Here are some options for your culminating work in English 329.  Of course, if you have other suggestions, please feel free to propose them.  Ultimately, the work should show that you have developed an appreciation and understanding of graphic literature and that you have studied principals, components, and values involved in the production and perception of graphic literature, especially the changes in its conception and expression over time (course goals).  We may need to negotiate the amount of work the papers/projects involve, but in general, the written text should be about appropriate for its authentic, intended audience unless otherwise specified.  I'd like you to write a realistic document for an audience other than just me.

Feel free to adapt these suggestions as necessary.  We will be negotiating their progress and final form, and you will be turning in drafts for feedback before the final is due.

1.  Narrate a scene from a graphic novel and write a commentary that discusses how you “translated” the artwork into narration. I’m thinking of The Arrival for this one.

2.  Choose a story, perhaps by your favorite author, and illustrate it.  Write a commentary with great specificity on how you composed your illustrations.

3.  Watch a movie based on a graphic novel (V for Vendetta, or you might be already familiar with Sin City, 300, Road to Perdition, American Splendor, Persepolis), and write a review that addresses the art direction/direction of the movie, character development, faithfulness to the original story.  You may look at and cite other reviews in writing your own.

4.  Read a pair of novels, one graphic, one original (like Coraline), to compare the tone/characters/meaning.  I have a list of such novels if anyone is interested  Or you might look at the 9/11 Report and the graphic version of the report to compare.

5.  Make up your own paper/project that also relates to your chosen or potential major.  For example, politics science majors might want to do something with the 9/11 Report or V for Vendetta.  Music majors might want to create a soundtrack for a graphic novel.  Adolescence or Elementary Education majors might devise a teaching unit or investigate graphic novels' use in the classroom, as you saw with American Born Chinese.  Think of something that interests YOU about these works and propose it. 

6. Write a letter to Scott McCloud asking him to revise and update Understanding Comics. Your argument should include reasons for your request based on your reading in and outside of this course and on any research you do on the genre of graphic literature. You should also give specific suggestions on what sections to update or sections to add.

7. If you are an “expert” in GL, write a Wikipedia entry on one of the texts or characters we’ve read this semester, or on another of your favorite GL texts. Of course, you’ll need to do some research and document your contributions just like any other valid Wikipedia entry.