THE MULTIGENRE RESEARCH PROJECT YOUR FINAL ASSIGNMENT

What is multigenre?  "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)

EXAMPLES OF MULTIGENRE

What will it show me you know and can do?  Presents multiple, even conflicting perspectives of one event or topic.  Provides a rich context for an event or topic.  Demonstrates sophisticated understanding of audience needs and interests.  Permits meaning to dictate form, rather than vice versa.  Demonstrates a sophisticated knowledge of various genres and uses of language.  Integrates factual information into a meaningful text, verses copying or simply recall.  Permits the author to highlight personal interests and special expertise.  Stimulates critical analysis and higher-level thinking skills.  Makes coherence and unity a genuine rhetorical problem to be solved.  Requires research skills and knowledge of source documentation.  Can make full use of new media literacies.  Is almost impossible to plagiarize.  Results in an interesting, engaging product.  Demands careful reading and response.

How do I start? After every chapter, jot down key moments that contribute to some greater meaning. Consider the characters and how they interact and what is not said or what could be discussed further. Example: The firebombing of Dresden was a big deal– and Vonnegut briefly alludes to it in the beginning, but you could examine it a great deal more by researching people who were really there- and report from another perspective.

What’s next? As you read, start thinking of pieces you could compose. Brainstorm genres! Letters Journal entries Twitter feeds/Facebook pages Poems Newspaper articles Collage/sketch Ex from last year: -News article reporting car accident

PROJECT DESIGN ALL PROJECTS MUST INCLUDE: Letter to the reader : explain the purpose and intent of each piece (1-2 paragraphs per piece) 5 pieces (minimum) that represent thoughtful reflections and analysis and are presented through a mix of narrative, expository, and visual pieces Every piece must have direct quotations from the text. For the written pieces, multiple quotations need to be embedded. For the visual pieces, you need to explain which part of the text inspired you in the “letter to the reader”. Repetend: This is an element that ties each piece together, also known as “the golden thread” This can be visual/ text-based/ motif-based/ theme-based/ character- based – something that is highlighted in each of your pieces to pull all of them together. Works Cited- all sources must be cited (visual and textual) *all pieces except visuals must be submitted to Turnitin.com *

IMPORTANT DATES Thurs 12- first work day - you will have one per week to try out styles and begin working (You will have to revise and edit each piece after you decide on your theme) Proposed due date: Jan 16 (last week before midterms) end of MP is Jan 22