The successful completion of these process tasks will account for
33.33% of your final grade for the first essay.
Note: The specific tasks will be added to this rubric as we progress through the process together.
1) ORAL PRESENTATION: READ CLOSELY THIS INTRODUCTION TO YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION.
You may also click HERE to chat with a chatbot designed to assist you with this assignment. You can, for instance, ask the AI assistant to perform a 'risk assessment' to identify potential risks that could negatively impact this project, or to give you some good tips before recording your presentation.
2) PLAN, DESIGN & RECORD: WITH YOUR PARTNER, [1] PLAN YOUR PRESENTATION (by downloading and completing this worksheet), [2] DESIGN YOUR POWERPOINT SLIDES, AND [3] RECORD YOUR AUDIO TRACK.
SUBMIT YOUR WORKSHEET & VIDEO FILE (not a .PPT file) TO MOODLE, IN 'ORAL PRESENTATION.'
INSTEAD OF SUBMITTING A VIDEO FILE, YOU MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO PRESENT LIVE IN-PERSON OR ON ZOOM. If you prefer this option, please inform your teacher, by MIO message, as soon as possible.
THESE SCENES WILL SERVE AS A FOUNDATION FOR AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION NEXT CLASS, where we will develop a theoretical framework for your 1st essay project.
As you watch, examine what these scenes suggest about how an outsider or immigrant (namely, the superhero) should behave in order to be accepted: what the outsider should and should not do, and what kind of person they are expected to be to achieve social integration.
See the villain as a person who refuses or fails to conform to this specific model of fitting in and who, as a result, is ultimately excluded from the community.
Also, reflect on the community the outsider wishes to join. How does the general population behave towards the outsider? What responsibilities does the community have in helping integrate a new citizen?
>>>>>> SUPERMAN (helicopter scene) <<<<<<
>>>>>> CAPTAIN AMERICA (flag-pole scene) <<<<<<
>>>>>> CAPTAIN AMERICA (grenade scene) <<<<<<
4) MOODLE FORUM (one post): ANY TIME BEFORE OUR NEXT CLASS, ADD ONE OR TWO POSTS OR REPLIES (totalling at least 200 words) TO THE MOODLE FORUM ON 'SUPERHERO STORIES.'
Read very closely the instructions at the top of the forum thread, and make sure to develop your preliminary analysis by referring to multiplee specific details in the three videos you just watched.
This submission is part of the second completion task in the process of developing your first essay. To complete this process task, you need to also complete the individual activity next class. Process tasks will account for 33.33% of your final grade for the first essay.
STUDY THE EVALUATION GRID CLOSELY
STUDY THE WORKSHEET (which includes the instructions
and will need to be submitted on Moodle)
This 45-minute quiz will cover most elements and theoretical concepts presented in the videos and/or discussed in class (see list below).
Each student can bring one double-sided sheet of notes. These notes must be hand-written and hand-drawn directly on a regular (8.5 X 11 inches) paper sheet -- by the individual student. The teacher will collect and keep the notes at the end of the assessment.
Specifically, the test will cover:
SPLIT PANELS FORCE READERS TO EXPERIENCE THE
THIRD TENSION BETWEEN SURFACE AND SEQUENCE
BY PRESENTING TWO CONTRASTING WAYS OF
READING OF THE PANELS:
(1) AS A TEMPORAL SEQUENCE OF THREE DISTINCT
PANELS... THREE SUCCESSIVE MOMENTS
&
(2) AS ONE SINGLE IMAGE... ONE SURFACE...
ONE MOMENT
STANDARD SPLIT PANEL
THE GUTTERS - NON-DIEGETIC ELEMENTS - DIVIDE AN IMAGE INTO SEPARATE PANELS
DIEGETIC SPLIT PANEL
A DIEGETIC ELEMENT - AN OBJECT THAT IS PART OF THE CHARACTERS' WORLD -
DIVIDES THE PANEL INTO SEPARATE IMAGES
1) VIDEO: WATCH CLOSELY THE FOLLOWING VIDEO ON THE LAST TENSION:
>>>>>> TENSION 4 <<<<<<
>>>>>> PRODUCTION PROCESS <<<<<<
As you read:
LOOK FOR FOUR SPECIFIC SCENES THAT PROMOTE TRADITIONAL HEROIC BEHAVIOURS OR WAYS OF THINKING.
