Svab GN
The Graphic Novel
Mr. Vlastik Svab - vsvab@collegiate-va.org
Class website: http://bit.ly/SvabGraphicNovel
D Period - P111 - Spring 2019
Svab’s Free Periods: C, E, Z
Course Description
Storytelling is at the heart of literature. Graphic novels are stories told using both text and visual images, and this course will examine various examples of this rapidly expanding genre. We will read fiction, non-fiction, journalism, comics, and critical works. We will address some fundamental questions about this genre: How does visual art enhance the telling of a story? How does narrative change or flow within the visual medium? How important is realism? How does a story change when told in graphic form? How does the balance between text and image affect the storytelling?
The course will examine graphic works and evaluate them on an ever-widening array of criteria; criteria which we as a group will develop and hone as the semester continues. Narrative style, voice, the presence/absence of a third person narrator, story arc, and character development are all part of the study of literature, and these concepts will feed our discussions. Additionally, visual style and form, and how it intersects with narrative, will be an integral part of the discussion. We will read reviews and critical essays that address these criteria in evaluating graphic novels.
Assessments will include literary analysis of individual works, close reading and explication of specific passages, artistic evaluation of visual criteria, and an in-depth research essay. The final project will be the creation of an original graphic narrative work that will be published online. We will work through the steps of creation, including written narrative, story boarding, artistic representation of the narrative (including the possible use of digital/technological tools, such as drawing apps and websites), and final publication/creation. Artistic background or ability is not required at all for this course; there will be opportunities to use digital tools to create visual narratives.
Students taking the course for Honors credit will complete an additional independent research project involving an additional text of their choosing, or the creation of an original graphic narrative. More information about the Honors project can be found HERE.
If you are considering playing NCAA Division I or II sports in college, this course does not count as an English elective according to the judgement[1] of the NCAA.
If you feel like you have no artistic ability, don't worry. There are NO “art skills” necessary for success here. All I ask is that you approach our work with enthusiasm and curiosity. In the end, it's about telling a story, and that is something we can all do.
Texts
Possibly even more so than in previous classes, your participation and engagement with the texts will be crucial to this course. A graphic novel sometimes feels like it has two narratives, and I expect you to pay close attention to both. I expect you to have the required text with you every day. This will be especially important for open-book quizzes. Failure to do so will negatively impact your grade.
Despite the fact that some of these texts could fall into the category of “comics,” they all deal with serious issues. Many of the texts include content that could be considered violent or sexual in nature. While you’ve probably read and seen some violent or sexual content in other English classes and in the world in general, the graphic novel is a different medium. A book has words on a page. A scene in a film lasts for a minute, and then it is over. But a page in a graphic novel can be lingered over and studied in detail. That said, I expect a high level of maturity and seriousness when discussing sensitive topics, both within and outside of class.
Business:
You will be reading, writing, discussing, creating, and presenting in this class. You will be doing these things individually (and rarely, but occasionally, in groups).
Major Assessments - 50%
These are essays, presentations, projects, and other assignments (both analytical and creative) that reflect what you've read and learned in class. For some, but not all, of these assignments, you will receive a grading rubric beforehand.
Minor Assessments - 35%
These are shorter writing assignments, reading quizzes (both open and closed book), and other smaller assignments (both analytical and creative) that will be liberally sprinkled throughout the semester. Some assignments will have a grading rubric.
Participation - 15%
This is the most subjective of the categories. This grade is based on your attendance, punctuality, completion of reading and homework assignments, and general participation in class. So come on time, stay awake, bring the right text to class, do the reading, and enthusiastically participate in class. Conversely, if you are aspiring to failure in this category, never say a word, come to class late, never have your book, and sleep during class.
There will also be texts we'll read from online sources and/or handouts I distribute. Everything will be available as a link or download through my website and/or Schoology, if you ever lose a paper copy. This also means that you will never be able to use the excuse "I couldn't find my copy."
Research Project
You will be producing an in-depth research paper in conjunction with Maus. Your project will involve a minimum five-page research paper that delves into a topic of your choosing (after consultation with me) connected to the concepts and themes of Maus, Holocaust literature and media, and/or the author Art Spiegelman and his work. The final draft will most likely be due before Spring Break (Thurs., March 7).
