Multi-Genre Project
Genres
Mini-Lessons by Ms. Zdanko
Word Cloud
 Word clouds mix up the order of a text in a unique
shape or form to give greater prominence to words that
appear more frequently.
 Great base to display personal narratives, interior
monologues, poetry, prose, creative writing,
speech/monologue analysis, news article analysis.
How do I create it?
 wordle.net
 Click “create” and copy and paste your text into the text
box
 Choose which settings, colors, layouts you would like to
use for your text. Save when complete.
 Write or type up the actual text that is within your word
cloud and place beneath the word cloud image.
 Write a paragraph about your process and observations
of your word cloud on your “notes” page!
Example
Celebratory Toast

Toasts are generally offered at times of celebration or commemoration, including
weddings, certain holidays (New Year's Eve) retirement celebrations, housewarming
parties, birthdays etc.

Things to do when writing a toast:

Introduction: Introduce yourself (or chosen character) and the
relation to the person/people whom you are toasting.

Perhaps relate the reason for the toast to a famous quote or saying.

Tell a story about the person/people– may it be a fun or a
sentimental experience – as long as that event highlights the main
character and their relationships. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE.

Closing: Thank the guests for their support, maybe acknowledge
those who prepared the food, the venue, the decorations.. Etc.

Provide well wishes (or awkward moments) to the person you are
toasting.
Example
 http://weddings.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Sample_Weddin
g_Day_Toasts
 Look up “birthday toast” or “wedding toast” or
“retirement toast” on youtube.com for some good
examples of live toasts.
Ulrich– Wed, Feb 27
 Dream Sequence
 Recipe
 Dictionary Entry
Dream Sequence
 A dream sequence is the retelling of what happened in a
dream
 Storytelling style
 Everything (actions, items, colors) is symbolic– dreams
reveal the “subconscious” and “unconscious” of our
minds
 Ex: falling = feeling like you lack control in a situation
 Red = passion, love, anger
Dream Sequence, cont’d
 Required components:
1.
The story of the dream, with symbols coded (by color, font,
size, underline, etc)
2.
A “key” or “dream dictionary” that decodes the symbols in the
dream
3.
A clear explanation of the dream in the Notes page of the MGP,
discussing the message and purpose of the dream and symbols.
What things are in the character’s subconscious and
unconscious, and why?
 SEE EXAMPLE: Casey’s project
Recipe
 A recipe shows the composition of something---how it is
made and what it is made of.
 Character? Relationship?
 As a genre, you can be subtle or direct in the symbolism:
 Direct: ingredients ARE the symbols clearly
 (ex: 1 tsp love)
 Indirect: ingredients are normal items that symbolize
 (ex: 1 c. powdered sugar = sweetness, happiness)
Recipe, cont’d
 Required components:
 Title of recipe
 Ingredients and amounts (use proportions)
 Steps to combine ingredients (these can be symbolic as
well… ex: “mash” vs. “stir gently”)
 Bake time and yield
 Photograph of item created
 Could have a “baker’s note” at end about process
alterations or substitutions, mistakes, etc.
Dictionary Entry
 A dictionary, similar to a recipe, shows what
something IS– but in this case, instead of
focusing on what things are combined to MAKE
something, we focus on the different “sides” to
the same item
Dictionary example
broth·er [bruhth-er or for 9, bruhth-ur] noun, plural brothers ( Archaic ) brethren; interjection
noun 1. a male offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; a male sibling.
2. Also called half brother. a male offspring having only one parent in common with another
offspring.
3. a stepbrother.
4. a male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, race, profession, etc., as another;
an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, fellow man, etc.: a fraternity brother.
5. Ecclesiastical . a. ( often initial capital letter ) a male numbered among the lay members of a
religious organization that has a priesthood.
b. a man who devotes himself to the duties of a religious order without taking holy orders,
or while preparing for holy orders.
Dictionary, cont’d
 Required components:
 Multiple definitions – at least 5 or some combination of 5
defined words
 Part of speech(es)
 Pronunciation
 Example sentences
 Antonyms/ synonyms
 Origin
Concrete Poetry
 Involves arranging the letters or words that describe an
object or symbol into a visual image that also describes
what the text is talking about.
 “Painting with words”
 When creating: Think about what you want to say or
convey about your subject. What makes it unique (shape,
smell, taste)?
 http://www.imagechef.com/ic/poem/
Concrete Poetry examples
Two-Voice Poetry
 Has two narrators talking about one subject or event.
 Poem format: two columns– one for each person who is
reading. Each narrator reads the text in one of the columns.
 When both readers are supposed to read at the same time,
they appear on the same line.
 Often sounds like a dialogue. Therefore, when creating this
genre for your MGP, think about ideas that need discussion or
shows the relationship between the two characters you are
writing about.
Example
written by NNWP consultant Campbell Pontius
I am a polar bear
I am an SUV
I eat fish
I guzzle petroleum
I must swim for my food
But I can’t swim forever
People pump mine
I burn gas pretty fast
When I get tired
When I pollute
I depend upon
I begin to destroy
Ice caps.
Found Poetry
 Created by taking words, phrases, and sometimes whole
passages from other sources and reframing them as
poetry by making changes in spacing and lines, or by
adding or deleting text.
 Purpose of poem: imparting new meaning.
 The literary equivalent of a collage-- found poetry is
often made from newspaper articles, street signs, graffiti,
speeches, letters, or even other poems.
 A pure found poem consists exclusively of outside texts:
the words of the poem remain as they were found, with
few additions or omissions.
Teenink.com
Crest/Coat of Arms
 A coat of arms is a unique design historically used to
cover, protect and identify the wearer.
 Often stated as “coat-armour” because it was
anciently displayed on a coat of cloth.
 Consists of a shield, supporters, crest, and motto.
 Today, the design is a symbol unique to an individual
person, a family, a corporation, or a state.
Coat of Arms Examples