LIT3180: The Graphic Novel
Tentative Course Schedule Winter 2019-2020
NOTE: This schedule may change as needed. Your presence in class ensures correct assignments
WEEK 1
T 12/3 Course Introduction; Analyzing an Image; The Language of Visual Analysis
Understanding the Frame; Genre and Language/Tool of Genre; Blog Post;
Tools for Traditional Literary Analysis
Homework (Due 12/5):
- Set Up Blog; email the Web address to your page (http://wordpress)
to Professor Harmon: kenny.harmon@jwu.edu by class time.
- Complete Diagnostic Essay and upload to Ulearn by class time;
To Submit: Go to SUBMIT ESSAYS/ASSIGNMENTS <ESSAYS <
DIAGNOSTIC ESSAY; Must Submit as a Microsoft Word Document
R 12/5 Blog Post; Continue Discussion of Understanding the Frame & Reading Visuals
Homework (Due 12/10):
- Read Chapters 1, 2,& 3 of Understanding Comics ("Setting the Record Straight , "The Vocabulary of Comics," & "Blood in the Gutter"); See Handouts Link in Ulearn
- Read Issues 1, 2, & 3 of Bitch Planet
- Be Prepared for Quiz
- Do Reader Response 1: Choose ONE page in Bitch Planet; Explain HOW the author/artist of Bitch Planet make use of one of the concepts that McCloud describes in chapters 1-3 of Understanding Comics; Specifically identify the term from McCloud and explain where the panels are in Bitch planet that you are discussing. Argue WHY you think the author/artist of Bitch Planet may have made these decisions. Your post must be a minimum of 300 words.
WEEK 2
T 12/10 QUIZ; Concepts from McCloud & Bitch Planet; Discuss Creative Interpretation;
Homework (Due 12/12):
- Read Issues 4 & 5 of Bitch Planet
- Read chapter 6 ("Show & Tell") &Chapter 9 ("Sequential Art") of Understanding Comics
- Do Reader Response 2: In a minimum of 600 words, explain what you see as the "theme" of "The Yellow Wallpaper" and argue how you think Bitch Planet also engages with these themes (point to specific examples from each text).
R 12/12 QUIZ & Blog Post; Discuss Bitch Planet, Issues 4 & 5; Visual Art,
and the Graphic Novel; Jan Van Eyck, "The Arnolfini Wedding" & Make Connections to
Bitch Planet
Homework (Due 12/17):
- Read Chapters 4 ("Time Frames) & 5 ("Living in the Line) of Understanding Comics
- Read Virgil
- Do Reader Response 3: Choose ONE page in Virgil; Explain HOW the author/artist of this text make use of one of the concepts that McCloud describes in chapters 4 or 5 of Understanding Comics; Specifically identify the term from McCloud and explain where the panels are in Virgil that you are discussing. Argue WHY you think the author/artist of Virgil may have made these decisions. Your post must be a minimum of 300 words.
- Read "Abby's Homework" by Kyle Dager
WEEK 3
T 12/17 Discuss Virgil; Review Topic Proposal
Homework (Due 12/19):
- Run, Mourner, Run" by Randall Kenan (see handouts in Ulearn)
- Complete Reader Response 4: In a minimum of 600 words, explain what you see as the "theme" of "Run, Mourner, Run" and argue how you think Virgil also engages with these themes (point to specific examples from each text).
R 12/19 Topic Proposal for Creative Interpretation Due; QUIZ and Blog Post;
Discuss Virgil & Run, Mourner, Run
Homework (Due 12/18):
- Must have COMPLETE draft of Creative Interpretation
WEEK 4
T 1/7 1st Version of Creative Interpretation Due; submit to Ulearn; Why Peer Critique?;
Exchange for Critique; Complete Peer Critique; Conferences & Workday in
Computer Lab; Presentation: Important Concepts from Understanding Comics
Homework (Due 1/9):
- Work on Creative Interpretation
R 1/9 Conferences & Workday in Computer Lab 434 of ACADEMIC CENTER
Homework (Due 1/14):
- Final Draft of Creative Interpretation Due With Essay and Reflection
- Read Chapters 1-3 of The Best We Could Do
- Do Reader Response 5: What do you see as an important emerging theme in this work and why? Point to specific examples from the text. Your post should be a minimum of 300 words.
