Literature & Thematic Based Multi-Genre Research Paper

Multi-genre means exactly what it sounds like it means: a paper that is written in several different
genres. The key is that the genres are connected somehowin this case, they will be connected by
our class readings from dystopian literature and your own reading of a self-selected dystopian novel
(or novels) to read. You will center your paper on a theme (suggested ones are below) and through
topics and dystopian themes it linked to in your readings. Even though the paper is written in lots of
different genres, the paper STILL NEEDS TO FLOW.
Specifically, you will have to create your paper from 7 genres, two to three from column A and two
to three from column B, and two to three from column C (found within this packet). You must not
duplicate a genre. We will have mini-genre workshops as you work where we look at several genres
and how to create them for the paper. We wont have time to cover every genre, but most of them
should already make sense to you.
To create a multi-genre paper based upon a work of literature. You must do three things:
Carefully read your dystopian novel and connect it thematically to our class readings and
your own experience with the elements common to dystopiaeither through prior exposures
in literature, film, history/ news, or your own personal experience.
Research about the historical, philosophical or mythic events and topics that inspire
dystopian works.
Write a multi-genre paper that explores and communicates through imaginative genres the
content and themes of the literature, as well as historical/critical information and,
perhaps, biographic information about the author that illuminates the work in some way
and enhances the readers thinking about a dystopian theme.
You will also learn be doing research as part of your multi-genre paper (MGP). You will learn to cite
your sources including images in MLA format.
Possible Research Topics
Possible Dystopian Themes to Explore
Reality Television
Surveillance
Propaganda as a Governmental tool
Containment
Violence in the Media
Conformity / sacrifice of the individual for the
Control of the media (Putins alleged murder of
greater good of society
journalists)
Fear that leads to betrayal of others or self
Poverty: Great disparity between the haves and
Propaganda: Manipulation of truth through
the have-nots
language and/ or images
Rebellion/Resistance Movements
An Us versus Them mentality/
Current Totalitarian regimes (North Korea, Iran)
The Outsider versus the Insider
For novel read the authors inspiration
Family unit destroyed by totalitarianism
Historical rebellions/ revolutions
Love destroyed
Literature as Satire/ Social Critique
Individualism suppressed and destroyed
Escapism through feeding senses to distract mind
(alcohol, food, etc.)

How Long Should the Literature-Based MGP Be? Your MGP must contain at least seven (7)
genres. In addition to this seven are the introduction (dear reader letter), expository piece, table of
contents, note page, and MLA bibliography of sources. You may find that you need to create more
pieces than the required seven to make your paper complete, high in quality, and aesthetically
pleasing. So feel free to do more.
Adapted from the ideas and work of Tom Romano, Miami University;
Cicely Lewis, Meadowcreek High, & Ashley Ulrich, Northview High

What Components Must the Literature-Based MGP Contain?

Introduction: which acts as a Preface or Dear Reader letter
Expository piece-Essay (200-300 words. Make this vivid, informational, straight-ahead
writing. Boil your topic and its connection to the theme and text down to the essentials. Write
exposition that is good to read.)
A visual element in at least one of your genres
Bibliography of sources used in MLA format (at least 5 sources beyond your selected
dystopian novel are required.)
Note Page: Where you list the genres youve chosen, and write a short paragraph about each,
explaining why you chose that genre. What makes it a good genre for your paper? What
does it add to your paper? What made you think to use this specific genre?
Unifying elements (repeated symbols, repeated images, genres that illuminate your take on
the narratives message and build on each other, a detail just mentioned in one piece but
explored and illustrated in a later piece)

Creative/ Column A:

Informational/ Column B:

Non-Fictional/ Column C

*Propaganda poster
*Original artwork with
descriptive caption
*Emails (at least 3)
*Poetryconcrete poetry,
haikus, two- voice poem, etc.
*Phone conversation (scripted)
*Original photograph with
descriptive caption
*Dream sequence
*Flashback
*Notes, Postcards or Blog
between characters within
your selected novel(s)
*Song
*Survival kit concrete and/ or
abstract items (whats in it
and why)

*Interior monologue
*Tabloid article
*News or magazine article
*Interview
*Dictionary (at least 3 words)
*Editorial/Opinion article
*Advice column
*Diary entry by a character in
your novel.
*Pro/Con list (at least 10 each)
*Top 10 list
*Recipe (rebellion, dystopia,
totalitarianism, etc.)
*Series of text messages (3)
between novel characters.
*Questionnaires/ surveys with
responses peer and/ or
fictional characters

*Graph/chart of some factual

element that connects to the
novel/ topic/ theme with
descriptive caption
*Battle plan for surviving your
novels dystopian oppression
*Legal brief (prosecuting
someone for their actions)
*Standard argumentative
paragraph
*Job application filled out by a
character in your novel or
one of our class readings.
*News images that connect
with topic & theme youre
your explanatory paragraph.
*Protest placards
*Doublespeak Rules (at least 5)

Some words on the research component of the paper. As an inquirer you will be informed,
surprised, and intellectually delighted by what you learn through your literary and historical inquiry.
As a reader of your MGP, I want to experience these same things: surprise, intellectual delight, and
widened and deepened understanding.
One Tip For Incorporating Into Your MGP What You Learn Through Your Research: Avoid
simply providing quotations from research on a page. Such a move is not effective and shows little
imagination or initiative on your part. Rather, incorporate into genres what you learn through
research.

