain many voices, not just the author’s. The craft then--the challenge for the writer--is to make such a paper hang together as one unified whole.” --Tom Romano Fearless Writing: Multigenre to Motivate and Inspire http://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Writing-Multigenre-Motivate-Inspire/dp/0325048061/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411524103&sr=8-1&keywords=fearless+writing

A Rationale for Multigenre Writing Encourages intertextuality as a way to form, shape, and revise. Writers recognize that there is not a singular, definitive narrative, but rather, various narratives that require the writer to reconsider “the truth.” Asks the writer to consider the gaps and silences within a text and to contend with them. bell hooks says in Teaching to Transgress that multigenre writing is good way to “creatively invent ways to cross borders.” Donald Murray writes in A Writer Teaches Writing, “We should use genre—the entire range of genres—to help us explore our subject.” Multigenre writing allows the writer to view a subject through a variety of lenses.

Developing a Research Plan Students brainstorm a list of topics and write a rationale for each item on the list. Students are asked to complete a research plan that contains the elements of a K W L chart. The plan helps to keep the research (and the student) focused! DESIGN PLAN HANDOUT STUDENT SAMPLE

HERE’S A TIP! Make sure to provide USEFUL feedback to students on their research plan: suggest areas for further investigation ask for clarification encourage deeper thinking recommend resources BC: What are your tips for USEFUL feedback? What does USEFUL feedback look like?

Plan’s Done...Now What? Invite students to take ownership. Allow them to be part of the process. Ask the class to decide how many pieces and what genres should be included in the final paper. Are genres allowed to be repeated? If so, which ones? How many times? Allowing for student choice does NOT mean that the teacher needs to relinquish control! Perhaps there are genres that you require!

BC: What are your favorite writing strategies? The Process Let them write Remind students to consult their design plans Ask students to decide what the purpose of the paper will be THE GOLDEN THREAD!! the element that connects and unifies all of the pieces Workshop Read-a-rounds Mini-lessons Provide useful feedback along the way BC: What are your favorite writing strategies?

BC: What are your tips for ensuring successful student writing? HERE’S A TIP! Provide: Structure Clear expectations Check points BC: What are your tips for ensuring successful student writing?

Student Sample

Let’s Try It! Create a recipe that includes all of the traits and qualities that make you “you.” Use measurements! Use each letter in your first name to create an acrostic poem that reveals something about yourself. Write a letter introducing yourself to your students.

PA CORE STANDARDS for English Language Arts Grade 6-12