Multi-Genre Senior Narrative

Purpose: To use multiple genres of writing to tell your story in a unique and compelling
way.
Audience: Your teacher and anyone else with whom youd like to share your story. An
opportunity to share your pieces with the senior class will be available before the end of
the year.
What it is: Using multiple genres of writing, this narrative is all about you. Its about
conveying some aspects of yourself or some memory or story about yourself through
different genres in a collection of vignettes.
A vignette is a self-contained piece of writing; it makes a point on its own. So your
multiple genre narrative will have a multiple vignettes written in different genres.
Theres no set format for how you put together the vignettes; its up to you. You decide
how to present your story. Written messages come in a multitude of forms: newspaper
articles, poetry, prose, song lyrics, e-mails, postcards, business letters, blog, entries,
etc. Any genre, any style of writing will work for each vignette. Its your job to use those
forms, and choose those that will best convey your story. Ultimately you decide how
many vignettes you need to tell your story as well as how many per page. The layout is
completely up to you. However, there needs to be cohesiveness, a connection, a theme
that ties all of the vignettes together to create a compelling multiple genre narrative.
And remember, a good story has a heartbeat, a pulse, a purpose. And it has a
beginning, middle, and end that develop and builds tension in order to propel your
reader to the last page, to the last line, to the last word of the story. So you need to ask
yourself. What do I want to convey about myself? And how multiple genres will help me
do that?
What it isnt: Its not a collection of newspaper articles, photographs, diary entries, or
letters gathered about you. Its not someone elses writing, someone elses news
report, diary entry or letter about you.
Its not a SCRAPBOOK, although it may look like one.
Its not using every single space on a page. Its not doubling spacing every line. Its not
indenting every paragraph. Its not even about thesis statements or topic sentences or
five paragraph structure.

REQUIREMENTS

 Opening letter / Prologue / Preface

Your narrative needs to begin with an address to your reader. This address can be
written as a letter, a prologue or a preface. The purpose is to TELL what you SHOW in
the narrative. This is your chance to set up what is to follow. Explain your WHAT and
HOW. Tell your readers what you want then to get out of your narrative. So what did
you hope to accomplish? So what do you want them to realize or know about you once
theyve read your narrative? What genres did you use and why? What is your repetend
and how does it connect your pieces together?
*A repetend is a repeated phrase that is used in every genre of your multigenre
project. Repetends help to connect all of the pieces, and are sometimes used to
convey the message of the paper)
Genres
A genre is simply a type, a category or a class of writing. There are many different
types of writing. This narrative incorporates a variety of genres to tell your personal
story.
1. You need to include a minimum of four (4) different genres in your narrative. Any
written genre is acceptable. We will discuss in class the variety of styles from
which you may choose.
2. When choosing a genre to tell your story, consider the purpose of each genre.
Consider time period. Consider how the reader will receive the information via
that genre. Song lyrics are generally received differently than news flash. Be
thoughtful with your selection. Try out different genres for each moment, scene,
each scene in your story. See which works best. Experimentation is the key to
making each genre work in and of itself and as a collection for the whole
narrative.
Repetend
A repetend is a motif or a recurring pattern that serves to link your vignettes together. A
repetend could be a repeated genre, idea, pattern, etc.
Length
There is no specified length. Your story is finished when its finished. Quality is more
important than quantity. However, most students compose multiple genre narratives
that are anywhere from 10 to 50 pages in length. Remember, multiple genre narratives
use the white space on each page with effect and purpose. Every line on every page
does not have to be filled. Instead, the arrangement of words on each page, on the
white space of the page, is significant when composing a multiple genre narrative.
Due Date
November 7th, 2011

List of Possible Genres

Abstract

Haiku

Product jingles

Advertisement
Arrest warrant
Billboard
Biographical sketch
Book/movie review
Business letter
Cartoon
Channel of distribution
College application essay
Commercial script
Comparison/contrast
Cover letter
Declaration of war
Deed
Description
Description from alternative
point of view
Dialogue
Dictionary entries
Directions
Editorial
Email
Epitaph
Eulogy
Eviction notice
Extended metaphor
Fable
Fairy tale
Fictional narrative
Found poetry
Free verse poetry
Friendly letter
Game review
Ghost story/urban legend
Greeting card

How-to article
Humorous essay
Infomercial
Inspection analysis
Interview transcript
Job application
Job manual
Journal entry
Legend
Letter of complaint
Letter of recommendation
Limerick
Love letter
Love letter
Memo
Memory (recollection)
Menu descriptions
Monologue
News article
News feature article
Newscaster script
Nursery rhymes
Obituary
Parody
Personal narrative
Persuasive essay
Picture book story
Play anecdote
Playbill (event program)
Postcard
Prayer
Preface or foreword
Problem-solution essay
Product evaluation

Psychological profile
Public announcement
Reader response log
Recipe (other than food)
Recommendation Letter
Rejection letter
Research paper
Restaurant/food review
Resume
Satire
Scene for a TV show
Science fiction
Screenplay
Script of telephone call
Self-portrait
Sermon
Shape poem
Short story
Song lyrics
Sonnet
Speech
Stand-up comedy script
State of union address
Stream-of-consciousness
Summary
Survey results analysis
Survival story
Technical support manual
Thank-you
Travel log
Two-voice poem
Vignette (written image of a
moment)
Yearly expenditure report

 Journal Entries
Personal Letter
Greeting Card
Schedule/Things to Do List
Inner Monologue Representing Internal Conflicts
Classified or Personal Ads
Personal Essay or Philosophical Questions
Top Ten List/Glossary or Dictionary
Poetry
Song Lyrics
Autobiographical Essay
Contest Entry Application
Business Letter or Correspondence/Persuasive or Advocacy Letter
Biographical Summary
Critique of a Published Source
Speech or Debate
Historical Times Context Essay
Textbook Article
Science Article or Report/Business Article or Report
Lesson Plan

 Encyclopedia Article
Short Scene from a Play with Notes for Stage Directions
Short Scene from a Movie with Notes for Camera Shots
Dialogue of a Conversation among Two or More People
Short Story
Adventure Magazine Story
Ghost Story
Myth, Tall Tale, or Fairy Tale
Talk Show Interview or Panel
Recipe and Description of Traditional Holiday Events
Classroom Discussion
Character Analysis or Case Study
Comedy Routine or Parody
Liner Notes
Picture book
Chart or Diagram with Explanation and Analysis
Brochure or Newsletter
Time Line or Chain of Events
Map with Explanation and Analysis
Magazine or TV Advertisement or Infomercial

 Restaurant Description and Menu

Travel Brochure Description
How-To or Directions Booklet
Receipts, Applications, Deeds, Budgets or Other Documents
Wedding, Graduation or Special Event Invitation
Birth Certificate
Local News Report
Pop-Up book
Review and Poster for a Movie, Book, or TV Program
Board Game or Trivial Pursuit with Answers and Rules
Comic Strip or Graphic Novel excerpt
Power Point Presentation
Informational Video
Web Site
Future News Story
Letter to the Editor
Newspaper or Magazine Feature/Human Interest Story
Obituary, Eulogy or Tribute
News Program Story or Announcement
Tabloid Article