Graphic Novels Office of Educational Technology Queens Enhancing Writing Instruction Through Technology “the interplay of the written and the visual is a complicated process; a comic does not happen in the words, or the pictures, but somewhere in between, in what is sometimes known as “the marriage of text and image.’”

Turning Your Narrative into a Graphic Novel A blending of words and images to tell your story. o Images need to be carefully chosen to help move story. o Text needs to be succinct (and yet still powerful)!

Text in Graphic Novels Although text is succinct, it is still very important and therefore, a script is necessary. Space limits the words in a graphic novel, but this limit only makes them more valuable. “Treat words like rare diamonds, and your reward will be a storytelling treasure” Rosinsky, 42. A good rule of thumb would be to have no more than 30 words in a panel and no more than 17 in a speech bubble.

Text Features in Graphic Novels Balloons Speech bubbles- what the characters are saying. Thought bubbles- what the characters are thinking. **Match the size, shape and type of line you use to the content of the speech/thought.** For example: Use jagged lines to indicate anger, yelling, screaming, or fright. Place shouts in large balloons Place whispers in small balloons. Use bubble tails for thought balloons. Captions- the narrator of the story. Lettering- used for titles, onomatopoeia

Memoirs “In order to write memoir, we need to see that literature is made out of the everyday stuff of our lives.”

Definitions of Memoirs Virginia Woolf- “A memoir is not what happens, but the person to whom things happen.” William Zinsser- “Memoir is a window into a life.” Jean Little- “Memoir is not the whole head of hair but one or two strands of hair.” Lucy Calkins- “Our memoir will come not only from our memories but also from our imaginations.”

Memoirs are not Autobiographies! Typically reads more like a novel A memoir deals with events related to a specific theme They are true stories but tend to read more like fiction. “In writing memoir, we select moments that reveal our own experiences of our lives.” ~Lucy Caulkins

Characteristics of a Memoir Focuses and reflects on the relationship between the writer and a particular place, animal, event, or object Leaves the reader with one impression of the subject of the memoir Limited to a particular phase, time period, place or recurring behavior in order to develop the focus fully Makes the subject of the memoir come alive Maintains a first person point of view

Analyzing Memoirs Activity: In your folders, there are sample memoirs. Read the memoir and think about the questions that are asked pertaining to that memoir.

“Selecting our Seed Ideas” Make a list of special: Places Objects Animals (can be human) Events Narrow down your list by thinking about the most significant of these.

Drafting Begin writing your “Seed piece” Remember to try and include: Similes Metaphors Personification Onomatopoeia Sensory details (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell)