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

2. 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?

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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!

9. 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?

10. 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?

11. Student Sample

12. 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.

13. PA CORE STANDARDS for English Language Arts Grade 6-12