LIS 693 Graphic Novels
Instructor: Marcus Lowry
email: mlowry@rclreads.org
651-494-2392
Fall 2014
Course Description: In this seminar we will explore Graphic Novels and Comics in libraries for all
ages with an emphasis on children and young adult titles. We will study collection
development, programming, the history of graphics, censorship, and booktalking. A particular
focus will be on Asian and Asian American titles including web comics and online comic
resources.
Students for Whom the Course is Intended: This course is intended for librarians who plan to
provide or already are providing library services in either a public or school library; teachers;
and anyone else who is interested in graphic novels for any age.
Prerequisite: None
Student Learning Outcomes Addressed
SLO 1:
Understand, apply and articulate the history, philosophy, principles and ethics of library and
information science and the related professions.
1c) Develop and apply critical thinking skills in preparation for professional practice
1d) Craft and articulate a professional identity
SLO 2:
Develop, administrate, assess, and advocate for information services by exercising principled
communication, teamwork and leadership skills.
2c) Develop, manage, and assess information services for specific users and communities
2e) Demonstrate the ability to advocate effectively for information services
SLO 3:
Organize, create, archive, preserve, retrieve, manage, evaluate, and disseminate information
resources in a variety of formats
3a) Demonstrate understanding of the processes by which information is created, evaluated,
and disseminated
SLO 5:
Engage in projects and assignments dealing with multicultural communities and representing
diverse points of view
5a) Communicate and collaborate with diverse colleagues, information seekers and community
stakeholders
5b) Demonstrate understanding of the social and cultural context of information services and
systems
Course Learning Objectives:
Students who complete this course will:
1 Identify outstanding authors of graphic novels
2 Explain techniques for selecting and maintaining a graphic novel collection in public and
school libraries
3 Know how to access reviews and professional literature about graphics
4 Articulate the uniqueness and diversity of graphic novels
5 Assess the role of comics and graphic novels in Asian and western society
6 Examine the complexities inherent in issues related to censorship
7 Locate, evaluate, and use internet resources that incorporate graphics
8 Develop skills and specific techniques on effective booktalking
9 Create an annotated bibliography of a specific genre or type of graphic novel
Teaching Methods:
Videos, readings, written assignments, book talks, online discussions, presentations
Instructor’s Expectations:
Online instruction has some inherent challenges that I will try to mediate by promoting
interaction and reflection as much as possible. The expectation is that all readings and
assignments will be done on time, and that students will participate fully in the online
discussions. All students are required to respond to all the dialogues shared on the class site.
Professional Expectations for Library and Information Science Graduate Students at UH
LIS graduate students are responsible for observing the highest standards of intellectual and
personal honesty in every aspect of their careers at the University of Hawaii. The University’s
Student Conduct Code represents a zero tolerance policy, the penalties for academic
dishonesty are severe and ignorance is not an acceptable defense.
Students are required to be familiar with University policies on academic integrity including:
*The University of Hawaii Student Conduct Code
http://www.manoa.hawaii.edu/students/conduct / and
http://www.manoa.hawaii.edu/students/conduct/impermissible_behavior.html
*The University of Hawaii at Manoa Campus Policies
http://www.catalog.hawaii.edu/about‐uh/campus‐policies1.htm
The field of Library and Information promotes ethical conduct of its members through
published codes of ethics and standards of conduct. LIS students as pre‐professionals are
expected to adopt and to enact these standards and codes in their degree work in classes,
written assignments, oral presentations, group work, at internship, practicum and fieldwork
sites, and in personal, Internet and phone communications related to their LIS studies.
Students are required to be familiar with the ethical guidelines of professional associations
including but not limited to the following:
*ALA Code of Ethics http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/codeofethics/codeethics.htm
Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers
http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaprotools/referenceguide/guidelinesbehavioral.htm
*ASIST Professional Guidelines: http://www.asis.org/AboutASIS/professional‐guidelines.html
*Society of American Archivists Code of Ethics:
http://www.archivists.org/governance/handbook/app_ethics.asp
Principles of Ethical Conduct
Propriety. Students should maintain high standards of personal conduct in the capacity of
identity as a student of the University of Hawaii.
Competence and Growth. Students should strive to become proficient in academic
performance and professional practice, functions, and activities.
Development of Knowledge. Students should take responsibility for identifying, developing,
and fully utilizing knowledge for academic assignments and professional practice.
Scholarship and Research. Students engaged in study and research should be guided by the
conventions of scholarly inquiry and academic integrity. Students must be familiar with an
follow the requirements of the course syllabus.
Service. Students should regard as primary the service obligation to internship, practicum,
fieldwork or community sites, as well as to student professional organizations.
Confidentiality. Students should respect the privacy of information users and hold in
confidence all information obtained in the course of professional service at practicum,
community internship, and fieldwork sites.
Commitments to Organizations. Students should adhere to commitments made to practicum,
community, internship, and fieldwork sites, as well as to student professional organizations.
