Multigenre Inquiry Project - Introduction
This website is the culmination of a Multigenre Inquiry Project completed as a component of an English Methods course at Wake Forest Univeristy. The purpose of this project is to explore an essential question or theme through the use of many different genres or types of products. The different genres allow me to explore and examine the question through multiple lenses and with multiple textual and visual means. The basis of the project comes from an essential question gleaned from a multicultural novel. My project began with Rudolfo Anaya's novel Bless Me, Ultima. From this novel, I chose to explore the essential question "How do multiple belief systems influence identity formation?" On this website, you will find the ten genres through which I explored this important question:
- A thematic essay that explores the essential question in a variety of texts.
- A haiku sequence that express emotions connected with different belief systems.
- A comic strip that visually and textually presents an interaction between Tony Marez and the belief systems that influence his life.
- A letter to a parenting magazine in which a mother expresses her fears and uncertainties about her son considering different beliefs.
- A Prezi consisting of pie charts that present the religions present in the U.S. population.
- An advertisement inviting people to participate in an interfaith community.
- A lesson plan that demonstrates how to potentially teach this theme within a secondary English classroom.
- This website, a web 2.0 tool, which serves as my means for presenting the products of my inquiry.
- A piece of sudden fiction that presents a situation in which different beliefs are not as accepted.
- A word cloud that provides a visual representation of the text from all of the other genres.
Multigenre Inquiry Project - Reflection
From this inquiry project, I gained an understanding of the complexity and importance of this issue. The essential question I originally posed was "How do multiple belief systems influence identity formation?" After my inquiry and exploration, my response to this question is that multiple belief systems influence identity formation in many, but all important, ways. When you look at the question, it can be understandable why there is no definite answer. Both of the main components of the question, belief systems and identity, are very personally unique and defined concepts and experiences. Each individual person is exposed to different beliefs and belief systems in different situations. Also, there are many components besides a person's beliefs that contributes to his or her identity, and all of these influences on identity will interact with the person's beliefs to inform his or her identity in diverse and unique ways.
Even if there is no definite answer to the essential question, what can be taken away from this inquiry is an acknowledgement of this important component of identity. As I read about and touched upon in a few genres, beliefs and belief systems can be a central aspect of a person's identity, but they can also be very confusing, contentious, and overwhelming. It is something that people need the opportunity to think about as individuals. Whether through reading, writing, conversing, or reflecting, many people will spend significant time and energy thinking about beliefs and how they relate to their conception of identity. Regardless of a person's age, stage in life, profession, or social position, this can be an important issue. That being said, it can be a particularly challenging and confusing issue for adolescents, who are at the beginning of trying to understand their identities. Because this can be an important personal issue for many people, one way in which others can respond is with open-mindedness and respect towards others' ideas and beliefs. Just as Tony remains open-minded and accepting, yet still critical, in Bless Me, Ultima, so, also, can we remain open-minded and accepting, yet still questioning and critical, about the many beliefs and ideas that surround us in our communities, cultures, and society.
Even if there is no definite answer to the essential question, what can be taken away from this inquiry is an acknowledgement of this important component of identity. As I read about and touched upon in a few genres, beliefs and belief systems can be a central aspect of a person's identity, but they can also be very confusing, contentious, and overwhelming. It is something that people need the opportunity to think about as individuals. Whether through reading, writing, conversing, or reflecting, many people will spend significant time and energy thinking about beliefs and how they relate to their conception of identity. Regardless of a person's age, stage in life, profession, or social position, this can be an important issue. That being said, it can be a particularly challenging and confusing issue for adolescents, who are at the beginning of trying to understand their identities. Because this can be an important personal issue for many people, one way in which others can respond is with open-mindedness and respect towards others' ideas and beliefs. Just as Tony remains open-minded and accepting, yet still critical, in Bless Me, Ultima, so, also, can we remain open-minded and accepting, yet still questioning and critical, about the many beliefs and ideas that surround us in our communities, cultures, and society.