The Multi-Genre paper may seem like just a fun alternative to a more standard, formal paper, but it actually serves a number of important purposes in teaching effective writing.

1. Multi-Genre allows you to focus on important and useful skills one at a time.  You may employ many of these skills in various writing situations, and they expand your understanding of the choices available to you along the writing spectrum.
2. The more you look around, the more you will see that appearance matters.  The appearance of your paper--from the cover to the fonts, colors, and images--affect your presentation in a very real way.  The Multi-Genre gives you an ideal opportunity to experiment with visual impact.
3. As ideal as many college students are (and good for you--stay that way!!!), the simple fact is that people are not rational.  Emotions play an enormous part in their decisions and perspectives.   The various styles used in the Multi-Genre allow you to present your message in ways that will reach your audience on many levels and thereby communicate a more powerful and interesting message which will be more effective than a purely logical approach.
4. The Multi-Genre will help you to consider your topic in a new light.  This may affect the way you choose to present your persuasive paper.

All of the skills invovled in the Multi-Genre can be used, to some extent, in other styles of papers.  Some can give even the seemingly-driest paper a powerful punch.   By working at applying these skills effectively in your Multi-Genre paper, they will become more natural and easy for you in the future.

Multi-Genre Hints:

1. Read and follow instructions. Because this style of paper is so new to most students, many experience some degree of confusion until they have completed a draft.  Realize that all the instructions you need can be found on this disc and that if you simply follow the directions and get something down on paper, you'll feel a lot better.   You don't need to comprehend each skill entirely to write it, and you'll usually do better than you might expect by simply scribbling down some ideas.
2. Trust yourself.  One reason this paper may initially seem confusing is that you are given such great freedom in the way you choose to approach it.  In other words, don't worry too much about doing it "wrong" or not knowing what your teacher expects from you.  Coming up with something totally original that the teacher has never seen before is perfectly valid and will most likely be appreciated.
3. Start early.  Once you get some ideas started on paper, you'll feel a lot better.   If you're stuck, you'll at least clarify your questions and you can get input and feedback to resolve them.  You'll also be around to answer questions for other class members, which is greatly appreciated.

So set your laser printer on stun and start writing!