Cantrell
Mrs. Lynch
English IV
Literature-Based Multi-Genre Project
PURPOSE:
A multi-genre project is a collection of pieces written in a variety of genres and involves you as a writer making
conscious decisions about what information is important and how it should be presented to the reader. It is
personal, creative, and can’t be copied from another source.
WHAT IS A GENRE?
A genre is a type of writing. A poem is a genre. A paper is a genre. A newspaper editorial is a genre. So are plays, and
diaries, and cartoons, and billboards, lists, field reports, medical reports, etc…
TASK:
Create a multi-genre project based upon your character from the vietnampix.com website and our novel
The Things They Carried… .
THE PROJECT MUST INCLUDE:
 three (3) genres that you have personally created
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the additional components listed below ( page two gives directions for each)
a. (introduction) explained below
b. a table of contents
c. cover page- that incorporates your name, the title of the selected book, the author, and
any other information that you would like to include.
 epigraph (on your cover page). An epigraph is a motto or quotation that is usually at the
beginning of a literary composition that sets forth a theme.
 It should be visually appealing!
You may find that you need to create more pieces than the required eight to make your paper
complete and high in quality.
The following five required elements count towards your eight total pieces/requirements:
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 Introduction/Preface/Dear Reader. (1 typed page single spaced) This page should be, in a
sense, a letter to your reader offering a (1) brief overview of your character along with a (2)
detailed explanation of why you chose the genres that you did.
 A Cover Page. Your project should include a cover page that incorporates your name, the
title of the selected book, the author, the epigraph,
 An Epigraph (on your cover page). An epigraph is a motto or quotation that is usually at
the beginning of a literary composition that sets forth a theme. Your epigraph should be
something that you personally created based upon your understanding of the novel, OR it
could be a selected quote that applies thematically to your piece. Your epigraph should be
included somewhere on your cover page to prepare us for your project.
 SAMPLE epigraphs
Ex. From Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein:
Only May Amelia
"Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
return.”
To mould me man, Did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?"
From Jennifer Holm’s Our
“If you don’t go, you can’t
 A Visual Element. This could be a sketch or drawing done by you, a repeated symbol
functioning as a repetend to tie your genres together, or images included along the way to
enhance the individual genres. THE VISUAL CANNOT BE AN IMAGE FROM AN
ONLINE SOURCE: IT MUST BE ORIGINAL! Whether it is on one page or throughout
your project, you must include a visual element to make your project interesting!
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Genres: You will choose three of genres I have distributed in class. When selecting, remember
to choose appropriate and applicable genres to achieve the overall goal of the assignment, which is
to provide illumination of the theme and to enhance the reader’s understanding and thoughts
towards the book. Do not just pick something because it seems easy; your meaning will be lost,
and you will have a hard time justifying the usage of that particular genre in your notes page and
you probably will not be happy with your grade. The most effective genres arise naturally from
your material.
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GENRE OPTIONS
Requirements for Genres:
1. Each genre should encompass at least one full page, be the approximate equivalent of 1 full page, 12 point
font of typed text/writing, and must be original.
2. Each of your genres are titled appropriately and creatively given the content and theme(s) of you novel.
3. You may select (up to) two (2) choices from Column A; the rest of your genres should be from Column B (at least 3).
4. You may only create one type of genre listed (i.e. one fable, one letter, etc.).
Column A
Classified Ad
Comic Strip with dialogue
Psychological/Medical Report
Encyclopedia Entry (original!)
Recipe (thematic)
Song lyrics (that you created w/ at least a chorus and
two verses)
Facebook Page – complete with quotes, posts, etc.
Brochure (Tri-fold)
Column B
Poems for two voices (your original work)
Free Verse poem (your original work, at least a
page)
Obituary
Dear Abby (with response)
Allegory (story)
Diary / journal (multiple entries)
Fable
Game instructions and rules
Interview
Letter
A Parody/Satire
A Newspaper-style story (hard news/feature story)
First Person narrative
Third Person narrative
Stream of consciousness
Interior monologue
Dialog (written in play format)
Editorial
Some example of genres:
 A student reading about a novel involving bulimia, for example, began her paper with a doctor’s report for a
patient with bulimia. The official form of the report was professional looking with the doctor’s name and business
address appearing in a standard format and the handwritten notes of the doctor providing pertinent information
about the patient’s symptoms.
