ENG 236-001: Introductory Topics in Creative Writing
The Graphic Novel
Instructor:
Melissa Morrow
Course Meets:
W, 5:30-8:10, AUP 104
Office:
294 Curtin Hall, (414) 229-5025
Office Hours:
W 3-5 PM, East Wing Golda Meir Library sitting area (and by
appointment)
Email:
mmorrow@uwm.edu; melissa.morrow4@gmail.com
Welcome to English 236, a course devoted to the “Graphic Novel.” To prepare for this
course, you will need to go and buy a hat…and then prepare to hold the eff onto it. We
will read a number of “graphic novels,” as we explore what this definition entails,
especially in relation to similar terms like “comic” and “cartoon.” It is not necessary that
you be an expert on Batman to pass this course. Likewise, you need not have ever read a
cartoon, comic, or graphic novel to excel. Instead, you must become a devoted reader,
and commit to discussing what you’ve read (and how you’ve read it) twice weekly in
class discussions. 236 is a more reading-intensive than writing-intensive course. You will
read a boatload of texts this semester. If that sounds horrible to you, please drop this
course immediately (you will not be judged). For the writing portion of English 236, you
can choose to work in any one of the following modes, or any combination of the three,
or all three, if you’re feeling adventurous: a comic-reader mode, a comic-writer mode, or
a comic-artist mode. As the semester progresses, we’ll talk more about what each mode
means and what each mode requires of you as a writer. Please enjoy the following
intricate tedium required by the University for legal purposes, and remember to ask
questions on any of the information if and when you have them. My goal is to give you
the kind of comics class* you deserve. Your goal is to learn as much as possible about
comics by reading, analyzing, and creating them in the upcoming fifteen weeks of sheer
comic-book awesomeness.
*This course rated “M” for mature. We will be reading comics written for adult
audiences (which includes vulgar language, violence, exploration of sex and sexuality,
nudity, and adult themes). You will be expected to leave your Beavis-and-Buttheadesque** comments at the door—this isn’t Mystery Science Theater 236**.
**As part of this maturity, you are expected to act as a resourceful adult would as part of
your preparation for class by researching any and all references, allusions, contexts,
historical events, dates, and definitions you are unfamiliar with. Hint: the Oxford English
Dictionary, Wikipedia, and Google are great places to start your research, and they can
all be found for free online.
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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C OURSE T EXTS
The following textbooks are required for English 236, and available in the campus
bookstore. Feel free to buy online, from local comic book stores, borrow copies from
friends, or use your tattered old copies for class (ISBN numbers are included below to
help you procure the correct editions). Hard copies of these books are available on 2-hour
reserve through the UWM library.
1. The Ultimates: Ultimate Collection, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch, 0785143874,
Marvel, 2010, 374 pages ($34.99 list, $11.40 used)
2. Y: The Last Man, Volume 1 (Deluxe Edition), Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra,
1401219217, Vertigo, 2008, 256 pages ($29.99 list, $11.98 used)
OR Y: The Last Man trade paperbacks 1 & 2 (Unmanned and Cycles)
3. Kingdom Come, Mark Waid and Alex Ross, 1401220347, DC Comics, 2008, 232
pages ($17.99 list, $10.70 used)
4. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley,
1563893428, DC Comics, 1997, 224 pages ($14.99 list, $6.44 used)
5. Hellboy, Volume 1: Seed of Destruction, John Byrne and Mike Mignola,
1593070942, Dark Horse Comics, 3rd edition, 2003, 128 pages ($17.95 list, $1.23
used)
6. The Sandman, Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes (New Edition), Neil Gaiman,
Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg, 1401225756, Vertigo, reprint edition, 2010, 240
pages ($19.99 list, $11.27 used)
7. Scott Pilgrim, Volume 1: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life, Bryan Lee O’Malley,
1932664084, Oni Press, 2004, 168 pages ($11.99 list, $4.94 used)
8. Akira, Volume 1, Katsuhiro Otomo, 1935429000, Kodansha Comics, 2009, 352
pages ($24.99 list, $12.01 used)
9. Black Hole, Charles Burns, 0375714723, Pantheon, 2008, 368 pages ($18.95 list,
$7.19 used)
10. Green River Killer: A True Detective Story, Jeff Jensen and Jonathan Case,
1595825606, Dark Horse, 2011, 240 pages ($24.99 list, $16.09 used)
11. Ex Machina, Volume 1: The First Hundred Days, Brian K. Vaughan and Tony
Harris, 1401206123, WildStorm Productions, 2005, 136 pages ($12.99 list, $1.49
used)
12. The Invisibles, Volume 1: Say You Want a Revolution, Grant Morrison,
1563892677, Vertigo, 1996, 224 pages ($19.99 list, $6.80 used)
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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13. Planetary, Volume 1: All Over the World and Other Stories, Warren Ellis and John
Cassaday, 1563896486, WildStorm Productions, 2000, 160 pages ($14.99 list,
$2.99 used)
14. Batwoman: Elegy, Greg Rucka and JH Williams III, 1401231462, DC Comics,
2011, 192 pages ($17.99 list, $10.27 used)
15. French Milk, Lucy Knisley, 1416575340, Touchstone, revised edition, 2008, 208
pages ($15.00 list, $2.36 used)
Additional course texts will be available through our course’s E-reserve page, our
course’s Desire 2 Learn site (under “Content”), or distributed as hard copies in class
C OURSE P OLICIES
Final grades are calculated by the points you earn for each assignment, with a total of 600
points possible for the semester. Your final letter grade will be calculated according to
the following scale (ranges determined by university-mandated final grade percentages):
Final
Letter
Grade
Total
Points
Earned
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
561-600
537-560
525-536
496-524
477-495
465-476
435-464
417-434
405-416
375-404
360-374
0-359
Sorry, folks: the university doesn’t
allow a final grade of A+!
