Multigenre Research:
A New Approach to an Old Topic
Beth Hammett
Greater Houston Area Writing Project
College of the Mainland
mbhammett@aol.com
bhammett@com.edu
What is a Multigenre Research
Paper?
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Combination of many genres
Authors’ Styles
Voice
Creativity
Components of Research Paper
– Index Cards
– Resources/Research
– Bibliography
For most students, research writing is a
perfunctory exercise in which they regurgitate
information from the encyclopedia, with little
analysis or interpretation. Multigenre research
writing is different. When given the chance to
select their own research topics, decide which
genres to write in, and determine how to present
their findings, students assume ownership and
take pride in their work. They grow as writers.
Tom Romano
The Multigenre Research Paper
The multigenre paper is much more than a
writing assignment. It is a multilayered,
multivoiced literary experience. Genres of
narrative thinking require writers to make an
imaginative leap, melding the factual with the
imaginative. Writers can’t just tell. They must
show. They must make their topics palpable.
They must penetrate experience. Multigenre
papers enable their authors to do that.
Tom Romano
Blending Genre, Altering Style
Two Different Multigenre
Approaches:
• Middle/High School
– Imitating Authors’
Styles
• College
– Analyzing Authors’
Styles
Middle/High School
Materials Needed:
1. Class copies of Stream of
Conciousness piece(s):
– Girl by Jamaica Kincaid
– The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
– Mark on the Wall by Virginia Woolf
2. Class generated list of genres
3. Lots of Paper/Pens/Pencils
4. Examples of Various Other Genres
– Fairy Tales, Recipes, Newspapers, Epitaphs, Eulogies,
Myths, Comics, Cartoons, Journals, Letters, etc.
– Great Resource is the Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists
Lesson Plan
• As a class, brainstorm a list of genres. Post where all
can see.
• Read your selected Stream of Consciousness piece
together.
• Each student brainstorms for topic ideas.
• Narrow your topic to only one.
• Teacher models his/her topic and begins three other
pieces in different genres for all to see.
• Encourage students to review different genres before
beginning.
• Students will produce four written pieces in a variety of
genres.
Be Sure to:
1. Use the writing process
2. Publish writings:
Do class/group readarounds
Publish in magazines, newspapers, etc.
Assessment
Scoring Guide
4 pieces (different genres)
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#1 Type _________
#2 Type _________
#3 Type _________
#4 Type _________
TOTAL:
Comments:
25 pts. each
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College Multigenre Paper
• Materials Needed:
– Different Styles of Writing by Many Authors
• Dickens, Allende, Nietzsche, Woolf, Ellison,
Beckett, etc.
• Copy the introductory paragraph of each author
onto a sheet of paper so that students can
compare/contrast by looking at only one side of the
paper.
Lesson Plan
• As a class, compare/contrast two of the authors using a
Venn Diagram
• Break into groups and have students do two other
authors
• As a class, discuss findings
• Hand out Multigenre Research Paper sheet
– Go over thoroughly
– Do question/answer session
• As a class, brainstorm a list of genres
– Compare/contrast
If possible, pass around examples of previous projects
for students to review
Be sure to:
• Focus on the author’s style
• Help students with the reflection page
– This page ties the pieces together
– Model, model, model!
Assessment
Multigenre Scoring Guide
Name:
___________________
Cover Page
Six Entries
Reflection Page
Bibliography
Total:
Comments:
__________
__________
__________
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__________
Works Cited
Romano, Tom. Blending Genre, Altering Style.
Boynton/Cook. March 1, 2002. ISBN: 0867094788
Romano, Tom. The Multigenre Research Paper. Heineman.
January 31. 2001. ISBN: 0867094788
Strouf, Judie L.H. Reading Teacher’s Book of Lists. Center
for Applied Research in Education. 1997. Page 69.
ISBN: 08762285485