MG+Quick+Facts

According to Tom Romano, "A multigenre paper arises from research, experience, and imagination. It is not an uninterrupted, expository monologue nor a seamless narrative nor a collection of poems. A multigenre paper is composed of many genres and subgenres, each piece self-contained, making a point of its own, yet connected by theme or topic and sometimes by language, images, and content. In addition to many genres, a multigenre paper may also contain many voices, not just the author`s. The trick is to make such a paper hang together."
 * What is a Multigenre (MG) report?**

I highly recommend taking some time to teach students the genres before starting this project. Be sure you show them examples of each genre choice so they have an idea of what is expected. This will also likely spark their creativity as they begin to think about their own projects and the genres they would like to use. In reading several articles and talking with teachers who have implemented the projects, the consensus is they all wished they had spent more time explaining the genres, rather than just handing students a list.
 * Is there anything I should know before I consider implementing the projects?**

The possibilities are endless. For a list, click here, or head over to the "Genres" tab.
 * What genres can be included in MG report?**


 * How can I implement this in my classroom?**
 * Elementary (4th and 5th grades):** I recommend allowing students to work in cooperative groups to complete their projects. The power of choice is very important, so I would provide students with a brief list of topics and allow them to choose their own, grouping them accordingly. At this level, each student in the group can be responsible for as little as one to three genres, depending on what they are able to accomplish successfully. You may have to spend some time helping students learn how to conduct research properly.
 * Middle School (6th-8th grades):** Students at this level have most likely experienced writing a traditional research paper and are familiar with the process of conducting research. Depending on what you are studying with your students, I always recommend allowing them to have some sort of say in what they do, either by permitting them to choose their topics freely, or simply letting them to choose the genres they want to create. Students at this level can create anywhere from five to eight genres successfully, but of course, you can use the number of genres required as a tool for differentiation as well.
 * High School (9th-12th grades):** The possibilities are endless with students at the high school level. If students have required reading, the literature can be the basis for creating a multi-genre report. Students can create anywhere from eight to fifteen genres. I also like the idea of creating a class project and having each student contribute to the whole group. Head over to the "Genres" tab to see an example of how to implement a class multigenre newspaper.

Multigenre reports are often presented in a container that goes along with the topic. For a list of examples, click here. This provides the students an additional outlet for creativity, and during presentations, provides listeners with an interesting visual. Reports do not have to be presented in a special container, but allowing students to do so provides them with a unique opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and creativity.
 * What is the purpose of the package/container, and do I have to use this?**

A repetend is something the repeats throughout the project to create unity among all the pieces. It can be as simple as a theme, recurring genre, or repeating phrase. For an excellent description of repentend and examples of them, click here, and scroll down to page two.
 * What is a repetend?**


 * For more tips on MG reports, download the document below.**