1. What is a Graphic Novel? What is a Comic Book? Think first, then share with your shoulder partner.

2. Characteristics of a Graphic Novel Narrative work Usually in 1 st person or autobiographical Story conveyed in sequential art Can use experimental design Usually in traditional comic format

3. ARE GRAPHIC NOVELS THE SAME AS COMIC BOOKS? Well, yes and no.

4. Graphic Novel Length – Some up to 400-500 pages Story Arc – Resolved Themes – More real world themes – Such as: Identity, religion, death, fitting in, personal struggles Splash Pages – Used for mood and strong emotions Comic Book Length – Between 30-40 pages Story Arc – Printed in serial form – (which means short segments of the whole story are printed periodically) Themes – Superheroes – Comedy Splash Pages – Used for big reveals or cliff hangers

5. A graphic novel A profuse amount of comic books

6. WHAT ARE THE OTHER PARTS OF A GRAPHIC NOVEL?

7. Gutter- the space between framed panels Panel- a combination of image and text in endless variety Frame- the lines and borders that contain the panels

8. Speech Bubble- external speech Thought Bubble- internal speech Narrative Box

9. Splash Page- used for a big reveal or a cliff hanger

10. Splash pages are used for effect and mood. Panels keep up the flow of a story. When they are removed, it creates a powerful effect.

11. Bleed When the image runs off the page

12. Emanata A symbol above a character’s head Like a question mark or a squiggle

13. A graphic novel is “not only something one reads but something one sees as well… [it is] like reading and watching a movie at the same time.” (Gallo and Weiner 115)

14. Read from left to right, then from top to bottom, just like a traditional book. Words and dialogue are the primary focus with the image coming in second. Transitions happen much faster in a graphic novel.

15. How to Read a Graphic Novel Page Graphic novels are read left to right, just like traditional texts

16. Dialog Balloons dialog balloons are read left to right or top to bottom as is appropriate. 1 2 3 5 4

17. Sometimes it can get a little more complicated…

18. 1 3 2 4 But the basic left to right rule still applies to panels

19. and dialog balloons as well 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

20. Read the text first, then look at the image within that panel before moving on to the text in the next panel. Rule of Thumb- The bigger a panel is, the more time you should spend looking at it and analyzing it.

21. Major Types

22. Humor

23. Non-Fiction

25. Fantasies

26. wordless

27. Adaptations Spin-offs or

30. Realistic Fiction

31. Personal Stories

32. Manga=comic books Manga

33. How to read a Manga Page Unlike traditional western books, Manga is read right-to-left and “back” to “front” Often, if you start at what looks like the front of the Manga, you will see a message like this

34. Panels are read right to left 1 2 3 4 5

35. 1 3 4 2 8 5 6 7 10 9 11 As are dialog balloons

36. Born August 9, 1973 in Alameda, CA. Dad was an electrical engineer from Taiwan. Mom was a programmer who lived in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Now, Yang lives in San Francisco and teaches computer science at Bishop O’Dowd High School Gene Luen Yang Author of American Born Chinese Click the picture for a video.