Multigenre Writing Beth Hammett Greater Houston Area Writing Project

What is multigenre writing? Themed Genres Sub-genres Self-contained Captures voice

Research “A multigenre paper arises from research, experience, and imagination. It is not uninterrupted, expository monologue nor a seamless narrative nor a collection of poems. A multi-genre 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. Tom Romano, Blending Genre, Altering Styles, 2000

Tom Romano on multigenre writing: “In such writing, it is often solely up to readers to reflect upon meaning and make abstractions. Authors of narrative thinking ask readers to live the page. And we leave the world. Essays, too, of course may contain narrative thinking, though often they do not…. Multigenre papers, however, as I conceive them, demand that writers think narratively. Writers must meld the cognitive with the emotional… Genres of narrative thinking require writers to be concrete and precise. They can’t just tell in abstract language. They can’t just be paradigmatic. They must show. They must make their topics palpable. They must penetrate. And that is what multigenre papers enable their authors to do.”

Genres and Sub-Genres Fiction Non-Fiction Recipes Songs Music Videos Graphics/Images Plays Screenwriting Poetry Advertisements Wanted Posters Pictures/Collages Fables Tall Tales Fairy Tales

Getting Started Find a topic –People –Places –Hobbies –Vacations/trips –Sports –Current events –History –science

Be Supportive, be a coach/facilitator: Cognitive Struggle Romano (high school) identifies a problem with the “open- endedness” of the multigenre format. Some students need more structure than others. The analytical thinkers may struggle with imagination and creativity. Romano points to a need to develop many kinds of skills so that students will be able to go beyond the mere factual: “No matter what professions they enter, facts and analysis are not enough. If our decisions are to be both sound and humane, we need to understand emotion and circumstance, as well as logic and outcome. Writing in many genres helps minds learn to do that.”

Objectives: Identifying: –Make observations –Make connections –Comprehension –Summary –Paraphrasing –Point of view

Topic: Big Foot He was family and friend. Blood dripping from his mouth, we carried him into the house, hooked up a fan, sprayed him with water; we thought it was a heatstroke. The vet couldn’t save him. We cried, prayed then cried some more. All to no avail. Foot passed away and with him went our love for a pet we had not really wanted. Foot had become my protector. I felt safe when with him. His grave is marked with a stone cross at the edge of the pond he so loved to swim in. I still look for him each day, and I know one day we will meet again. Beautiful to me Is my best friend Gone to heaven Friendly Over four Orange/rust/black Time to move on

Recipe for a Dog ½ cup happy family 2 tblsp. Alpo ¼ pint of pond water 1 large futon mattress 1 Rottweiler Mix first 3 ingredients well and pour over futon mattress. Allow to sit for several hours. Add dog and enjoy!

Works Cited Griffith, Paula. Multi-Genre Research Papers (Presentation). Romano, Tom. Blending Genre, Altering Style.