Multi-Genre Project

This week, students began work on the Multi-Genre Project (MGP). Each Core was able to choose a topic as a class. Once the class had chosen, I researched the topics and found articles for the students to work with. We focused in class on pulling out the most relevant information from the articles, and had a mini-discussion to ensure understanding of the content.

We will start working on the first part of the MGP, the collage, on Monday. Students will be able to visually represent what they see as the most important information. The second part of the MGP is the informative essay. Students had a little time today to work on the thesis tree, but they will have more time before they begin drafts on Tuesday. We will spend the entire class time on Wednesday working on the essay. Revisions will happen in class on Thursday, and the essay will be due at the start of class Friday, May 3^rd. I will grade their essays according to the Informative Essay Rubric, which is glued into their composition notebooks. Also on Friday, we will begin working on the third part of the MGP, the interview. We will have class time Monday to finish it. Students will create a book cover for the MGP as the last piece of the project. Presentations will be on Wednesday, May 8^th.

Core Topics (Chosen by Students)

Core One: Public Acts of Violence

Core Two: The FBI

Core Three: Terrorist Attacks

Important Dates

April 29^th Collages to be made in class

May 3^rd Informative Essays due at the start of class

May 6^th Finish Interview

May 7^th Create Cover

May 8^th Present Multi-Genre Project

Artist Research Project

After reading a list of forty-four different artists, students were able to choose one artist they would like to research. (Students will have time in class to do the research.) Doing the research will enable students to create a PowerPoint Presentation and a narrative biography. (Both of which they will have time to work on in class.)

The narrative biography will be due on April 11^th. I always expect students to incorporate the Six Traits of Writing into their essays/drafts. Beyond the Six Traits, things that I am looking for in a good narrative biography include: story telling elements, pictures, and a citation page. A narrative biography should sound more like an E! True Hollywood Story than an encyclopedia entry.

Emphasis on the narrative piece in the biography is important because it will make PowerPoint Presentations stronger. If their writing has a story-like feel, then their PowerPoint Presentations will have a conversational quality. The PowerPoint should also include pictures and a works cited page.

To do well on both parts of the assignment, students should do the following:

•  Consult the Informative Rubric (Six Traits)
•  Tell a story – Do not just give facts
•   Include pictures of the artist and the art
• Include at least three credible sources
•  Include a citation page.