For example, one student learned that Harper Lee was greatly influenced by the trial of nine
young black men accused and convicted of raping two white women on a train during the 1920s.
Harper Lee was eight-years-old at the time of the trial. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout is about the
same age when she witnesses the trial of Tom Robinson. The student wrote a two-voiced poem to
capture the similarities and differences of the true case and fictional case. One voice was Harper Lee,
the other voice was Scout.
Another student wrote her MGP on The Notebook. She did extensive research to learn more
about Alzheimers disease. Another student read a science fiction novel about environmental abuse.
He researched specific forms of environmental abuse taking place when the novel was written in the
early 1970s. The lesson these students provide is to not limit yourself to one predetermined slant
in terms of research. Follow your curiosity and think outside the box.
Grading: The Multi-Genre Paper (MGP) will count as 3 grades
Process Grade
Work ethic (25%): Student is on task during lab time and works well within class and outside of
class. The effort is present.
Structure (45%): Paper includes: preface dear reader/table of contents, expository piece, at least 7
genres (two from each category), notes page, and bibliography.
Research Log & Post MGP Reflection (30%): Online check-ins the last ten minutes of the class
period on sources found and/ or work accomplished for the day. Your brief paragraph responses
should allow you to provide useful information and meaningful reflections about your process and
progress at the end of this assignment when you complete your post-MGP reflection online.

Composition Grade 1 - Holistic impact of the paper

Quality of Content & Style (50%): Each of the required elements is strong in its language, clarity,
meaning, and information. Rife with excellent writing that includes attention to a pleasing
appearance of the page, action verbs, varied sentence length, effective word choice, and skilled
placement of information, strong leads and endings
Creativity (50%): The paper shows thought, effort, and creativity on the part of the writer. It
knocks me off my feet, bowls me over, so informative and emotionally moving is the paper.
Throughout there is evidence of original thinking, depth, specificity of detail, delights of language or
insight with visual and other sensory imagery.
Composition Grade 2 Research & Mechanics
Research (25%): Research was thoroughly performed and documented and at least 5 sources were
used and cited in the final paper, and a range of research (books, articles, websites, even primary
sources) is utilized with sources listed in a consistent MLA style in bibliography and parenthetically
in text as appropriate.
Appropriateness of Genres (50%): The genres included are varied and appropriate for the content
presented and specific genre conventions are met. The Expository Piece provides vivid, interesting
information, which adds insight and depth to the overall paper. The Note Page is informative and
thoughtful in explaining and detailing the research and/or the process of creation.
Grammar & Mechanics (25%): The paper is well written with active verbs, specificity, and few
wasted words, and without serious errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or typography (layout,
formatting).

MLA Citation
Parenthetical example (in the text of your paper):

A dystopian world is a diseased world in which the government is a poor physician to its
realm, curing the disease of the land by throwing [its] patient into another (Moore 267).
Thus as the district, tribute fighters war to the death in the games, the Capital keeps their anger
focused on each other rather than at the power that oppresses them.
Works Cited examples (in your Works Cited list):
Example of a Book/ Primary Source

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.
Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Signet, 1982. Print.
Example of secondary Sources Originally Published for a Specific Source

Moore, Thomas. from Utopia. Ed. Kate Kinsella, Kevin Feldman, et al. Prentice Hall
Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes British Tradition. Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson Education, 2004. 264-7. Print.
Example of secondary sources Reprinted from Other Sources such as Gale series like Contemporary
Literary Criticism, Twentieth Century Literary Criticism, Literature Resource Center

Blasingame, James, and Suzanne Collins. "An Interview with Suzanne Collins." Journal of
Adolescent & Adult Literacy 52.8 (2009): 726-727. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16
Feb. 2012.
McAlear, Rob. "The Value of Fear: Toward A Rhetorical Model of Dystopia." Interdisciplinary
Humanities 27.2 (2010): 24-42. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Feb. 2012.
Example of an Internet Citation
Creator's name (if given). Web Page Title. Institution or organization. Date of access. Type
(web).
Online Video
Collins, Suzanne. Classical Inspiration: The Hunger Games. Scholastic.com. Web. 27 Feb.
2012. Video.
Film
The Hunger Games. Dir. Gary Ross. Perf. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson Liam
Hemsworth, and Woody Harrelson. Lionsgate, 2012. Film.
Image
OBrien, Tim. Cover Art: The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Image.