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 If you were to read the book Jerk, which investigates the protagonist’s, Sam, struggle to deal with Tourette's
syndrome and a stepfather who despises him, you might create a brochure that details his road trip experience as
he discovers the truth about his life.
 Perhaps if you read Dreamfactory, you may choose to write a two voice poem from the main character’s voices,
one male and one female, revealing their individual struggles on the same situation.
The key to overall superbness with this project is selecting genres that compliment the themes of the novel!!
Be sure to example some if the examples and NON-examples located in the classroom.
Suggested Reading Selections
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Multigenre Project
Final Check List and Due Dates
Due Dates:
Character bio
Genre piece #1
Genre piece #2
Genre piece #3
FINAL PROJECT DUE
5-9-12
5-10-12
5-13-12
5-14-12
5-17-12
Completed Multi-genre Project: ________________________
Before turning in your final product, use the check list below to ensure you have included all of
the necessary components and requirements within those components for your multi-genre
project.
_____ Cover page Your project should include a cover page that incorporates your name, the title of the
selected book, the author, the epigraph, and any other information that you would like to include. It should
be visually appealing!
_____ An epigraph An epigraph is a motto or quotation that is usually at the beginning of a literary
composition that sets forth a theme. Indeed, the very presence of an epigraph can make us question what lies
before us: it acts as a kind of shadowy third figure, somewhere between the author and the audience. Your
epigraph should be something that you personally created based upon your understanding of the novel, OR it
could be a selected quote that applies thematically to your piece. Your epigraph should be included
somewhere on your cover page to prepare us for your project.
_____ Introduction/Preface/Dear Reader (1 typed page single spaced) This page should be, in a sense, a
letter to your reader offering a (1) brief overview of your book along with a (2) detailed explanation as to what
you learned through the reading and (3) what you hope the reader of your project learns through the reading of
you MGP. (4 and 5) Be sure to explain your epigraph and visual in your introduction.
_____ Visual Element This could be a sketch or drawing done by you, a repeated symbol functioning as a
repetend to tie your genres together, or images included along the way to enhance the individual genres. THE
VISUAL CANNOT BE AN IMAGE FROM AN ONLINE SOURCE: IT MUST BE ORIGINAL! Whether it
is on one page or throughout your project, you must include a visual element to make your project interesting!
You must explain your rationale for your visual within your introduction.
_____ Genre 1: _________________________________________________
_____ Genre 2: _________________________________________________
_____ Genre 3: _________________________________________________
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Name: ___________________________________
Book Title:________________________________________________ Author: _________________________________
Multi-genre Rubric
English IV 2012
Cover Page
Includes name, title of the selected book, author,
and epigraph and is visually appealing.
5 points
Epigraph
Motto or quote exhibits understanding of the novel
and the epigraph correlates thematically to the
project. Epigraph is cited.
5 points
Introduction/Preface/Dear Reader
One (1) typed single spaced page containing
overview, detailed explanation as to what learned,
what the reader should learn, and explanation of
epigraph and visual.
10 points
Visual Element
Includes a visual that functions symbolically
while providing enhancement for the viewer.
5 points
Personal Genre 1
Connects to the content and illuminates the themes
of the literature while exhibiting the reader’s
thinking and understanding of the book.
15 points
Connects to the content and illuminates the themes
of the literature while exhibiting the reader’s
thinking and understanding of the book.
15 points
Connects to the content and illuminates the themes
of the literature while exhibiting the reader’s
thinking and understanding of the book.
15 points
MUST APPEAR ON COVER PAGE
_________________________________
Personal Genre 2
_________________________________
Personal Genre 3
_________________________________
Project is on time
5pts.
Project demonstrates connection to text 10 pts.
Character bio
15 pts.