333: How to Teach a Multigenre Essay Project

The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast | ELA

Want to teach a multigenre essay project? Good!

Our students see story splashed across so many platforms these days. Video, audio, visuals, and words all mixed up together in a daily swirl. Understanding how to tell a story across mediums is a highly relevant skill for students, and one they can quickly see the relevance of every time they switch on their phones or pop in their airpods.

Enter, the multigenre essay project - a chance for students to tell a story of their own through multimedia details that bring it to life.

A multigenre essay project can work in your identity or memoir unit, or provide an alternative path for students who don't want to write a college essay because they've chosen another path.

Today, let's break down how you might structure a project like this so the tech doesn't feel intimidating and student stories have a chance to shine.

Mentor Texts Mentioned:

• Good Morning, my Wife in Heaven, by YingFei Liang and Shumin Wei
• Enryo, by Jessica Bukowski and Kristin Sato
• "I've been on a Mission for seventeen years. It's my holy grail." From Humans of New York.

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