Independent Genre Inquiry Project

Now, it’s time for you to create something that you will absolutely love. You get to choose
the genre and the topic/subject. And we get to enjoy the finished project!

Here are the steps for this two week unit:

1.) Choose your genre: Anything goes, really. But here are some suggestions:
● Short story of some type
● Comic/ Graphic novella
● Video (youtube something?)
● Advertisement (either video or image)
● Play/ Movie
● Song
● Article

My genre is: song

2.) Find Mentor Texts in that Genre (5-6)

My mentor texts are: (provide links to the texts or descriptions of the text if they
aren’t online)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbckIuT_YDc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqfiHfDmOnw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSX13jgRxI4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-PWAEyYNeo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LfJnj66HVQ
 3.) Develop a rubric for your mentor text
Use the rubric from your other projects as an example, but use the template below to
get you started.
Example from our independent research project:
Highly Proficient Proficient (2 pts) Not Yet (1 pt)
(3 pts)

Focus Addresses all aspects of Addresses prompt with a Attempts to address the
prompt with a highly focused response prompt but lacks focus or
focused and convincing is off-task.
response.

Reading/ Accurately presents and Presents and applies Presents limited

applies information information relevant to information. Ideas do
Research relevant to the prompt prompt with general not include details or
with specific accuracy and sufficient examples.
examples/events. detail.

Development Presents detailed Presents information in Presents limited

information in order to order to answer information. Ideas do
answer questions and questions and solve not include details or
solve problems. Concisely problems. Explains key examples.
explains key information information with some
with details. Identifies details. Identifies
evidence from sources to evidence from sources,
clarify development and but does not fully
assesses any conclusions, consider the conclusions,
implications, and implications, or
consequences. consequences.

Organization Applies appropriate Applies a generally Applies an ineffective

structure(s) to explain, effective structure to structure; text rambles or
examine, convey, define, explain, examine, line of thought is
 analyze, synthesize, convey, define, analyze, disconnected.
compare, or explain synthesize, compare, or
cause/effect, explain cause/effect,
problem/solution. problem/solution.

Conventions Demonstrates a well- Demonstrates a Demonstrates a weak

developed command of satisfactory command of command of standard
standard English standard English English conventions;
conventions and conventions and lacks cohesion; employs
cohesions; employs cohesion; employs language and tone that
language and tone language and tone are not appropriate to
appropriate to audience appropriate to audience audience and purpose.
and purpose. and purpose

Rubric Template

Categories Highly Proficient Proficient (2 pts) Not Yet (1 pt)

(3 pts)

Identifiable Easily identified song Can identify but slightly Not very identifiable
through music and lyrics difficult to do through music and lyrics

Comedic genuis Laughing at the stupid Maybe smiling at the Thinking that it's bad
word choice stupid word choice because of the word
choices

Word choice Changing pretty much all Changing some of the Not changing almost any
of the words but still words but being similar of the words
understanding to the original

Nonsense Words and sentences Sentences are not Almost nothing is

make almost no sense on changed much and make different and makes too
purpose a little since much since

Conventions Things are misspelled on Barley anything is Spelling is too good and
purpose to make it funny misspelled and not very things make sense
funny

4.) Create your own text… conference with me about your plan before you begin this
step!
5.) Evaluate using your own rubric
6.) Publish to portfolio
7.) Reflect on the process