WEEK 8 (due March 23)
NEXT CLASS: MONDAY, MARCH 23
ESSAY 1: Works Cited Page
CLICK HERE to have information on your Works Cited page
★★★ Include the two main authors (indicated on the cover).
Last Name, First Name. Title: Subtitle of the Book. Vol. #. Publisher, Publication Year.
Gillespie, Paula, and Neal Lerner. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Peer Tutoring. Allyn and Bacon, 2000.
American Psychological Association, 2007.
WEEK 7 (2/2) (due March 23)
Due date for the 1st essay: March 23, 8am or 12pm
1) TYPING: IN MICROSOFT WORD, TYPE YOUR DRAFT, EXACTLY AS IT IS, WORD FOR WORD.
As you type, you can only correct spelling, punctuation, and verb-subject agreement (e.g., "he say" > "he says").
AI Usage: You can give ChatGPT your draft (one photo at a time) and ask it to extract the handwritten text word-for-word, exactly as it is. Since your final copy must match your draft, verify ChatGPT’s transcription (every single word) to make sure it hasn’t misread your handwriting.
2) CONCLUSION: DRAFT YOUR CONCLUSION BY YOURSELF. NO AI.
SHARE WITH YOUR READER YOUR OWN IMPERFECT HUMAN THOUGHTS.
A SUDDEN CHANGE IN WRITING STYLE, TONE, OR QUALITY OF INSIGHTS WILL RESULT IN YOUR CONCLUSION, AND POSSIBLY YOUR ENTIRE ESSAY, NOT BEING ACCEPTED.
- Keep the conclusion short: about 100-125 words.
- Restate the thesis in a clear way, using different words.
- Briefly remind the reader of the main point from the theory paragraph and the main point from the comic book analysis.
- End by explaining why your discovery matters: what does this teach us about superhero stories, immigration, or social integration?
Two options for the ending (why it matters):
- If applicable, refer back to the real-world issue or opening idea from the introduction so the essay feels unified.
- Or, if your thesis argues that, in the end, the author supports conservative immigration goals or guidelines, the conclusion can end by discussing one or two negative effects of that policy. For example, you can mention negative effects for immigrants, such as who gets excluded or rejected, and negative effects for the larger community. This gives the conclusion a stronger sense of importance and offers your reader valuable insights to consider.
3) EDITING: EDIT YOUR DRAFT BY FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES:
Revisions can be done with or without AI. If you use AI, you can only use the prompts on Moodle in the AI Section: "1st Essay: TO EDIT YOUR DRAFT."
1. All revisions (with or without AI) must be clearly disclosed by inserting a comment in the margin for each modification: In Microsoft Word, select the specific word(s) you've modified, click on Insert and then on Comment. In the comment, indicate briefly the nature of the modification and (if you used AI) which permitted prompt you used.
2. No need to insert a comment when correcting punctuation (a comma, period, or semicolon), when correcting the spelling of a word, when correcting verb-subject agreement errors ("he says"), when correcting or adding determiners ("the," "a," "an," "this," "that," "these," or "those") or when deleting a word or sentence without replacing it.
3. No more than four words in a given sentence can be added or replaced.
4. One sentence per paragraph can be modified beyond four words, including the introduction and conclusion.
4) TITLE: USING THE TITLE PROMPT ON MOODLE, YOU CAN COLLABORATE WITH CHATGPT OR GEMINI TO GENERATE LISTS OF TITLES FOR YOUR ESSAY.
Don't forget to select your title and insert a comment to disclose your use of AI.
5) WORKS CITED & MLA FORMATTING: INCLUDE A WORKS CITED PAGE (link) ON THE PAGE THE FOLLOWS YOUR CONCLUSION & FORMAT YOUR FINAL COPY IN MLA STYLE (click).
6) LAST PROCESS TASK: WHETHER YOU USED AI OR NOT FOR THIS PROJECT, INCLUDE AN AI USAGE REPORT -- placed at the end of your essay following the works cited page:
This report should include:
1. A detailed description of whether you used AI for this project and how,
2. In multiple sentences, a thoughtful reflection on your experience using (or choosing not to use) AI in this project and its overall impact on your thinking and writing. If you did not use it, please share the reason(s) and reflect on the use of AI to support writing in an academic setting.
7) SUBMISSION: SUBMIT YOUR FINAL COPY TO LEA.
Take care.
