Multi-genre+research+project



** Multigenre Research Project **

For your final project in this course you are pursue a topic related to teaching composition that is of interest to you. You will communicate your learning through a multigenre research project, one that will encompass factual and creative information. You will begin this process by completing a research design. The ideas you brainstorm here will help to guide you in your exploration into your topic.


 * Required Research Sources of Your Inquiry: **


 * At least one book (or two, or three. Read fast, become an expert)
 * Articles –online from our library databases
 * Field material: interviews, testimony, observations
 * Internet sources

An interview with an experienced teacher of writing Content in professional journals, newsletters, and websites (see the wiki for helpful links) Professional texts Teacher blogs and/or podcasts Professional media productions, such as those on the English Companion ning and NCTE
 * Genres or pieces your multigenre project must contain: **
 * Dear Reader letter—introduce your project and its parts to the reader. You may want to include a table of contents or brief outline in your letter.
 * Four or more artifacts/genres from the list below (the more representations of information on your topic, the better your grade)
 * Brief informational essay of five to six pages. Make this vivid, informational, straight-ahead writing. Boil your topic down to essentials. You must follow MLA citation rules.
 * Your two mini-lessons presented in class
 * Conversation with an education expert--look to the big thinkers in the field of teaching and writing for this portion of the assignment to include any of the following sources:
 * Poetry in contemporary free verse style (as one of your artifacts)
 * A visual element/the arts (as one of your artifacts)
 * Bibliography
 * Note Page explaining the pieces in your project
 * Unifying element—you must connect all the pieces of your project in a portfolio, either online or as a hard copy.

Include all of the above in your portfolio. Range as widely as you want in creating this project; creativity is a bonus and often adds to the overall project significantly. You will share a draft your project in the last week of class.

> > >You will need a total of six information sources that you use in the paper and listed on your Works Cited page. > >Cite at least 2 database articles (magazine, newspaper, essay, book chapter, reference article) > >**Any websites you plan to use in the paper ahead of time must be approved by me after you complete an evaluation form of the website. You may not use more than 1 website reference in this paper.** > >Wikipedia **MAY NOT** be used in this paper.
 * Informational Essay Requirements **
 * The paper must be a minimum of five pages, following MLA guidelines, typed, and double-spaced.
 * A portion or all of your notes should be compiled online using a popular notetaking application. See the list linked here: []
 * No more than one direct quote (any information copied word for word) should be used in each paragraph.
 * ** All paraphrased material (information that you find in your research that is not common knowledge) must be cited with parenthetical references. **
 * You must meet the information sources requirements:


 * Evaluation **
 * Our work in class for the second half of the semester will go towards building your project. Save yourself time by combining and saving your work in one location (a wiki site or google docs) as you go. If you’d like feedback along the way, please let me know how I can help you and where I may find your work.
 * The final project will be evaluated with a rubric I will provide to you.

Our class will meet in the library for a tutorial and research day. The databases and resources shared on this day will be invaluable to your research project. Please be prepared for this day with your completed research design.
 * Resources **

** Still a little unsure? **
 * I am providing hard copies of good quality sample multigenre papers for you to look at for inspiration!
 * Go to [] to see former student projects


 * Genres You Might Try **

Genres and subgenres abound. Remember, too, that often the most effective genres arise naturally from your material. A student writing 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.

Newspaper OR tabloid on a character: include these elements (use Publisher):
 * Here is a partial list of genres you might try: **
 * = Print Media =
 * Obituary
 * Editorial
 * Letter to the Editor
 * Advice Column
 * Magazine Article || = Visual with Words =
 * Invitation
 * Ad
 * Travel Brochure
 * Greeting Card
 * Cartoon or Manga Version
 * Postcards
 * Character “baseball” cards
 * A play or skit
 * Artwork
 * Collage
 * Map
 * Wanted Poster
 * Artifacts for a Time Capsule || = Visual Display = ||
 * = Informational =
 * Interview a veteran teacher (in person or via internet or phone)
 * Timeline
 * Bulletin Board
 * Student activities
 * Skit or Play
 * Song
 * Poem (s)
 * Short Story
 * Diary entry
 * Eyewitness account
 * Double-voice piece/double voice poem
 * Found poem
 * Verbal collage
 * A story
 * Recipe
 * Lists || = Creative Writing = || = Digital and Web 2.0 =
 * Photo Story
 * MovieMaker
 * Web Page
 * Glogster
 * VoiceThread
 * Prezi
 * Wiki site ||







More examples and info online: http://www.slideshare.net/monk51295/be-you-book-draft http://www.huffenglish.com/?p=1728 http://www.users.muohio.edu/romanots/

Pre-service teacher examples: http://www.users.muohio.edu/romanots/mgrpapers.htm