WELCOME!
The
Graphic Novel
Ms. Bakis
How & Why this course
happened…
• Graduate Course- SSU
• Student Engagement
• 21st century literacy
• Legitimate literature
• The length of a piece of literature doesn’t
determine its worth or complexity.
• Current, relevant topics for meaningful
discussion & authentic writing
Teaching Philosophy
• Transactional Theory
• Reader Response (student-centered learning)
• Focus on practical skills
– Writing, Reading, Speaking, Listening
– Research, finding and using authoritative
sources without plagiarizing
– Media literacy & technology use
– Critical thinking & self-aware learning (metacognitive reflection)
• Fun, appreciation of story
• Collaboration & social meaning making
Graphic Novels…
are NOT the same as comic books!!!!!!
are aimed at an adult audience
are complex and thought-provoking
include literary elements just like poetry,
short stories, and traditional text-only
novels
• engage a variety of students of varying
abilities & interests
• are taught at American colleges &
universities
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Reading Curriculum
• Graphic novels, short graphic narratives
• Elie Wiesel’s holocaust memoir, Night
• Contemporary essays by Scott Russell
Sanders, New Yorker authors, & others
• Funny in Farsi
• Independent reading selections
• Literary criticism
• Research (non-fiction print and electronic
sources)
Writing Curriculum
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Summer reading response
Journal writing/reader response
College/personal essay
Comparative essays
Argument essays (*midterm)
Critical analysis essay
Autobiographical essay
Creative Narratives (fiction and non-fiction)
Research project
Independent book review
Film reviews
Blogging, collaborative writing using Google Docs, social
networking discussion forum
Journal= Participation
• Active reading notes
• Comprehension
questions
• Reflection and reader
response
• Thinking through
writing
• Developing ideas
• Asking questions
• Concrete evidence of
engagement, learning
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Class discussion
Group work
Journal exchange
Essay pre-writing &
drafting
Peer editing
Study habit reflection
Homework
Quizzes on reading
and class discussion
Quarterly Portfolio
• Quarterly reflection on study habits,
learning and achievement.
• Most important summative assessment of
learning
• Due at the end of each quarter
• Honest account of self as learner
• Helpful for future goal setting and
achievement
• Acknowledgement of progress!
• Review of concepts and skills
Tests, Quizzes & Projects
• Few tests,
• Several quizzes
• 1 project per quarter
– Q1: research paper on history of comics
– Q2: Independent reading project
– Q3: Make your own graphic narrative!
Empathy & the human condition
RESEARCH PAPER
• History of telling
stories using images
• Comics industry
• Comics and film
• Focus on major
figures in
development of
medium
• Comics controversy
The comics medium, sequential
narrative, and how we communicate
Heroes, Superheroes, Society and
the Individual
Genre study: Memoir
Fathers & Sons Unit
Global perspectives, Women &
Iran, coming of age
Culture & Identity
• Use of Stereotypes
in comics
• Negative
stereotypes
• Hyperbole & Humor
• Immigrant
experience
Films …
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Ghost World
American Splendor
The Road to Perdition
The Spirit
V for Vendetta
Batman: The Dark Knight
Persepolis
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Online Resources
• My Professional website
• Student Graphic Novel Course site
• Masconomet’s English Department Page
Contact Information
• Mbakis@masconomet.org
• mascographicnovel@gmail.com
• 978-887-2323 x 1307
• HS Room 307
Thank
you for
coming!