FAIL LINE: C and above is “passing”
1. Grading: Your final course grade will reflect the overall care and polish your
writing projects demonstrate, the degree to which you have completed assigned
work according to individual assignment instructions, and the degree to which
you have participated in the course. This grade will be determined by the total
points you earn on the following:


Response Papers (6 total @ 20 points each) = 120 points possible
Final Project = 100 points possible
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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o Creative Options: 75 points for script/comic and 25 points for critical intro
o Analytical Option: 100 points for essay
Reading Quizzes (12 total @ 10 points each) = 120 points possible
o 14 reading quizzes will be administered
o Your two lowest quiz scores will be dropped
Class Discussions (13 total @ 20 points each) = 260 points possible
o Discussion participation points will begin on 2/1/12
o Your lowest discussion score will be dropped
Extra Credit Response Papers are worth 20 points each. All extra credit response
papers must be instructor-approved, including the deadline I set for the assignment.



2. Late Work and Lateness: Late assignments—whether hard copy or D2L
submission—will be penalized, including the amount of points they will (or will
not) be worth when they finally arrive, and the amount of critique (if any) given.
You will be held accountable for meeting your deadlines for this class, without
exception. Deadline extensions are negotiable in advance; please send me an
email no less than 48 hours before an assignment is due to negotiate a deadline
extension.



Response Papers: 5 points deducted for each day late
Final Project: No late work accepted without approved extension (see above)
Reading Quizzes: If you are late for class and miss the distribution of that day’s
reading quiz, you will not be allowed to take the quiz and will earn zero points.
No make-up quizzes will be given for any reason, including tardiness or absence.
Consistent tardiness will affect your performance in this class as well as your final
grade, as it will be reflected in a loss of class discussion points. Please do not be
late for class meetings: it is rude and throws off our group dynamic.
3. Format: All writing assignments must be properly formatted, whether creative or
analytical. Formatting instructions will be distributed in class, and a permanent
archive of all formatting requirements is available on D2L under “Content.”
ATTENDANCE
Our course meets once a week. Missing one class is the equivalent of missing a week of class. It
is for this reason that regular attendance is important in English 236. You are allowed two
absences for the semester. These absences will still negatively affect your quiz and participation
grades, so it would be best to attend all fifteen classes this semester. Your third absence will
automatically drop your final grade one full letter grade (for example, from B+ to C+). Your
fourth absence will drop your final grade another full letter grade (for example from B+ to D+).
Five or more absences and you automatically fail English 236.
“DESIRE 2 LEARN” WEBSITE (D2L)
Our class D2L site will serve as the place where any and all announcements pertaining to the
course will be posted, including instructions for upcoming assignments and any emergency posts
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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(such as class cancellations or changes to course documents). The site will additionally serve as
an archive for all course materials, from the syllabus to individual assignment instructions.
Course documents such as this syllabus and course assignment instructions are available on the
site under “Content.” Should you miss class or lose a document distributed in class, it is your
responsibility to go to D2L and find the materials you need to be prepared for the next class
session. Be sure to check the site often as part of your preparation for class, as I will be posting
reminders, announcements, and assignments there throughout the semester. In addition, if you
have any questions you didn’t have the chance to ask in class that you’d like answered before the
next class, please ask them in the “Discussions” forum under the “Class Discussion Questions”
thread.
