Multi-Genre Research

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Multi-Genre Research

• IRA Regional Conference
• Billings, Montana
• October, 2007
• Presented by
• Joy Dewing

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Contact Info

• Joy Dewing
• Central Middle School, Kokomo, Indiana
• jdewing_at_kokomo.k12.in.us

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What is Multi-Genre Research?

• Just like regular research papers, students
  research one topic in depth over a period of
  time.
• The difference is in the final product.
• In addition to a regular research paper, students
  also write about their topic in other genres
  fiction, historical fiction, poetry, oral
  presentations, webpages, newspaper articles, and
  more.

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What are the benefits of Multi-Genre Research?

• Students are more engaged in the researching and
  writing process
• Students learn, in depth, about their topic
• Students are excited about the process
• Students have more choice, and therefore more
  ownership of their writing
• Multi-Genre research projects are more
  interesting to read (and grade!) than regular
  research papers
• Final papers are better written

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What does it look like?

• Students select topics theyre interested in
• Students complete research as usual note cards,
  works cited page, MLA format, etc.
• Students examine published pieces written in
  various genres
• After completing a standard paper, students use
  the same research to write in a genre (or genres)
  they choose

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Does it support standards?

• YES!!!
• Standards related to writing( prewriting,
  organizing ideas, rough drafts, revising and
  editing, final drafts, etc.)
• Standards related to researching (internet and
  print based research, MLA or APA format, note
  cards, etc.)
• Standards related to reading and interpreting
  nonfiction texts.

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Is it research based?

• YES!!!
• Childrens curiosity and their passion to
  explore the world are the greatest resources we
  could ever hope to draw upon in teaching
  nonfiction writing Lucy Calkins
• All of us do need to learn how to write with
  voice and energy when we work on nonfiction
  texts. Lucy Calkins

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Is it Research Based?

• Students need the opportunity to play with and
  switch genres. Ask students when did they have
  the most energy to write? Which genre seemed the
  easiest for their topic? Amy Buckner
• In a year-long study of boys and reading Wilhelm
  and Smith found boys want more depth in their
  learning.

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Is it Research Based?

• The best nonfiction writing emerges from topics
  the writer knows, cares, and wonders about and
  wants to pursue. Stephanie Harvey
• Individually, specific facts are fascinating,
  but in the format of a terminal paper I mean
  term paper they can lose their spark. They get
  buried in lists of general information that read
  more like an encyclopedia than a real juicy
  report or story. Barry Lane

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How does it fit with my literacy and writing
program?

• Writing Workshop
• Balanced Literacy Programs
• Traditional Classrooms

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How do I organize my time and lessons?

• Start by deciding what you want students to do,
  and create an assignment sheet
• Decide on your research schedule and how much
  time you want students to spend
• Develop mini-lessons on various genres, as well
  as on research skills

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For Example

• I spend 3 ½ to 4 weeks on research papers.
• Leading up to the research project, begin
  brainstorming topics, so students have a list of
  ideas to start with. I allow students to select
  any topic they wish for their research paper.

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What do I want students to do?

• 3 finished products
• Students choose 1 assignment to complete from
  each box
• Box 1 MLA format paper Standard paper or a Top
  Ten List
• Box 2 Creative Writing
• Box 3 Creative Interests

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Sample Research Schedule

• Day 1
• Finalize topic selection
• Assemble research folders
• Discuss note taking and plagiarism
• Day 2
• Go over requirements of paper
• Review MLA format
• Begin researching

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Sample Research Schedule

• Day 3
• Mini lesson on literary nonfiction
• Continue researching
• 3 source cards sue at the end of the period
• Day 4
• Mini lesson biographies, autobiographies, and
  memoirs
• Continue researching
• Make final choice for Box 1 assignment
• 5 note cards due at the end of the period

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Sample Research Schedule

• Day 5
• Mini lesson alphabet books
• Continue research
• 15 (total) note cards due at the end of the
  period
• Day 6
• Mini lesson DK books, magazines, newspapers, and
  brochures
• Continue research

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Sample Research Schedule

• Day 7
• Mini Lesson Pop-Up books, fiction books that
  include research
• Continue research
• 25 (total) note cards due at end of the period
• Day 8
• Mini lessons Unusual Formats
• All research due at beginning of period
• Organize research
• Begin rough draft (Box 1)

