Strategies, Tips, &
Possibilities for Writing the Multigenre Research Paper
Think of this as your personal note to your readers. Why did you decide to write about your
topic? What does it mean to you? What would you like the reader to know before
he/she delves into your work? Some
people begin with a letter to the reader—Dear Reader…
You may decide to dedicate your project to someone at the
end. This will provide the reader with
some insight into you as a person and a writer.
The first piece should orient the reader, introduce a
character or situation, and dramatize the central tension. The Columbine piece opens with the teacher, Bev, at her third funeral of the day and makes a connection
to her title.
Sometimes writers open with a Defining Moment.
You may decide to begin with a photograph since it may
illuminate your characters and/or setting.
Identify the indelible moments in your topic. Flash memories never to be forgotten—they are
“indelibly” imprinted on our minds. They
may be happy, sad, bright, and dark. No
matter—they mark us permanently.
Many characters are identified with some act or process
they do so routinely that it’s part of them.
For instance—John McEnroe and his temper tantrums on the court. Or me drinking Starbucks!
Inanimate objects, concepts, ideas—things all—can hold
crucial places in our lives. It’s hard
to imagine Tracy Chapman without her dreadlocks and an acoustic guitar strapped
around her back. What is crucial to
you? What was crucial to your topic?
Places shape us nationally, regionally, locally, even familially.
Multigenre writers identify places of importance in your topics and
write about them.