LOOK FOR FOUR SPECIFIC SCENES THAT PROMOTE ANTI-HEROIC BEHAVIOURS OR WAYS OF THINKING. The fourth should relate to the scene where Clark present his interview with Superman to Perry White, the chief editor of the Daily Planet.
THE SCENES CAN RELATE TO ANY CHARACTER, INCLUDING THE VILLAINS.
5) WORKSHEET / SUBMISSION: FULL UP AND SUBMIT TO LEA THIS WORKSHEET ON SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
This submission is the first completion task in the process of developing your first essay. Keep in mind that process tasks will account for 33.33% of your final grade for the first essay.
Find a webcomic that is interesting in terms of the cartoonist's creative use of varied graphic elements (e.g., special panel types, borders, gutters, colors, handwriting, bubble tails, panel overlap, camera shots, ways to guide the reader's gaze, degree of realism, etc.) to tell the story and affect readers. Try to find a web comic that takes advantage of vertical scrolling!
Do not read the story; do not focus on the characters and what what they do. This is not a literary analysis. This is an analysis of the visual elements. Focus strictly on how it looks!In your oral presentation, you will examine the reasons why the author drew the lines, gutters, colors, or faces specifically this way… and not any other way. You may refer to the story, the characters and their actions but only to help your audience better understand the significance of the graphic elements.
I encourage you to explore webcomics specifically designed for online reading, such as those with a vertical scrolling format. These webcomics often stand out because of the creative use of transitions and gutters.
Webcomics are created to be published and read online, not on paper like regular comics. Here are three websites you may use to find webcomics: WebToon, Top Web Comics, and WebComics Hub. You can also use ChatGPT's Deep Research, using the prompt in the AI section on Moodle.
NEXT CLASS: Thursday, Feb. 5
In-class test on comic book elements & tensions: Feb. 12
1) VIDEO: WHILE TAKING DETAILED NOTES, WATCH SHORT VIDEO INTRODUCING THE 2ND TENSION:
>>>>>> TENSION 2 <<<<<<
2) READING: IN CONNECTION WITH THE 2ND TENSION, READ AND TAKE DETAILED NOTES ON THE SIX TRANSITIONS PRESENTED BY SCOTT McCLOUD (pp. 6-16 in course pack) (pdf).
Make sure to understand each transition (presented on page 13 and explained on pages 14-16) (p.14 in pdf).
Keep in mind that in the upcoming test, in two weeks, you may be required to create your own panel transitions.
3) MOODLE ACTIVITY: PRACTICE YOUR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY TRANSITIONS BY TAKING THE MOODLE EXERCISE QUIZ ON TRANSITIONS IN 'ACTIVITIES."
Retake the test as many times as needed to reach at least 80%. If you struggle to reach 80% after multiple attempts, do not worry; send me a MIO message. I will support you.
4) MOODLE FORUM (one post / one reply): READ INSTRUCTIONS ON WEEK-2 MOODLE FORUM CLOSELY.
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR NEXT CLASS, ADD ONE MAIN POST, including your own two transitions with explanations.
ANY TIME BEFORE OUR NEXT CLASS, REPLY TO ONE PEER IN AT LEAST FOUR THOUGHTFUL & FULLY DEVELOPED SENTENCES.
5) READING: READ CLOSELY, WHILE TAKING DETAILED NOTES, CHRIS VOSTERS' SHORT GRAPHIC ESSAY "NAVIGATING COMICS" (pdf) ON THE 5 EXPLICIT & 3 IMPLICIT WAYS TO GUIDE THE READER'S GAZE (pp. 36-42 in course pack).
6) VIDEO: WATCH, WHILE TAKING DETAILED NOTES, THE FOLLOWING VIDEO:
>>>>>> TENSION 3 <<<<<<
7) ORAL PRESENTATION: FIND A PARTNER IN THE CLASS.