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Sample Research Schedule

• Day 9
• Mini lesson getting published and making money!
• Rough drafts due
• Revise and edit in class/ peer edit
• Day 10
• Work on final draft Box 1
• Day 11
• Work on final draft Box 1
• Day 12
• Final draft Box 1 due at beginning of the
  period
• Begin working on box 23 in class

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Sample Research Schedule

• Day 13
• Work on Box 2 and/or 3
• Day 14
• Work on Box 2 and/or 3
• Day 15
• Box 2 due beginning of the period
• Work on Box 3
• Day 16
• Work on Box 3

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Sample Research Schedule

• Day 17
• Box 3 due beginning of the period
• Share final products
• Celebrate finishing research!

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What does the final product look like?

• 1. MLA format research paper
• 2. Creative Writing
• 3. Creative Interests
• Others?

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Resources Professional

• Buckner, Aimee. (2005) Notebook Know-How.
• Calkins, Lucy. (1994) The Art of Teaching
  Writing.
• Harvey, Stephanie. (1998) Nonfiction Matters.
• Lane, Barry. (2003). 51 Wacky We-Search Reports.
• Smith, Michael W. and Jeffrey D. Wilhelm. (2002)
  Reading Dont Fix No Chevys.

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Resources Trade Books

• Literary Nonfiction Examples Picture Books
• Fireflies in the Night by Judy Hawes
• Faithful Elephants by Yukio Tsuchiya
• Shh! Were Writing the Constitution by Jean
  Fritz
• The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter
• The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai
  Gerstein
• George vs. George The American Revolution as
  Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer
• The Journey that saved Curious George by Louise
  Border
• John, Paul, George, and Ben by Lane Smith

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Resources Trade Books

• Literary Nonfiction Examples Secondary
• An American Plague, Blizzard, and The Great Fire
  by Jim Murphy
• Lincoln A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
• The Endurance by Caroline Alexander
• The Forbidden Schoolhouse by Suzanne Jurmain
• Exploring the Titanic by Robert D. Ballard

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Resources Trade Books

• Biographies, Autobiographies, Memoirs
• Fritz, Jean. Homesick, My Own Story.
• Fritz, Jean. Cant You Make Them Behave, King
  George?
• Dahl, Roald. Boy.
• Say, Allen. Grandfathers Journey.
• Say, Allen. Tea with Milk.
• Say, Allen. Tree of Cranes.

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Resources Trade Books

• Biographies, Autobiographies, Memoirs
• Giblin, James Cross. Good Brother, Bad Brother.
• Ryan, Pam Munoz. When Marian Sang.
• Kerley, Barbara. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse
  Hawkins.
• Krull, Kathleen. The Boy on Fairfield Street.
• Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley.
• Rumford, James. Seeker of Knowledge.
• Borden, Louise. A. Lincoln and Me.

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Resources Trade Books

• Alphabet Books
• Marsalis, Wynton. ABZ, A Jazz Alphabet
• Cheney, Lynne. America, A Patriotic Primer
• Cheney, Lynne. A is for Abagail
• Various authors, state by state alphabet books
  (Sleeping Bear Press)

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Resources Trade Books

• Unusual and Interesting Formats
• Lewis, J. Patrick. Monumental Verses.
• Sabuda, Robert. Matther Reinhart. Encyclopedia
  Prehistorica Dinosaurs.
• Delafosse, Claude. Gallimard Jeunesse. Egyptian
  Tomb Hidden World.
• Messenger, Norman. Imagine.
• Carter, David A. James Diaz. Lets Make it
  Pop-Up.
• Egyptology

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Resources Trade Books

• Magazine and Newspaper Layouts
• Dorling Kindersley books
• Investigations books Heckscher, Melissa, Mark
  Schulman, et al. The Explorers Gazette Amazing
  Stories of 30 Rea- Life Journeys.
• Silver, Donald M. One Small Square Cave.

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Resources Trade Books

• Fiction that Includes Research
• Anderson, Laurie Halse. Fever, 1793.
• Clary, Margie Willis. A Sweet, Sweet Basket.
• Various authors. Dear America Series.
• Various authors. Royal Diaries Series
• Hobbs, Will. The Maze Jackies Wild Seattle, et
  al.