The Multi-genre Research Project
“[Multi-genre papers] recognize that there are many ways to see the world, many ways
to show others what we see.” ~Tom Romano, teacher, author, and “founder” of the multi-genre
paper
Purpose:
The multi-genre paper asks students to see, understand, interpret, synthesize, and know their subject
through multiple genres rather than a traditional or linear research-based paper. In employing genres as
both a lens and a rhetorical tool, the multi-genre research paper asks students to be explicitly creative and
scholarly, to pay close attention to matters of style as well as matters of research. In handling research in
this way, students build a “rhetorical repertoire” and learn how to better recognize that their thinking is
conditioned by the genres they write in and the strength of the message depends on the best choice of genre
for their purpose.
What is a multi-genre paper?
A multi-genre paper is a collection of pieces written in a variety of genres, informed by your research on a
particular subject, that presents one or more perspectives on a research question or topic. A multi-genre
paper is personal, creative, and can’t be copied from some other source. It involves you, as a writer,
making conscious decisions about what information is important and how it should be presented to the
reader.
Okay, this is completely different from anything I have done before—what do I do?
As you research, you’ll need to consider your audience and what genre would be the most effective in
communicating your message to that audience. What genre will “speak” to the people you most want to
reach? And why? You’ll need to be fully engaged in your research—don’t approach it as a scavenger hunt
in which you collect information and spit it back out in an “academic” paper. This is NOT that drill. This
goes beyond the academic paper in a variety of ways. You will be demonstrating all that you’ve learned so
far this year, all of the tools and writing techniques you’ve studied and synthesizing it all into a new and
wonderful whole—something completely unique that only you can do!
Choosing a Researchable Topic:
A strong topic will be one that deals with humanity in a thoughtful and insightful way. This, of course, is
huge and wide open. Therefore, I have provided you with a list of topics that relate to other courses you
are currently taking.
Questions to ask about your topic:
1. Am I truly interested in this topic? You must be invested and it must show in your final product.
If you don’t find your topic interesting, your audience won’t either.
2. Do I have access to enough information on this topic? You will have the resources in our school
library to start with, but beyond that you have access to the internet – it’s unlimited. CAUTION:
You must choose your sources wisely. We’ll talk more about this in class.
3. Is the subject limited enough in focus? Is there a specific theme/idea/concept/answer in which to
research and end up with a clear message to present.
4. Is there a substantial human element to the topic? This must be meaningful for you and your
audience and the human element is the key.
Limiting the topic:
You will begin with a general idea and move to the specific. Here is an example of how you move from
general to specific:
General Subject
→
Specific Subject
→
Focus or Special Interest
Holocaust
Concentration Camps
How concentration camps
affected people’s lives.
↓
Auschwitz
↓
People sent to Auschwitz
often lost family members,
lost faith in God, and lost
a sense of self.
*Start with the essential question(s) you want to find an answer for and then go through the above cycle to
narrow your focus. Remember the camera lens example: We don’t want to deal with the entire landscape
in the photo; we want to zoom in on one pivotal element in the landscape.
→
Genre Ideas:
The genres you can use are just about limitless. You can write and relay important messages in so many
ways it’s mind boggling! But BEWARE! This should not be a haphazard collage of disjointed elements;
you must connect the genres and what they represent with a central, significant theme (a thesis). Your
creative efforts MUST be informed by solid research, including research about the genres themselves.
When you choose a genre ask yourself, “Why am I choosing it? What do I want to show through this
genre?” Your purpose must be clear and each genre should express a different piece of the whole puzzle,
not repeat the same thing in a variety of ways.
Here is a starting point: You must have ONE assignment from group 6—that is the only
requirement in regard to genre choice. (You may come up with others!)
Group 1: Print Media

Newspaper Article

Obituary

Editorial

Letter to the Editor

Advice Column

Magazine Article

Recipe

Application-job, school, etc.

Headlines/Front Page

Dictionary of specific language

Mission Statement
Group 2: Visual with Words

Poster

Ad

Travel Brochure

Cartoon

Invitation

Response to Art

Neighborhood Flyers

PowerPoint
Group 3: Visual Display

Picture/Photograph

Graph/Chart

Map

Certificate-award, death, degree

Storyboard

Menu

PowerPoint

Scrapbook Page

Magazine Cover
Group 4: Informational

Interview

Timeline

Directions

Campaign Speech

Resume

Encyclopedia Entry

Memo

Lab Report

Will

Police Report

Pro/con List
Group 5: Creative Writing

Diary Entry

Poem—many variations!

