ENGL 1100 Diversity & Popular US Literature Section 003 Graphic Novels and Diversity
Fall 2011
Monday/Wednesday 5:30-6:45
South City Campus W369
Instructor: Brandon Alva
Email: balva@mymail.slcc.edu
Office Hours: M/W 4:00-5:00pm, Room N-316, or by appointment
Course Description
This course looks at the notion of diversity through graphic novels and other texts that have
strong visual elements. We will explore how we understand and accommodate human difference
often engaging with various and sometimes conflicting definitions of nationality, race, class,
gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and language. We will also examine the various ways
writers have responded to racism, sexism, and cultural imperialism in order to build or define
unique identities and negotiate between the powered and the disempowered.
Book List
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Maus I by Art Spiegelman
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Due Dates
09/19 Diversity Comic #1
10/05 Diversity Comic #2
10/24 Response Paper #1 & Diversity Memoir Proposal
11/09 Final Diversity Memoir
11/21 Response Paper #2
12/12 Final Portfolio
Attendance
Because attendance is vital to learning and to the class, the instructor reserves the right to fail any
student who misses more than five classes without question. If you have a medical condition that
requires you to miss class than you need to register with disability resources. Any student who
misses more than three classes needs to check in with the instructor after missing the third class.
Three tardies equals one absence.
Late work
Any assignment turned in late will be penalized a full letter grade for each class period it is late.
Late assignments turned in between class periods will be penalized a partial letter grade. The
instructor also reserves the right to fail any student who fails one of the major writing
assignments or simply does not turn it in. Note: It is the student’s responsibly to keep a saved
electronic copy of each assignment.
Plagiarism
Merriam Webster’s defines plagiarize: “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as
one’s own.” The instructor reserves the right to fail any student caught plagiarizing. You must
give credit for any information or idea not your own which is also not common knowledge.
Always use proper citation. Any passage which you copy word for word must be clearly set apart
with quotation marks or block quotations.
Profile of an A student
Students who receive an A in this class usually do the following:
 Come to class on time regularly. Most ‘A’ students miss one or two classes per semester.
Many have perfect attendance.
 Turn assignments in on time.
 Come to personal conferences with the instructor. ‘A’ students take advantage of the
feedback they are given and strive to make all the suggested revisions.
 Actively participate in class.
Grading
Response Papers 1 & 2 (25 points each)
Response Paper 3
Understanding Comics Activity
2 Diversity Narratives (15 points each)
E-Portfolio & Reflection and Book Review (20 points each)
Diversity Memoir
Analytical Paper
Attendance and Participation
(30 classes @ 3 points each + 10 participation points)
50 points
15 Points
15 points
30 points
40 points
50 points
50 points
100 points
Total
Grade Scale
350-329
328-315
314-305
304-291
290-280
279-270
350 points
A
AB+
B
BC+
269-256
255-245
244-235
234-221
220-210
209-0
C
CD+
D
DE
Class Schedule
Wednesday August 24
In Class: Go over class syllabus and policies. Introduce graphic novels and diversity.
Homework: Just the Reading. Print In-class readings from course webpage Group #1
Reading: Understanding Comics Chapters 1 & 2
Monday August 29
In Class: Read and Discuss Diversity readings from Group #1. Discuss Understanding Comics.
Homework: Just the Reading. Print in-class reading from course website Group #2
Reading: Understanding Comics Chapter 3
Wednesday August 31
In Class: Read and Discuss readings from Group #2 Discuss Understanding Comics.
Homework: Just the Reading
Reading: Understanding Comics Chapters 4-6
Monday September 5
NO CLASS--LABOR DAY
Wednesday September 7
In Class: In small groups analysis comic shorts using McCloud’s pyramid and graph of panel
transitions.
Homework: Just the Reading.
Reading: Maus I Prologue, Chapters 1-2 (pgs. 5-40)
Monday September 12
In Class: Visit Computer Lab to learn how to use Strip Generator. Introduce Diversity Memoir.
Homework: Reading and work on Diversity Comic #1
Reading: Maus I Chapter 3 (pgs. 41-69)
Wednesday September 14
In Class: Discuss history of Anti-Semitism in U.S. and Europe. Listen to Father Coughlin
broadcast.
Homework: Reading and finish Diversity Comic #1
Reading: Maus I Chapter 4 (pgs. 71-93)
Monday September 19
Diversity Comic #1 Due
In Class: Discuss the post Holocaust Jewish immigrant experience. Watch video clip about
Holocaust survivors.
Homework: Just the Reading
Reading: Maus I Chapter 5 (pgs. 95-127)
Wednesday September 21
In Class: Discuss Maus I.
Homework: Finish Maus I.
Reading: Maus I Chapter 6 (pgs. 129-159)
Monday September 26
In Class: Conclude class discussion of Maus I.