Students who do not have a partner need to email the teacher by MIO before next class.
8) < due in two weeks: Feb. 12 > READING: READ THE 1ST VOLUME OF SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
As you read:
LOOK FOR FOUR SPECIFIC SCENES THAT PROMOTE TRADITIONAL HEROIC BEHAVIOURS OR WAYS OF THINKING.
LOOK FOR FOUR SPECIFIC SCENES THAT PROMOTE ANTI-HEROIC BEHAVIOURS OR WAYS OF THINKING. The fourth must relate to the scene where Clark present his interview with Superman to Perry White, the chief editor of the Daily Planet.
THE SCENES CAN RELATE TO ANY CHARACTER, INCLUDING THE VILLAINS.
9) < due in two weeks: Feb. 12 > WORKSHEET / SUBMISSION: FULL UP AND SUBMIT TO LEA THIS WORKSHEET ON SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
This submission is the first completion task in the process of developing your first essay. Keep in mind that process tasks will account for 33.33% of your final grade for the first essay.
BLOCKADES : VERTICAL PANELS
READ ALL THE PANELS THAT ARE
TO THE LEFT OF THE BLOCKADE FIRST
Please contact your teacher before our 2nd class, by MIO, if you wish to address specific elements of the course outline and requirements.
2) COURSE REGISTRATION: DECIDE WHETHER YOU WISH TO OFFICIALLY ENROLL IN THIS COURSE.
If you do, welcome! Order the course pack (titled Graphic Novels (F21)(CUSTOM)) and Maus II at the college online bookstore today! And buy and download the digital copies of Superman: Earth One Vol. 1 & 2 (at the Kindle store, for instance).
If you do not wish to take this course, I wish you all the best!
3) MOODLE: IN MOODLE, ADD A USER PICTURE TO YOUR ACCOUNT.
Log in with your student id (ex: 2018362) and password found on your student schedule under 'Personal Data."
In Moodle, click on your name in the upper-right corner, click on 'Preferences' and, then, on 'Edit profile.'
Upload a user picture: a close-up photograph or, even more fun, an image of an object you relate to, a famous person, an animal, a sport team, etc.
THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF COMIC BOOK STORYTELLING:
>>> COMIC BOOK ELEMENTS & TERMS (5min) & PAGE 2 in the course pack
>>> TENSION #1 : WORDS vs. IMAGE (7min)
Keep in mind that 55% of your final grade this semester will be directly determined by your understanding of the comic book terms, elements and tensions. Take very clear and detailed notes. For the upcoming test on the theoretical concepts, you will be permitted to use one sheet on notes (handwritten & double-sided).
5) READING: READ CLOSELY THE SHORT GRAPHIC STORY "HYPOTHETICAL QUANDARY" (pdf) BY HARVEY PEKAR (PP. 122-124 IN COURSE PACK), A KEY FIGURE OF THE ALTERNATIVE COMIC BOOK MOVEMENT, AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE SEEMINGLY UNRELATED COMBINATION OF WORDS AND IMAGES.
6) 1st MOODLE FORUM (one post / one reply): USING THE MOODLE FORUM THAT CORRESPONDS TO YOUR LAST NAME, PARTICIPATE IN THE MOODLE FORUM ON "HYPOTHETICAL QUANDARY."
You will find detailed information about this forum, including its requirements and deadlines, in my first post at the top of the forum, on Moodle.
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, ADD ONE MAIN POST.
ANY TIME BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, REPLY TO ONE PEER.
7) 2nd MOODLE FORUM (one post / two replies): READ CLOSELY THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE MOODLE FORUM TITLED "CREATE YOUR OWN WORD/IMAGE COMBINATIONS."
You will find detailed information about this forum, including its requirements and deadlines, in my first post at the top of the forum, on Moodle.
24 HOURS BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, ADD ONE MAIN POST.
ANY TIME BEFORE OUR 3RD CLASS, REPLY TO ONE PEER.
Remember: Your teacher's support is only one MIO away!
