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Updated 05/01/08

English 492/592, Selected Topics: Graphic Novels

Spring 2008, 2 credits

Meets from March 17-May 2, 2008

REVISED

MW 3:00-4:45 p.m.                    Monday classes meet in AH 208        Wednesday classes meet in AH 310.

Final Exam Period:                  Tuesday, May 6, 2:45-4:45 p.m .

Professor:        Donald Larsson              Office:  AH 301-L

Phone:             389-2368                       E-Mail: donald.larsson@mnsu.edu

Office Hours:    MW      11:00-Noon and 2:00-3:00 p.m.

and by appointment

Note: Because of other duties that I have, I may often be called away from office hours for meetings, etc., but I will always try to respond to emails and phone messages as soon as possible.  If you need in get in touch with me and I’m not available, please leave a message.

Class website: 

TEXTS:

Daniel Clowes, Ice Haven

Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics

Alan Moore, Watchmen

Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis 1 and  2

Art Spiegelman, The Complete Maus

Bryan Talbot, The Tale of One Bad Rat

Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese

Recommended: Paul Gravett. Graphic Novels: Everything You Need to Know

OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this course, undergraduate students should be able to:

• Construct a working definition of the “graphic novel” as a genre
• Identify key elements that make up the “language” of comics and graphic novels
• Identify different types of graphic novels and their purposes
• Apply these concepts toward a discussion and interpretation of a particular graphic novel

By the end of this course, graduate students should be able to:

• Do all of the above, plus
• Lead a class discussion on one of the assigned texts
• Critically evaluate concepts of the history, functions, and/or definitions of the graphic novel

REQUIREMENTS (REVISED):

492/Undergraduate:

· Maintain consistent attendance and participate in class discussion (You start with 5 points = 10 % of grade; each absence will cost ½ point, but 4 absences may result in a grade of F)

· Complete weekly responses on Desire2Learn/D2L (4 @ 7 points = 28% of total grade)

· Interpretive analysis of a graphic novel in a 10-12 page paper (31 points = 31% of final grade)

· Final Exam (take-home or in-class, to be determined) (31 points = 31% of total grade)

592/Graduate:

· Maintain consistent attendance and participate in class discussion (You start with 5 points = 10 % of grade; each absence will cost ½ point, but 4 absences may result in a grade of F)

· Lead a class discussion and submit a one-two page reflection paper (25 points = 25% of total grade)

· Interpretive analysis of a graphic novel in a 15-20 page paper (35 points = 35% of final grade)

· Final Exam (take-home or in-class, to be determined) (35 points = 35% of total grade)

SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

WEEK	DATES	READINGS	TOPICS
1	March 17-19	Understanding Comics	The “language” of comics—graphics, narrative, text
2	March 24-26	Watchmen	Redefining “comics”
3	March 31-April 2	Maus	Understanding the unspeakable
4	April 7-9	Persepolis	Memory, exile, identity
5	April 14-16	American Born Chinese	Culture, race, identity
6	April 21-23	Tale of One Bad Rat	Recovery through art and story
7	April 28-30	Ice Haven	Deconstructing Comics
Final Exam Period:  Tuesday, May 6, 2:45-4:45 p.m.