1. Matt Copeland Carolyn Dale copelmat@usd437.net dalecar@usd437.net
Transcending Traditional Research Papers: Stimulating Creativity and Critical Thinking with Multigenre Writing
Matt Copeland Carolyn Dale

2. Presentation Objectives
The participant will…
Develop an understanding of the multigenre research paper (MGRP) and its benefits to students
Examine strategies to teach the MGRP
Discuss the implementation of a MGRP unit into his or her classroom

3. Prior Research Paper Experience
How often do you assign research?
What do students gain from completing research?
How do students respond to being assigned a traditional research project?
How do YOU feel when you sit down to grade a set of traditional research papers?

4. An Introduction to Multigenre Writing and the Multigenre Research Paper (MGRP)
What characteristics does this writing possess?
What information does this writing attempt to convey?
How has research informed this writing?
What similarities does this writing have with a more traditional research paper?

5. MGRP: An Explanation
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.
(Romano x-xi)

6. Reasons for the MGRP Advances critical and creative thinking
Offers formal and summative assessment 
Empowers student choice and ownership
Showcases best work
Facilitates reflection
Reduces opportunity for plagiarism

7. Reasons for the MGRP
Increases interest, motivation, and functionality in research
Facilitates differentiated learning
Offers a process-based writing approach
Strengthens problem-solving skills
More interesting to read

8. Questions?

9. Four Steps in Teaching the MGRP
Introduce the concept
Research
Compose
Follow-Up reflection

10. Teaching Multigenre Writing
Introducing students to the concept of multigenre writing…
With a little help from Count Basie!

11. Introducing the MGRP Concept
Share student examples
Study examples from literature
Offer students choice in selecting a topic that evokes passion
Model the process for your students

12. The Researching Process
Establish guidelines and due dates early
Review steps of formal research
Encourage students to process sources slowly
Consider a non-written project to help students synthesize the information they have found through research

13. The Composing Process
Identify requirements early (how many pieces of writing, how many genres, etc.)
Use a brainstorming sheet to help ‘map-out’ the various pieces
Encourage innovation and risk-taking in writing
Conference with students as they are writing

14. Follow-Up Reflective Activity
Create some type of an activity (whether written or oral) that asks students to reflect on:
What they have done?
How well did they do?
Why is that learning important?

15. MGRP Teacher Reflection
How could you adapt the MGRP model to fit your classroom?
How can the MGRP enhance the teaching of research?
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this approach to teaching research?
What questions or issues does this raise?