You can log into D2L from the UWM homepage, or you can use this link. If navigating from the
UWM homepage, choose “D2L” under the “Quicklinks” menu in the top-right corner of the
homepage. Use your Panthermail ID and password to log in. You will see all of the D2L sites for
the courses in which you are an enrolled student.
CLASSROOM COURTESY
Most of this should be common knowledge. However, I will state explicitly the rules of conduct
for this particular college classroom:
o
No phones, iPods, or other hand-held electronic devices should be used during class
meetings. Keep them in your bags and keep them turned off. Not on vibrate, not on silent
– OFF. If you need to use your phone to access course readings, ask your instructor for
approval before class. If a cell phone or iPod/MP3player appears or makes itself
otherwise known during class, or if you have asked to use your phone to read course texts
and are found to be using it for other purposes (including texting, checking Facebook,
Tweeting, and chatting) I may ask you to leave class and you will lose all class discussion
points for the week.
o
Laptops may be used to access course readings, but if you are found to be using your
laptop for purposes other than accessing the course readings (including typing papers or
doing homework for this class or another, checking Facebook, Tweeting, chatting,
browsing the internet for non-discussion-related stuff), I may ask you to leave class and
you will lose all class discussion points for the week.
o
Address your classmates and your instructor politely and treat each other with respect,
even if your opinions differ, which they will. Be respectful of cultural, religious, political,
and preferential differences – don’t be racist, sexist, classist, homophobic in your
remarks. Don’t call names or yell at each other. Basically, conduct discussion as
professional adults would. I will ask you to leave class and you will lose discussion
points for the week if you are acting inappropriately. Consistent misconduct will result in
disciplinary action taken, and may result in your dismissal from the class.
o
Obviously, don’t sleep in class. If you fall asleep in class, I may ask you to leave class
and you will lose discussion points for the week.
WRITING CENTER
Students are encouraged to take advantage of services offered by the Writing Center. If interested,
it’s a good idea to stop by the Writing Center early in the semester. Later in the semester, the
Center tends to be booked. Visit the Writing Center’s website for more information and to book
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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an appointment.
STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY CENTER (SAC)
If you work with an advisor at the SAC, please bring your VISA statement to your instructor
within the first week of class. If you are concerned that you might have a learning disability, visit
the SAC office in 112 Mitchell Hall.
ADMINISTRATIVE DROP
Any student who does not attend the first week of class will be dropped from the course.
QUALITY CONTROL
If you do not feel that you can meet the course requirements (such as the volume of reading and
writing required and/or regular attendance and participation), I would advise you to drop this
class as soon as possible. At any time during the semester, I am happy to respond to your
questions or concerns about this course. Please feel free to make an appointment with me to talk
if you feel you need to do so. The syllabus is subject to change—I will notify you in advance of
any changes. Finally, I am never in my office so do not drop off any work there or in my campus
mailbox. The best way to contact me is by e-mail: mmorrow@uwm.edu is my university address,
but melissa.morrow4@gmail.com tends to be quicker.
ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY POLICIES
For a complete list of university policies, including those on religious observances, students
called to active duty, incompletes, discriminatory conduct, academic misconduct, complaint
procedures, and grade appeal procedures, visit:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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ENG 236-001, SP12 COURSE SCHEDULE
2
2/1
1
1/25
(D = Discuss in Class; HW = To Read for Homework)
WEDNESDAY
D: Introduction to ENG 236, Syllabus, Brief History of the Graphic Novel
HW: Y:The Last Man
D: Graphic Apocalypse
HW: Kingdom Come
4
2/15
3
2/8
DUE: Response Paper #1
D: DC Undone
HW: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
D: DC Undone (continued)
HW: Hellboy
6
2/29
5
2/22
DUE: Response Paper #2
D: Demons and Dreamscapes
HW: Sandman
D: Demons and Dreamscapes (continued)
HW: Scott Pilgrim
3/7
DUE: Response Paper #3
D: Manga Madness
9
HW: Akira
D: Manga Madness
HW: Black Hole and Green River Killer: A True Detective Story
No Class: Spring Break
3/21
8
3/14
7
10
3/28
DUE: Response Paper #4
D: In Black and White
11
4/4
HW: The Ultimates
D: Modern Marvels
HW: Ex Machina
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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13
4/18
12
4/11
DUE: Response Paper #5
D: Real Life Capes
HW: Invisibles
D: Cosmic Comics
HW: Planetary
15
5/2
14
4/25
DUE: Response Paper #6
D: Cosmic Comics
HW: Batwoman: Elegy
D: Queering Comics
HW: French Milk
5/9
16
DUE: FINAL PROJECT
D: Graphic Travelogues
ENG 236-001, The Graphic Novel, Morrow, Spring 2012
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