Genre Assignment: What is a Literary Genre?
Genres are types of writing with district characteristics and specific truth claims. In literary studies there are many genres. However, they can all be subdivided into five main genres that in turn can encompass other subgenres (for a cursory review of genres see this link). These five basic genres are:
Prose
Poetry
Drama
Nonfiction
Media
Media is the most recent literary genre that encompasses what we have been calling a "text" in class. That is, a text refers to anything that can be interpreted. "Media" as a literary genre, therefore includes films, websites, commercials, memes, podcasts and many other hybrid forms of writing that are visual in nature but tell a story nonetheless (e.g., a painting that tells a story or allegory such as John Gast's "American Progress" which allegorizes both Manifest Destiny and westward migration after the US-Mexico War). For example, the first fiction short story we read by Victor Lavalle, "Recognition," was an example of at least both the "prose" genre, because a short story is created through prose, and media because the format for its dissemination was the online "Decameron Project" and not, say, a short story collection you buy at a bookstore.
In this assignment we will write a short memoir based on the popular "Six Word Memoir" series from the New York Times. The assignment is divided into two parts. Here are the directions:
Part 1. We will complete this part in class.
1. Read the linked "Six Word Memoir" article before coming to class on Monday 9/21
2. Review the memoirs included in the article and identify one that is meaningful to you
3. Explain why it is meaningful to you
4. Identify the genre/s and subgenera/s of the memoir as a form (e.g., Is a memoir similar to a biography? How is the "Six Word Memoir" series different from traditional memoirs?, etc.)
5. Identify the figures of speech in your selection (metaphor, simile, symbolism, etc.)
Part 2. You will complete this part as homework and post your six word memoir as instructed.
1. Compose a six word memoir that expresses and encapsulates, as best you can, your experience of the pandemic
2. In a short paragraph (approximately 250 words/half a document page, single-spaced, 12 point Times font), explain your six word memoir by identifying its theme, tone and symbolism.
3. Paste your memoir and paragraph to the Padlet page for this "genre" assignment by 11:59 PM on Thursday 9/24.
4. Read at least 5 of your classmates' memoirs and their corresponding paragraphs and comment on the points of contact between your shared themes, tone and symbolism. (Briefly comment on how you believe you share similar themes, tone, symbolism or any other literary device you wish to comment on.)
5. You have until noon on Friday 9/25 to post the comments.
Genres are types of writing with district characteristics and specific truth claims. In literary studies there are many genres. However, they can all be subdivided into five main genres that in turn can encompass other subgenres (for a cursory review of genres see this link). These five basic genres are:
Prose
Poetry
Drama
Nonfiction
Media
Media is the most recent literary genre that encompasses what we have been calling a "text" in class. That is, a text refers to anything that can be interpreted. "Media" as a literary genre, therefore includes films, websites, commercials, memes, podcasts and many other hybrid forms of writing that are visual in nature but tell a story nonetheless (e.g., a painting that tells a story or allegory such as John Gast's "American Progress" which allegorizes both Manifest Destiny and westward migration after the US-Mexico War). For example, the first fiction short story we read by Victor Lavalle, "Recognition," was an example of at least both the "prose" genre, because a short story is created through prose, and media because the format for its dissemination was the online "Decameron Project" and not, say, a short story collection you buy at a bookstore.
In this assignment we will write a short memoir based on the popular "Six Word Memoir" series from the New York Times. The assignment is divided into two parts. Here are the directions:
Part 1. We will complete this part in class.
1. Read the linked "Six Word Memoir" article before coming to class on Monday 9/21
2. Review the memoirs included in the article and identify one that is meaningful to you
3. Explain why it is meaningful to you
4. Identify the genre/s and subgenera/s of the memoir as a form (e.g., Is a memoir similar to a biography? How is the "Six Word Memoir" series different from traditional memoirs?, etc.)
5. Identify the figures of speech in your selection (metaphor, simile, symbolism, etc.)
Part 2. You will complete this part as homework and post your six word memoir as instructed.
1. Compose a six word memoir that expresses and encapsulates, as best you can, your experience of the pandemic
2. In a short paragraph (approximately 250 words/half a document page, single-spaced, 12 point Times font), explain your six word memoir by identifying its theme, tone and symbolism.
3. Paste your memoir and paragraph to the Padlet page for this "genre" assignment by 11:59 PM on Thursday 9/24.
4. Read at least 5 of your classmates' memoirs and their corresponding paragraphs and comment on the points of contact between your shared themes, tone and symbolism. (Briefly comment on how you believe you share similar themes, tone, symbolism or any other literary device you wish to comment on.)
5. You have until noon on Friday 9/25 to post the comments.