Homework: Just the Reading
Reading: Persepolis (The Veil, The Bicycle)
Wednesday September 28
In Class: Visit Computer Lab to learn how to use Comics Life. Introduce Diversity Memoir
Proposal.
Homework: Reading and work on Diversity Comic #2
Reading: Persepolis (The Water Cell, Persepolis, The Letter, The Party, The Heroes)
Monday October 3
In Class: Listen to “A Tale of Two U.S. Muslim Women: To Cover or Not?” Discuss Muslim
Immigrant experience. Discuss Persepolis.
Homework: Reading and finish Diversity Comic #2 . Print “Ground Zero Mosque.” from course
webpage.
Reading: Persepolis (Moscow, The Sheep)
Wednesday October 5
Diversity Comic #2 Due
In Class: Discuss “Ground Zero Mosque” by Newt Gingrinch.
Homework: Just the Reading.
Reading: Persepolis (The Trip, The F-14’s, The Jewels, The Key, The Wine)
Monday October 10
In Class: Look at Prompts for Response Paper #1.
Homework: Reading and Begin drafting Response Paper #1. Bring outline to next class.
Reading: Persepolis (The Cigarette, The Passport)
Wednesday October 12
In Class: Peer Review outline of Response Paper #1. Discuss Persepolis. Sign-up for Personal
Conferences and discuss Diversity Memoir Proposal
Homework: Reading, Finish drafting Response Paper #1, Write Diversity Memoir Proposal
Reading: Persepolis (Kim Wilde, The Shabbat, The Dowry)
Monday October 17
In Class: Personal Conference
Homework: Reading, Revise Response Paper #1, Write Diversity Memoir Proposal
Reading: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (pgs. 1-24)
Wednesday October 19
In Class: Personal Conference
Homework: Reading, Revise Response Paper #1, Write Diversity Memoir Proposal.
Reading: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (pgs. 25-98)
Monday October 24
Response Paper #1 & Diversity Memoir Proposal Due
In Class: Listen to Sherman Alexie Reading and discuss Native American experience in the
novel.
Homework: Reading and work on Diversity Memoir
Reading: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (pgs. 99-129)
Wednesday October 26
In Class: Visit Computer Lab to work on Diversity Memoir
Homework: Reading & Finish Diversity Memoir. Bring two copies to next class for Peer
Review.
Reading: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (pgs. 130-198)
Monday October 31
In Class: Peer Review Diversity Memoir and discuss E-Portfolio and Reflection.
Homework: Reading & Work on Diversity Memoir
Reading: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (pgs. 199-230)
Wednesday November 2
In Class: Personal Conferences/Computer Lab Work Day
Homework: Reading & Finish Diversity Memoir
Reading: American Born Chinese pgs. 1-52
Monday November 7
In Class: Personal Conferences/Computer Lab Work Day
Homework: Reading & Finish Diversity Memoir
Reading: Reading: American Born Chinese pgs. 53-233
Diversity Memoir Due
Wednesday November 9
In Class: Discuss Absolutely True Diary & American Born Chinese and Discuss Prompts for
Response Paper #2.
Homework: Reading & Begin Drafting Response Paper #2
Reading: Fun Home (Old Father, Old Artificer)
Monday November 14
In Class: Introduce Final Analytical Paper and Your Choice Books. Look at assignment and
begin brainstorming.
Homework: Complete Draft of Response Paper #2. Bring two copies to next class for Peer
Review.
Reading: Fun Home (A Happy Death, That Old Catastrophe)
Wednesday November 16
In Class: Peer Review Response Paper #2
Homework: Readings and Finish Response Paper #2
Reading: Fun Home (In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower)
Monday November 21
Response Paper #2 Due
In Class: Introduce Response Paper #3 and report Your Choice Book
Homework: Reading and Print “Suicide surge” from course webpage
Reading: Fun Home (The Canary-Colored Caravan of Death)
Wednesday November 23
In Class: Read “Suicide surge: Schools confront anti-gay bullying” and Watch “It Gets Better”
Campaign Videos
Homework: Reading, print example book reviews off course webpage, work on Analytical Paper
Reading: Fun Home (The Ideal Husband)
November 28
In Class: Look at example book reviews, discuses Fun Home and sign up for Personal
Conferences
Homework: Reading and work on Analytical Paper
Reading: Fun Home (The Anti-hero’s Journey)
November 30
In Class: Personal Conference
Homework: Reading and work on Analytical Paper
Reading: Your Choice (Maus II, Persepolis II, Short Comings, Safe Area Gorazde, Stitches, The
New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance, Epileptic)
December 5
In Class: Personal Conference
Homework: Reading and finish Final Portfolio
Reading: Continue Your Choice Reading
December 7
In Class: Personal Conference
Homework: Reading and finish Final Portfolio
Reading:Continue Your Choice Reading
Monday December 12
Final Portfolio Due: Analytical Paper, Response Paper #3 and Book Review. Post EPortfolio assignment and Reflection by 5:00pm