Graphic Novels

Throughout history, humans have used images to communicate ideas, emotions, and stories. Recently, graphic novels have risen to prominence, winning awards and illuminating the value of storytelling through images and words. In this course, students will explore how literary techniques combine with artistic techniques in the medium of comics and how graphic novel creators use those techniques to tell complex, compelling stories.

This first unit covers the history of graphic novels, beginning with early American comics. At the same time, students will learn about, identify, and practice artistic techniques of the comics medium. They will compare a graphic adaptation of Poe’s stories and poems, focusing on the short story “The Casks of Amontillado,” with the text-only version of the story. The second unit explores two graphic novels: March: Book One, about the early life and activism of John Lewis, and Nimona, a sci-fi/fantasy story about friendship and good and evil. Students will focus on interpretation and analysis, paying special attention to how readers make inferences when reading graphic novels. In the third and final unit, students will choose a final graphic novel to read and analyze independently. They will apply their learning from the course and use the creative process to create an original short graphic story.

Throughout the course, students will engage in discussions with their peers. Students will write in a variety of genres, both creatively and analytically. Students will develop their artistic skills by creating comics to convey their learning, interpretations, and original story.

In this standard-level course, students are expected to invest approximately 6 hours per week on their course work.