Short Story

Personal Narrative

Conversation

Pledge

Travel Journal

Telegram

Prayers/Meditations

Eulogy

Letter
Group 6: Structured

Critical Analysis

Report

Descriptive Writing

Persuasive Essay
BONUS: Using Motif:
A motif is something added to your mulit-genre project that repeats or continues. The purpose of using
motif is to create unity among the various genre pieces and to give the writer an editorial voice that the
reader can easily relate to.
Since multi-genre papers are unique and non-linear, they require a lot of work from a reader. You, as a
conscientious writer, do not want to let your reader get confused as they move from genre to genre. If you
provide your reader with reoccurring images or phrases, or a running commentary or even a narrative or
story, you will create unity that will help your reader better understand your central theme. This is much
like weaving your thesis throughout a traditional essay.
Ways to incorporate a motif:

include the same phrase, sentence, or passage in each genre page as a heading or somewhere else in the
text

include a description or design in each piece (written or graphic), placed strategically and meaningfully
for easy recognition

include a running commentary from you, the writer, following or preceding each genre piece

create a character and follow his/her reactions to pieces

create a character involved somehow in each piece of writing—an ongoing story

create a cartoon strip at the top or bottom of each genre that comments on the ideas presented

etc. Get the idea?
Your Multi-genre Project will include:







Title Page
An Opening/Preface/Forward/Introduction that will greet the readers,
introduce the subject, and provide any other information you think the
readers should know.
Table of Contents
Your base pieces from different genres. (If you have an idea that is not
listed see me for approval please).
Epilogue
Rationale Cards
Works Cited Page
The Elements of the Multi-genre Project
Section
Description
1. Title Page
This cover page includes the
following information :





2. Table of Contents
Helpful Hints
title (not label)
your full name
the date (due date)
teacher & course name
graphics, borders,
creative stuff
This page will help your reader
Example: Table of Contents
navigate your project. Each genre
is listed with its title following.
Each title is significant and
meaningful on its own.
3. Opening/Preface/ Research
Paper (2 Pages long)
What kind of information might I
include in the preface?

This preface, forward, or
introduction will greet readers and
give a bit of background
information about your project.
You'll need to introduce the
subject and anything you think the
reader should know about you
and/or your project before they
read it.






3. Body
Your body consists of base pieces
from different genres. The amount
of pieces depends on your choice
of levels. You must have one entry
from the structured category
(group 6).
To unify the separate pieces, use
some type of repetend or unifying
device—imagery, theme, etc.
how you came up with
your idea
why you chose your topic
why your topic is
important
an introduction to a main
character
a description of a crucial
setting or central activity
a theme that will be
carried through your
genres
what you learned about
your topic and/or genres.
Ways to incorporate a motif in
your multi-genre
The body of your multi-genre
project is composed of the various
pieces you create to help your
reader understand your subject.
Some of the pieces will be written,
some visual, and some a
combination.



include the same phrase,
sentence, or passage in
each genre page as a
heading or somewhere else
in the text
include a description or
design in each piece
(written or graphic),
placed strategically for
easy recognition
include a running
commentary from you, the
writer, following or



preceding each genre piece
create a character and
follow his/her reactions to
pieces
create a character involved
somehow in each piece of
writing--an ongoing little
story
create a cartoon strip at the
top or bottom of each
genre page that comments
on the ideas presented
Some aspects you might
include:
4. Epilogue



This is your conclusion. It should
have its own page.



how writing about this
topic has changed your
perspective on your topic
what you learned overall
how you felt about using
the multi-genre medium to
write rather than just
writing a traditional
story/essay
what you hope your
audience learns from your
multi-genre web
what you feel you
accomplished from this
project overall
any information that
would help clarify
anything you wrote
Rationale Card
5. Rationale Cards
Genre_______________________
What does this genre tell us about your
You will provide your rationale
for choosing each genre and which topic?
source(s) you used to develop each What is your rationale for selecting this
genre.
genre to present this information
specifically?
Source(s) Used:
6. Works Cited / Consulted
You must have five
(minimum) sources from a
variety of information types.
This list of your sources includes a
brief description of the source and
its value to your project
MLA Style
Sample Works
Cited/Conculted Page
"Everything you need to know to succeed." Your Multi-genre Web. 2002. 7 Jan 2007
<http://www.sheboyganfalls.k12wi.us/cyberenglish9/multi_genre.htm>.
Procedures Checklist
1. Brainstorm topics. Settle on a few that interest you and do a little researching. Pick
one topic that you’ll find ample resources for.
2. Fill out the “Research Plan” worksheet and submit it to me for approval.
3. Perform your research. Check the library, computer, and Internet for sources. You
might want to also research by going to museums, conducting interviews, or finding
other hidden treasures.
4. Throughout the researching process make sure to keep notes, ideas, questions, and
reflections in your research log. Remember to keep a running bibliography of any
sources you use.
5. Some class time will be dedicated to showing examples of multi-genre works so that
you have an idea of what your project can look like. Study these examples and draw
inspiration.
6. Organize your sources in some way meaningful to you (write an outline, draw a web
or map, etc.) and formulate ideas for your project. Play around with different genres
and see which ones work for the information you have.
7. Conference with your peers in class to get suggestions, ideas, and critiques.
Conference with me.
8. Do whatever necessary to make your project the best possible. You may choose to
change some of your genres to something more suitable. Decide on an overall theme
or structure to tie your project together. Make sure you have a Title Page, a Table of
Contents, an Introduction, an Epilogue, Rationale Cards and a Works Cited page with
appropriate citation of sources.
9. With finished drafts in hand (“finished” in the sense that it includes every required
component), conference with your peers and myself.
10. Revise and proofread. Present your project with pride.
Research Plan
1. What is your topic? Explain.
2. Describe what you know about your topic.
3. Tell what you want to learn about.
4. Describe your plan for collecting information about your topic.
5. Provide a preliminary bibliography.