WEEK 7 (1/2) (due March 16)
1) REVIEW: TO IMPROVE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE 2ND PARAGRAPH, EXAMINE CLOSELY THIS FICTIONAL EXAMPLE.
You may print a copy and bring it to class as a guide when you will draft your 2nd paragraph.
As you type, you can only correct spelling, punctuation, and verb-subject agreement errors (e.g., "he says" > "he says").
AI Usage: You can give ChatGPT your draft (one photo at a time) and ask it to extract the handwritten text word-for-word, exactly as it is. Since your final copy must match your draft, verify ChatGPT’s transcription (every single word) to make sure it hasn’t misread your handwriting.
3) EDITING: NOW EDIT and FINALIZE YOUR NOT-YET-COMPLETE DRAFT BY FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES:
Revisions can be done with or without AI. If you use AI, you can only use the prompts on Moodle in the AI Section: "1st Essay: TO EDIT YOUR DRAFT."
1. All revisions (with or without AI) must be clearly disclosed by inserting a comment in the margin for each modification: In Microsoft Word, select the specific word(s) you've modified, click on Insert and then on Comment. In the comment, indicate briefly the nature of the modification and (if you used AI) which permitted prompt you used.
2. No need to insert a comment when correcting punctuation (a comma, period, or semicolon), when correcting the spelling of a word, when correcting verb-subject agreement errors ("he says"), when correcting or adding determiners ("the," "a," "an," "this," "that," "these," or "those") or when deleting a word or sentence without replacing it.
3. No more than four words in a given sentence can be added or replaced.
4. One sentence per paragraph can be modified beyond four words, including the introduction and conclusion.
Take care.
WEEK 6 (2/2) (due March 12)

NEXT CLASS: THURSDAY, MARCH 12
Mandatory 2nd drafting session of the 1st essay
PREREQUISITE: A SATISFACTORY OUTLINE
and (if needed) a new printed copy of your outline.
IMPORTANT: An outline is a structured set of keywords or very short phrases (3-4 words) that provides a framework for your essay, like a skeleton structure. Only the thesis can be a fully developed sentence.
Workflow to choose your thesis and to outline your 2nd paragraph:
1. First, choose one extended scene or character the author uses to comment on the conservative immigration policy, such as the cemetery scene, Clark's integration into the Daily Planet, Superman's second trip to Borada, or the character of Eddie Monroe.
2. Second, identify which one guideline or one goal of the policy the author is commenting on in this scene or through this character. This will be the topic of your 2nd paragraph.
3. Third, identify two key details or panels in this scene or related to this character. These two panels/details need, together, to support your thesis. In your second paragraph, you will describe and analyze these two panels/details one at a time. Determine the best order to discuss them; for example, you can discuss them in chronological order, or you can move from a detail that supports the conservative element to another detail that challenges it.
4. Fourth, identify the specific "quotes" that will support your analysis.
Remember to bring a paper copy of your revised outline to class. You will need it to guide you during the drafting process.
4) PREPARATION: TO IMPROVE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE 2ND PARAGRAPH, EXAMINE CLOSELY THIS FICTIONAL EXAMPLE.
You may print a copy and bring it to class as a guide when you will draft your 2nd paragraph.
Take care.
WEEK 6 (1/2) (due March 9)
Answering questions about your printed outline,
and beginning hand-writing your essay in a booklet.
your device, which can only be used to access Superman: Earth One.
Here is the list of process tasks for this project (representing 33.33% of the final grade).
Important: An outline is a structured set of keywords or very short phrases (3-4 words) that provides a framework for your essay, like a skeleton structure. Only the thesis can be a complete sentence.
Choose a valid thesis that aligns with our class discussions: your thesis is a clear and single claim about Straczynski's position on the conservative immigration typically promoted by superhero narratives.
Essays (final outputs) that merely argue that Superman: Earth One is fully conservative, fully anti-conservative, or equally both cannot achieve a grade higher than 65% on the final output.
1. First, choose one extended scene or character the author uses to comment on the conservative immigration policy, such as the cemetery scene, Clark's integration into the Daily Planet, Superman's second trip to Borada, or the character of Eddie Monroe.
2. Second, identify which one guideline or one goal of the policy the author is commenting on in this scene or through this character. This will be the topic of your paragraph.
3. Third, identify two key details or panels in this scene or related to this character. These two panels/details need, together, to support your thesis. In your second paragraph, you will describe and analyze these two panels/details one at a time. Determine the best order to discuss them; for example, you can discuss them in chronological order, or you can move from a detail that supports the conservative element to another detail that challenges it.