Respect, Fairness, and Courtesy. Students should treat staff, student colleagues, professional
and faculty with respect, courtesy, fairness, and good faith in all communication settings,
including online, classrooms, group meetings, internship and fieldwork sites, and faculty and
departmental offices.
Integrity. Students should act in accordance with the highest standards of professional integrity
to uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge, and mission of the profession as outlined
in professional codes of ethics and standards of conduct.
Approved by the LIS Faculty on 19 March 2007
Technology Integration and Requirements:
In this course, you will be expected to do the following:
Conduct online searches to develop content for presentations
Create multimedia presentations using Powerpoint or other presentation applications
Access the UHM Laulima system for additional readings and online discussions
Required Texts:
Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud, William Morrow paperbacks, 1994
Boxers/Saints, Gene Leun Yang, First Second, 2013
Smile, Raina Telgemeier, Graphix, 2010
Night Fisher, R Kikuo Johnson, Fantagraphics, 2005
Ichiro, Ryan Inzana, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012
Attack on Titan vol 1, Kodansha comics, 2012
Stargazing Dog, NBM Publishing, 2011
Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong, Prudence Shen and Faith Erin Hicks, First Second, 2013
March: Book One, John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, Top Shelf, 2013
A Bride's Story vol 1, Kaoru Mori, Yen Press, 2011
My Friend Dahmer, Derf Backderf, Abrams, 2012
Saga Vol 1, Brian K Vaughn, Image, 2012
Any Little Lit graphic novels edited by Art Spigelman and Francoise Mouly
Any Jon Murakami title for kids
Any Batman graphic novel
Any Spiderman graphic novel
Any Usagi Yojimbo by Stan Sakai
Additional readings posted on UHM Laulima system
Letter grades for the Course:
A+ 100-98
B 86-83
C- 72-70
A 97-94
B- 82-80
D+ 69-67
A - 93-90
C+79-77
D 66-63
B+ 89-87
C 76-73
D- 62-60
For final grades, weighting will be
based on approximately these
percentages*:
Assignments
20% Reflection papers
10% Comic creation
10% Booktalking
20% Readers Advisory Guide
40% Final Project
Reflection Papers
Every week there will be assigned reading. Post a minimum of 250 words reflecting on the ideas
raised and how the library fits into what you are learning. I will give specific prompts during
each class that should be addressed in your weekly essays.
Comic Creation
Create a comic either using an online comic creator of your choice, or if you are feeling inspired,
draw your own and scan it. The comic should be instructional about a library service or a
fictional event. For example, create a comic promoting a manga club, a comic festival at a
library, or highlighting something a public or school library can offer its patrons/students. In
addition to the comic, reflect on the process of creating it including the justifications for the
format and artistic choices in relation to our discussion about how comics convey meaning.
Booktalking
Booktalking is an important skill to develop to interest readers in trying an unknown title. Its’
primary audience is the non-user which is an essential population in outreach efforts. Pick
three graphics you would like to promote to the audience of your choice. You are going to post
a video of yourself booktalking these titles to our class site.
Readers Advisory Guide
Create a readers advisory guide that features a specific category or genre of graphic novels. As
part of the project, include an introduction where you explain the target audience and
methodology used in selection. There should be a minimum of 25 items in your guide. You are
not limited to only graphic novels if other types of resources fit with your theme. For example,
biographies of comic artists or non-fiction books can sometimes be paired well with graphics.
Possible guides could be:
Independent voices for all-ages
Cross-cultural intersections
Superheroes for new adults
The future of Hawaiian graphics
Manga for non-Manga readers
Final Project
As the class is progressing, take note of possible projects that are of particular interest. I would
like a formal proposal by Week 9. This is your chance to deepen your understanding of a
specific topic. Projects could be research papers, multimedia presentations, writing a graphic
novel, planning a graphics convention at your library, or whatever you feel inspired to do as
long as it meets library school standards of excellence.
Schedule
Introduction
General Comics History
History of Asian American Comics and
Graphics
Hawaiian Comics and Graphics
Elementary age Graphics
Non-fiction Graphics
DC and Marvel
Assignments and Readings
Week 1 Understanding Comics
Week 2 Finish Understanding Comics
Week 3 Any Usagi Yojimbo
Collection Development
Webcomics
Manga Manga Manga
Middle School Graphics
Intellectual Freedom/Censorship
Outreach/Programming
High School Graphics
Week 8 Reader’s Advisory Guide Due
Week 9 Final Project Proposal Due
Week 10 Attack on Titan vol 1,
Week 11 Boxers/Saints, Ichiro
Week 12 Saga Vol 1
Week 13 book talk assignment due
Week 14 Night Fisher, Nothing Can Possibly
Go Wrong,
Week 15 Bride’s Story, Stargazing Dog
Week 16 Final Project Due
Graphics for Adults
Final Projects/Summary
Week 4 Jon Murakami
Week 5 Smile, Little Lit, Comic creation due
Week 6 March Vol 1, My Friend Dahmer
Week 7 Batman and Spiderman