Throughout this WebQuest, students had the chance to understand the aspects of different genres of literature. Students were able to build upon their previous knowledge of characters, descriptive writing, conflict, resolution, and other story elements. The nature of the WebQuest allowed students to view countless different genres because of all the resources the internet holds. Student's wouldn't otherwise be able to have access to such a vast list of characteristics and examples of genres. This assignment also exposed students to different authors and writing styles because of the examples they provided. WebQuests are a great tool to give students a directed approach to researching a specific topic. They're able to use reliable, teacher-selected sources to conduct their research and reach the goal that's been given to them.
Students were then able to create their own stories using their previous and newfound knowledge. After they have a complete understanding of the different types of genres and what differentiates them, they were presented with the task of creating their own story. They had to use their creative thinking to put their knowledge into action by creating their own characters characters, setting, and plot. They overcame challenges like plot holes, incorporating dialogue, and making a story that feels complete. This inquiry based learning engaged students by allowing them to engage with the material under the type of genre that most interested them. This WebQuest challenges students’ creative and critical thinking.
Hopefully you as students were able to identify some genres you were already familiar with, as well as some new ones. I encourage you to explore more genres and try writing in different ones. If you enjoyed this activity and found a genre you like, I encourage you to practice coming up with other stories in that same genre. Similarly, if you found a genre you're interested in, you could explore some authors that write stories like that. You could also challenge yourself by trying to write in a genre you didn't know about. The best way to get better at writing is to read others work and to practice as much as you can.
To explore some horror books:
To explore some rom-coms:
To explore some dramas:
Bisson, T. (1991). They’re made out of meat. Terry Bisson. http://www.terrybisson.com/theyre-made-out-of-meat-2/
Girolimon, M. (2025, February 13). Types of genres: A literary guide. Southern New Hampshire University. https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/liberal-arts/types-of-genres
Goodreads. (n.d.). Best rom-com books. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/97856.Best_Rom_Com_Books
Hirschberger, A. (2023, July 19). Master list of book genres: 95 fiction & nonfiction genres. selfpublishing.com : The #1 Resource For Self-Publishing a Book. https://selfpublishing.com/list-of-book-genres/
Kate Chopin International Society. (1894). The story of an hour. Kate Chopin International Society. https://www.katechopin.org/story-hour/
Literary Devices. (n.d.). Genre definition and examples. Literary Devices. https://literarydevices.net/genre/
Neenah Library. (n.d.). Charles by Shirley Jackson. Neenah Library. https://neenahlibrary.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/CharlesbyShirleyJackson.pdf
Reluctant Reader Books. (n.d.). Short stories for high school students. Reluctant Reader Books. https://reluctantreaderbooks.com/short-stories-for-high-school/
The Literary Underground. (n.d.). Kindergarten. The Literary Underground. https://theliteraryunderground.org/pindeldyboz/pskindergarten.html
The Strand Magazine. (n.d.). Uncle Auguste. The Strand Magazine. https://strandmag.com/the-magazine/short-stories/uncle-auguste/
Twain, M. (n.d.). Cannibalism in the cars. American Literature. https://americanliterature.com/author/mark-twain/short-story/cannibalism-in-the-cars
Wynne, M. Y. (n.d.). The little room. American Literature. https://americanliterature.com/author/madeline-yale-wynne/short-story/the-little-room
Yousef, Z. (2024, Aug. 2024). How to choose which genre to write. Zainah Yousef. https://zainahyousef.com/blog/how-to-choose-which-genre-to-write/
YouTube. (n.d.). The Shadow that Follows. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17CFVVL3-ew
100 best (and scariest) Horror books of all time. Discovery. (2024, February 4). https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/best-horror-books