4. Fourth, identify the specific "quotes" that will support your analysis.
In your outline, include, in bullet points, the context of each detail or panel (when? where? who? what?). A person who has not read the book should be able to visualize the panels, details, and words on the page.
Only Permitted AI Use for the Outline: You may use ChatGPT to suggest different logical sequences for your points in your first paragraph on the theory (you may also simply follow the teacher's sequence in the outline). Use the prompt in the AI section on Moodle. Choose the sequence that makes most sense to you (as a storyteller), and keep in mind that your target audience knows very little about superheroes.
Have a most pleasant Reading Break!
WEEK 5 2/2 (due Feb. 26)
1) 2ND VOLUME: PLEASE READ THE 2ND VOLUME OF SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
AS YOU READ, FILL UP - AND THEN SUMBIT TO LEA - THIS WORKSHEET ON THE SECOND VOLUME.
Based on the diverse immigration policies discussed in class, choose three policies that you believe hold the most potential for analyzing Straczynski’s superhero narrative.
As you read the 2nd volume:
Identify 7-10 scenes that promote and go against these three policies as well as the two main goals of the immigration policies typically promoted by superhero stories.
For each policy and goal, identify two scenes: one that promotes this element of the immigration policy, and one that contradicts it or promotes the opposite view. For example, find a scene that encourages readers to be selfless, and find another scene that encourages readers to be selfish.
In each box, each scene must be described and connected to the immigration policy in at least two fully developed sentences.
You may leave three boxes empty. If you struggle to fill all the boxes, revise your selection of policies or include one or two (maximum) scenes from the first volume.
Do not focus only on the author's use of the character of Superman/Kent. Villains are, as a rule, used as counter-examples (promoting behaviours readers and immigrants should avoid). And do not forget the other secondary characters, especially the character of Eddie.
Take care.
WEEK 5 1/2 (due Feb. 23)
1) OUTLINE - PART 1: FILL UP - AND SUBMIT TO LEA - ONLY THE SECTION OF YOUR ESSAY OUTLINE (.doc) THAT RELATES TO THE THEORETICAL ELEMENTS DISCUSSED IN CLASS (fill up the first page of the outline only) (leave the sections on your thesis and 2nd paragraph blank).
Filling up this section of the outline will allow you to (1) rethink about our class discussions and (2) help you evaluate your understanding of the theoretical concepts.
An outline is a structured set of keywords or very short phrases (3-4 words max) that provides a framework for your essay, like a skeleton structure. Only the thesis can be a complete sentence.
Do your best to make sense of our class discussions. I will have time in-class to answer your questions and clarify difficult theoretical concepts.
AI Usage: You may only use the AI prompt on Moodle to brainstorm different ways to organize the points in your first paragraph. That said, you may also simply keep the sequence provided in the outline. If you choose a different sequence, renumber the points in your outline to reflect the new order.
2) FORUM ON 1ST VOLUME: ADD AT LEAST TWO THOUGHTFUL POSTS, INCLUDING A TOTAL OF AT LEAST 200 WORDS, TO THE FORUM ON THE 1ST VOLUME OF SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
You may add new posts or reply to your peers, or both!
Discuss the conservative and anti-conservative implications of specific scenes and characters in the first volume. Specifically, do they promote a conservative or an anti-conservative mode of social integration? Which specific elements of the conservative immigration policy (discussed in class) do they support, oppose, or revise?
You will notice that this forum is in a different forum style; participants may create topics, each topic generating its own discussion thread. A topic can be about a specific character, a specific scene or a specific element of the conservative immigration policy. You can create new topics or contribute to existing topics.
Take care.
Essay 1: Process Tasks (33.33%)
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.
WEEK 4 (due Feb. 19)

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 multiple 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.
ORAL PRESENTATION

STUDY THE EVALUATION GRID CLOSELY
STUDY THE WORKSHEET (which includes the instructions
and will need to be submitted on Moodle)
7.5% ASSESSMENT OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF COMICS
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:
- comic book elements: gutter, narrative box, blockade, etc.
- tension #1: including 6 word/image combinations
- tension #2: including 6 panel transitions
- tension #3: including split panels
- tension #4
- ways to guide the gaze as presented in "Navigating Comics"
- two contrasting terms introduced in class to distinguish between elements characters are aware of, like other characters and locations in the story world, and those they are not, such as the gutters
- production process of mainstream comics
SPLIT PANELS
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






