Multi Genre Research paper

    We have started horrible, the dreaded, the unusual....research paper!  It seems that during the entire duration of my life as a teacher my students have always dreaded one thing...the research paper.  I'm not sure if it's because it's an assignment that take a lot of time or because they just get nervous at hearing the name but the reaction is usually the same.  

   The research paper has been a highly debatable topic in education over the last few years.  Many feel that students need to learn how to effectively research and write a long paper where every point proves one main thesis.  Others feel that students can learn the process of researching while completing a multimedia presentation of some sort.  I am somewhere in the middle of those two opinions.  Because of this I have created the Multi Genre Research paper! 

  The multi genre research paper asks students to research a person in the world (living or deceased) that has had a great influence in some aspect of life.  Some examples of topics are Martin Luther King Jr., Hellen Keller, Jim Henson, Jackie Robinson, etc.  The students will research from at least four sources (3 online and 1 book) and will then use that information to CREATIVELY write their paper.  This is very different than a typical written paper because the students have to take what they have researched and then use their own ideas to fill in the blanks.  For example they might write a few diary entries from the viewpoint of their person or write a recipe involving that person or even creating a political cartoon about their topic.  

    While they are writing all researched information must be cited correctly in text and a works cited is also required.  They also write an introduction to that paper where they present their thesis statement and also add a notes page where they reflect on why they chose the genre pieces that they did and how those genres helped them convey the appropriate information about their topic. (There were three choices per section).   

  The students are currently in the research phase of this assignment but I'm happy to report that overall they are focused and interested.  Although a lot of work this has proved, over the years, to be one of the most difficult but most enjoyable assignments for the students to complete and will hopefully relieve some of their "research paper angst!"  I will share excerpts from their papers at the end of the month!

The full assignment can be found on my website http://www.oncoursesystems.com/school/webpage.aspx?id=517307&xpage=720406