LIT3180: The Graphic Novel
Tentative Course Schedule Winter 2019-2020



WEEK 1        WEEK 2      WEEK 3     WEEK 4     WEEK 5        WEEK 6

WEEK 7       WEEK 8      WEEK 9     WEEK 10    WEEK  11


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):  
                 to Professor Harmon:  kenny.harmon@jwu.edu 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;
                  See student example by Roberto Herrera

                 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.



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): 



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):  


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"


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):      
  •         Read Chapter 3 of A Short Guide to Writing About Film (See Handouts)
  •         Complete Film Quiz in Ulearn


R 1/30       Final Draft Analytical Paper Due with Reflection; Introduction to Film; Clip:  Ex Machina;
                  Blog Post; Presentation:  Film Adaptations of Graphic Novels (Grubin & Kesner);
                  Work on topic proposal for Group Project

                  Homework (Due 1/29): 
                  Read, "Arcane, March '68," "Arcane, April '68," & "Horrific, March '68," 
  •          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"


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

WEEK 9​

T 2/11       First Draft of Final Project Due; Work on Final Project with Group


                 Homework (Due 2/13):  

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

R 2/27   Final Exam Due with Reflection