12/21-1/6 HOLIDAY BREAK, NO CLASS
WEEK 5
T 1/14 QUIZ; Creative Interpretation & Essay Due; Presentation: Ideas from 1st 3 Chapters of The
Best We Could Do (Yalexis); Discuss Analytical Paper
Homework (Due 1/16):
- Read Chapters 4 & 5 of The Best We Could Do
- Complete Reader Response 6: Identify what you see as the most important single page of this text. What it the theme communicated by this single page? How is this theme communicated through the visuals of each frame?
R 1/16 Blog Entry; Discuss Chapters 4 & 5 of the Best We Could Do & The Work of Thi Bui
Homework (Due 1/21):
- Read Chapters 6-10 of The Best We Could Do
- First Draft of Analytical Essay Due; upload to Ulearn before class time
- Submit your first draft of Analytical Essay to SmartThinking
- Upload report and revision plan as one MS Word file; Go to SUBMIT ESSAYS/ASSIGNMENTS < SMARTTHINKING REPORTS & REVISION PLANS
WEEK 6
T 1/21 First Draft of Analytical Paper Due; QUIZ; Discuss The Best We Could Do (Chapters 6-10);
Presentation: The History of the Vietnam War (Ashleigh Cochran); Exchange for Critique
Homework (Due 1/23):
- Complete typed critique of partner's paper (2 parts) and upload to Ulearn
- Did you Submit your Revision Plan and SmartThinking Report to Ulearn?
- Read "The Renowned Creates of Movieville, 1967 Year in Review," "Ghastly, Feb. '68," "Dread, Feb. '68)," & "Ghastly, Feb. 67"
- Do Reader Response 7:
R 1/23 QUIZ; Peer Critique; Discuss First 4 Chapters of My Favorite Thing is Monsters; Discuss
Final Project and Presentation; Meet Your Group; Set up Google Docs; Exchange Contact
Information
Homework (Due 1/28):
- Read "Ghastly: Beach Party Feeding Frenzy," "Spectral, May '66," "Dread, March '68," & "Terror, March '68"
F 1/19 LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM AN ACADEMIC COURSE
WEEK 7
T 1/28 Blog Entry & Quiz; Presentation: The Idea of the Monster (the monstrous or monstrosity)
in American Popular Culture; Discuss My Favorite Thing is Monsters (Ashleigh Cochran &
Chelsea Velez)
Homework (Due 1/30):
- Final Draft of Analytical Paper due with Reflection; Upload both to Ulearn as ONE MS WORD document
- Read Chapter 3 of A Short Guide to Writing About Film (See Handouts)
- Complete Film Quiz in Ulearn
Blog Post; Presentation: Film Adaptations of Graphic Novels (Grubin & Kesner);
Homework (Due 1/29):
Read, "Arcane, March '68," "Arcane, April '68," & "Horrific, March '68,"
- Do Reader Response 8:
- Work on Final Project
WEEK 8
T 2/4 Discuss My Favorite Thing is Monsters; Film Clip: Opening Sequence of the Walking
Dead; Set up group documents; work on group topic proposal
Homework (Due 2/6):
- Read "Terror, March '68," "Ghastly, April '66," "Dread, April '65," "Gory Stories: Frankenstein," "Dread, April '67," & "Terror, April '68"
- Do Reader Response 9
- Work on Final Project
R 2/6 Topic Proposal due for group project; Discuss My Favorite Thing is Monsters: Work on
Final Project with Group
Homework (Due 2/11):
- Read Reminder of My Favorite Thing is Monsters
- Do Reader Response 10
WEEK 9
T 2/11 First Draft of Final Project Due; Work on Final Project with Group
Homework (Due 2/13):
- Complete Typed Peer Critique of partner's Final Project
R 2/13 Peer Critique; Work on Final Project with Group
Homework (Due 2/18):
- Final Project Due with Reflection; Upload ONE copy of group project for group; Each Group Member submits their own individual reflection to ulearn
WEEK 10
T 2/18 Final Projects Due; Presentation of Final projects
R 2/20 Continue presentations? Work day for final exam (bring laptop).
WEEK 11
T 2/25 Reading Day
