Dr. Bordelon's Graphic Novel Course

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Essay 2

Assignment
For essay #1, you traced a single element through one of the books we'd read.

For this essay, the gate swings wider.  Think through the books we've read and what has piqued your curiosity or made you wonder and write out of that.  

You can connect a graphic novel to another work, pull out a theme you've seen across two works or connect it to your own life.  Argue why a graphic novel shouldn't be made into a movie (looking at you Artie).  Explain that Rorschach is the main character in Watchmen.  Explain why objects in the panels  (books, for example) are an important aspect of graphic texts.  Explore how and why artists use particular panels.  Black and White over color.  These would all be valid topics.

Another difference between essay #1 is that you'll be incorporating secondary sources into your essay.  This allows you to stretch out a bit and bring other voices into your work.  As we've seen with McCloud and with the source work on Clowes (and apparently work you've done on your own), all it can take is a stray comment to open up a text and give it a new (or shaded, or deeper) meaning.

Requirements
Craft an essay (title, intro, body paragraphs, conclusion: min. 1250 words) which answers your thesis. Remember: your purpose is to argue that your argument is valid.

Include two authoritative secondary sources (you can start with #s 1-2 on Course Documents) to support your argument.

Use MLA format throughout.

As noted in class, we'll be working on this essay in stages: thesis statement, drafting, revision, and proofreading. 

To help guide your revision, you will make an appointment with me to review your rough draft. This needs to be done at least one day before the final draft is due. Sign in on the sheet posted on my office door (R211). If the times do not work for you, check with me as soon as possible so we can make other arrangements.

You should also make an appointment in the Writing Center (R124 or call 732.255.0400 x2083) and have one of the tutors review your essay.

Submission Instructions
You will turn in not only the essay, but the information below
  1. (Right on top) Typed Reflecting (See below)
  2. Final revision: the final, revised version of the essay. Follow sample MLA format essay ("Course Documents") for format. This, my friends, is a no-brainer: take the sample essay in one hand, and your essay in the other and make your essay match the layout of name, line spacing, page numbering, etc. from the sample essay. All of the essays handed in need to have a title. Be sure to proofread carefully – as the writer of the paper you are responsible for any grammatical or typographical errors.

    3. Be sure to include a correctly formatted Work Cited page (See "Citing Sources" link on the left).
  3. Copy and paste final draft in an email to me: DO NOT SEND AS AN ATTACHMENT.
Make sure you have each of these before you hand in your paper. Hate to be a stickler, but . . .your paper will not be accepted and will be considered a "late paper" if you do not include all of the items noted above.
Reflecting on Your Work
Now that you've finished the agonizing task of writing your essay, it's time to reflect upon the process.
  1. Write a paragraph discussing what you've learned about your topic. This could be specific (the importance of point of view?) or general (about the author/graphic tests).
  2. Write a paragraph discussing what you've learned about writing (writing in general) from this assignment.
Grading
To receive a passing grade, you must successfully complete the following:
  1. Organization: Have a clear thesis statement, which suggests how a particular question is valid. You must also include a clear division statement which is then developed in separate paragraphs with clear topic sentences.
  2. Content: Paragraphs that use specific quotes and examples from the novels/texts to prove your point – AND a full and complete discussion on why and how that particular quote or word proves your point. REMEMBER: examples do not speak for themselves – the core of a good essay is in your commentary and explanations of the examples.  You also need to include at least two secondary sources.
  3. Proofreading: Sentences that are clear and no more than 3 major errors.
  4. Major errors: Sentence fragments, run-on sentences, verb-tense error, subject-verb agreement error, unclear phrasing/tangled wording, words that I cannot decipher, and spelling/wrong word error.