Strategies, Tips, & Possibilities for Writing the Multigenre Research Paper

 

 

Preface/Introduction

            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.

 

Openings, Beginnings, Lead Pieces of Writing

            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.

 

Indelible Moments

            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.

 

Central Acts

            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! 

 

Things Crucial

            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?

 

Meaningful Places

            Places shape us nationally, regionally, locally, even familially.  Multigenre writers identify places of importance in your topics and write about them.