Final Project
There is no exam in this class. There is a final creative project (which will count as the exam grade—20% of your final grade) that will be the creation of an original graphic novel/novella/narrative. We will work through the steps of creation together in class during the last few weeks of class, utilizing artistic and digital tools for creation. The final project is due Mon., May 13, 2019.
Absences
It is your responsibility to make up work if you are absent. All homework assignments, essays, and projects must be turned in at the beginning of the period on the day you return to school. If you need to turn in an assignment and cannot find me, put it in my faculty mailbox. It is your responsibility to catch up on all missed assignments and to ask for help. It is your responsibility to inform me at the beginning of the class that you need to make up a quiz. Failure to make up a quiz within two weeks of the original date will result in a zero on that assessment. You’ll note that a zero will be entered in the PowerSchool gradebook on a missed assignment. That serves as a reminder that you need to make something up and/or turn it in.
Homework & Assignments
Homework will be posted at least a week ahead of time in the “Upcoming Events” section of Schoology. The excuse "I didn't know what the homework was" will be ignored.
Reading Quizzes
There will be frequent reading quizzes to check how well you are keeping up with and understanding the reading. These will not be announced ahead of time, so if there is a reading assignment, expect a quiz. Some of these will be “open-book,” in which you are asked to engage with visual aspects of the text. So bringing your text to class is crucial. Others will be “closed-book,” in which you’ll be asked both recall and analysis questions based on the reading.
Phones
Cell phones will be placed in the Cell Phone Bin at the beginning of class. There may be occasional tasks (research, polls, writing, brainstorming, etc.) during which I will ask you to use your phones during class. Other than those times, phones will be out of reach.
Lateness
Any assignment that is turned in late will be docked one letter grade. So an A essay, turned in late, is a B essay. Technical difficulties are NOT an excuse for late assignments. If the printer in the computer lab is out of paper and/or not working, this is NOT MY PROBLEM.
Printing should be done BEFORE school, not in the five minutes between classes. Prepare ahead of time. Don't just "share" a Googledoc with me and think you've "turned it in." Unless otherwise stated, you still need to turn in the written assignment ON PAPER on the due date - at the beginning of class.
DON’T just get up and walk out of the room. That's rude. If you need to use the restroom or get a drink of water, ASK. I will usually not have a problem with this, unless class is ending soon or we are in the middle of something—I may ask you to wait a moment. There will not be class-wide breaks in the middle of block periods.
Plagiarism
You should not be using wikipedia, SparkNotes, or any other outside sources unless specifically approved or endorsed by me. Some of these texts are complex, and require some outside knowledge and context, and I will do my best to provide that knowledge and context through supplemental materials and secondary/critical sources. Any source linked on my class website is fair game.
THE HONOR CODE
The Collegiate community prides itself on maintaining an Honor Code and having a high level of trust in one another (no locks on lockers, etc.). This honorable community can only thrive if we are all a part of creating and maintaining it.
Cheating, whether it be inadvertent (like forgetting to cite a source) or blatant (cutting and pasting from another source and crediting it as your own), affects the community and you. Your community's trust in you has been violated, and you have cheated yourself in not achieving your full potential as a student and learner. As a reminder of the wonderful community we thrive in, I expect you to abide by the Honor Code as stated in the Student Handbook.
On my honor, as a Collegiate student, I pledge that I have neither given nor received help with this work.
GRAPHIC NOVEL - SPRING 2019 - SVAB
Honor Code & Policies Form
Department policy on the Honor Code:
Plagiarism: I cannot help you improve your writing or your ideas if what you turn in is not your own. Unless you have my permission, you may not use Cliff Notes, Spark Notes or any other print or Internet sources to help you with anything that I assign you to read or write. The unauthorized use of such sources is cheating and will be referred to the Honor Council. You also may not allow anyone – your parents, friends, tutors or other teachers – to correct or improve or alter your work in any way, unless you are instructed to get such help. There will be times when I encourage you to discuss your ideas with other students, but if you are ever in doubt, ask me first! You should sign your pledge to every assignment you hand in for this class.
You will be provided with more information about what plagiarism is, and how to prevent it, adapted from the Student Resource Site at turnitin.com.
By signing below, you acknowledge that you have received, read, and understand both this course description and plagiarism policy.
___________________________________
(print student name)
___________________________________ ___________________
(student signature) (date)
REMOVE THIS FORM FROM THE PACKET AND
RETURN IT TO MR. SVAB BY TUES., JAN. 8, 2019.
[1] Very flawed judgement.