Graphic Novel Person Here - And Starting Something on Monday

[SMONDRONE]

Hello Poppers,

Sebastian Mondrone here - I working with a few seventh grade classes who are starting MAUS on Monday. We took trips to the Jewish museam this week to build up thier background knowledge of the Holocaust and the general horrors of World War II.

My question the the group is this: Does anyone have (or know we i can retreive) a guide to how to read a graphic novel. A skill we might take for granted, when we read PERSEPOLIS in the ninth grade last year some students got lost early because they did not understand the 'flow' of the graphic novel. I am looking for a quick and simple primer (perhaps a basic power point) before we jump into the book. I might wind up making my own from scratch and if that's the case, i will be happy to share with the group.

Thanks!

S-

[Eric Kursman]

and:
http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson1102/terms.pdf

[Eric Kursman]

Sebastian,
I have to echo Nick - my bad for not commenting earlier! Like Ryan said, I'm teaching Maus in a few weeks to my 8th graders.
If you have the time, Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics" is the key to unlocking how to teach middle schoolers the flow of reading comics.
More ideas could come from...
-James Buckley's NCTE book, "Building Literacy Connections with Graphic Novels"
-Your golden ticket: http://chfestival.org/resources/content/ComicBookLessonPlan.pdf

Let me know how it goes! Maybe we can bounce some ideas back and forth...

[Nick Sousanis]

Sebastian,
Sorry i didn't comment earlier. I'll reiterate what Louann said and suggest Scott McCloud's book, i haven't seen anything better. I could send you a piece i did that addresses how comics work as part of a larger point, if you'd like.
best,
nick
www.spinweaveandcut.blogspot.com

[Louann Reid]

Oh, perhaps the powerpoint you want is here: http://sites.google.com/site/csucrossingboundaries/

[Louann Reid]

I have some handouts I've used in workshops, drawn from the material I wrote for the Daybooks of Critical Reading and Writing (Maus excerpts are in grade 8). Email me at [e-mail] and I can send them as attachments (or can I attach here somewhere?). Also, Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics is really helpful in understanding how comics work. His website would give you a taste of that material.

[SMONDRONE]

Thanks Ryan- I will start pestering you after school ----

[Ryan Goble]

Sebastian,

OMG did you check the wiki - lots of resources to get you started there... these two links....
http://popresources.pbwiki.com/Comics
http://popresources.pbwiki.com/COMICS+-+WEBSITES%3A CURRICULUM+AND+LESSON+PLANS

Best book on the issue
http://popresources.pbwiki.com/COMICS-BOOKS+(about+teaching+this+topic+-+genre)

Also, Eric Kursman is student teaching Maus in the next couple weeks - you might want to brainstorm with him -

and if you e-mail me later - at home I can send you some MAUS study guides

AND if you give me your snail mail I can mail you the MAUS unit from Media Rich Lesson Plans..

Just let me know if you want those resources,

RRG:)