Using cross-curricular Multigenre Projects to promote student engagement, voice, and mastery of writing and social studies standards

Melanie Alexander; 6-8 AC Social StudiesJustin Franco; 6-8 AC ELA

Barber Middle School

Why we’re here today…

Introduce an inter-departmental (SS and ELA) project that incorporates both writing and social studies to:

• Create student engagement• Develop mastery of research and writing skills• Develop understanding of social studies content standards• Offer differentiation

Agenda•What is an MGP?•How do we incorporate Social Studies?•What does it look like in practice?•Examples and Options•Questions

What is an MGP?

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Theme

Genre 1

Genre 2

Genre 3

Genre 4

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Violence in Video Games

Genre 1

Genre 2

Genre 3

Genre 4

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Conquest

Genre 1

Genre 2

Genre 3

Genre 4

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Dracula

Genre 1

Genre 2

Genre 3

Genre 4

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Greek Mythology

Genre 1

Genre 2

Genre 3

Genre 4

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

American Involvement

in WW2

Genre 1

Genre 2

Genre 3

Genre 4

MGP “Genres”

• Genres are the presentation options for student artifacts – basically, what is the FORMAT for each artifact?• Genres are open-ended, but should show an understanding

of the writing process and incorporation of standards and research• Genres should provide multiple (sometimes conflicting)

perspectives on the central theme or focus

MGP “Genre” Examples:

• Recipe cards• Job application/resume• Board Game• Obituary• Timeline• Skit/Play• Interview• Video

• Journal/Diary Entries• Poem/Song lyrics• Personal letter• Business letter• Greeting/Occasion cards• Short story• How-to pamphlet• “Wanted” Poster

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Dracula

Genre 1

Genre 2

Genre 3

Genre 4

MGP – Multigenre Project

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Artifact

Dracula

Poem

Job Application

Newspaper Article

Diary Entry

Concrete Poem

Dracula Job Application and interview

Newspaper Article

Dracula’s Diary

Why are MGPs so great?

•Engagement•Authentic Learning•Critical thought•Mastery of multiple standards•Differentiation

How do we integrate Social Studies?

Integrating Social Studies into an ELA MGP:1. Find a common theme bridging ELA and

SS2. Attach Social Studies standards and

discussion questions to artifact requirements

3. Split the writing/content load between subjects

4. Split the grading between subjects

1. Find a common theme

• Civil Rights• The Holocaust• History vs. Historical Fiction• International Relations• Colonization• Globalization• Spread of Communism• Nationalism

2. Attach Social Studies Standards to the MGP artifact requirementsWhat Social Studies standards can be covered in the various genres?

Theme: The Berlin Wall• Diary entries from two children – one living in East Berlin and another

in West Berlin relating their experiences• Transit Visa: Research and create a “Transit Visa” issued to West

Berliners from the East German government; explain its history and necessity• Speech: Read and analyze Reagan’s “Tear down this wall” speech given

at the Brandenburg Gate in 1987. Write a speech to be delivered by Mikhail Gorbachev responding to Reagan.

3. Split the Writing/Content Load

• Discuss MLA formatting, bibliography, and citation

• Review genre formats (interview, newspaper articles, obituaries, speeches)

• Read primary and secondary sources for their rhetorical value

• Discuss figurative language and stylistic requirements for writing genres

• Integrate fiction/nonfiction narratives, autobiographies

• Conduct research and analysis• Relate events and people to the social

studies domains – discuss domain questions• Analyze primary and secondary

documents for content• Provide discussion questions for

critical thought on historical outcomes• Integrate informational text

ELA: The Form SS: The Content

4. Split the Grading

• Grading for format and writing skill• Grading for citation and sourcing

of research• Ideas, organization, style, and

conventions• Grade-specific language

standards (figurative language, verbals, puns, irony, etc)

• Grading for accuracy and relevance of research• Grading for accuracy and

relevance of content in artifact• Grading for application and

connection to SS domains

ELA: The Form SS: The Content

What does it look like in practice?

The Background:• 7th Grade AC ELA and SS classes• 2nd semester • Familiar with independent essay writing (ELA) and DBQs (SS)

• SS-Used as an extension/enrichment activity • LA-Used as analysis of genres and review of writing skills

ELA Preview activity:

What does it mean to be a leader? What are the qualities of “good” leaders and “bad” leaders?• Journal prompt• Philosophical chairs activity (give a series of

statements about leaders and ask students to agree or disagree; discuss)

• Quick Write and discussion• Compare/Contrast two historical leaders

(Hitler, Churchill, Kennedy, Stalin, etc.)

The Setup:

SS Preview activity:

• Anticipation guide addressing significant African and Middle Eastern leaders and events-includes misconceptions about each region*

• Student preview of leaders with materials select research focus

*Think about key concepts for each region-conflict between ethnic groups, artificial political borders during colonization, and apartheid

• Introduced theme for the MGP: African and Middle Eastern Leaders: “What does it mean to be a leader?”

• List of possible leaders to choose for the project:

The Setup:

● Winnie Mandela (S. Africa)● Nelson Mandela (S. Africa)● Mansa Musa (Ancient Mali)● Yasser Arafat (PLO)● Golda Meir (Israel)● Thabo Mbeki (S. Africa)● David Ben-Gurion (Israel)

● Saddam Hussein (Iraq)● The Ayatollah Khomeini (Iran)● Suleiman I (Ottoman Empire)● Mamphela Ramphele (S. Africa)● Benizir Bhutto (Pakistan)● Ariel Sharon (Israel)● Jomo Kenyatta ( Kenya)

Explore:

http://SSELAMGP.wikispaces.com