Coraline By Neil Gaimen

There are four steps prior to answering this final blog that you will need to complete:

I. Please download the following two documents from our Drop.io site: http://drop.io/multipleliteracies#
(Note: This is the same site you will upload your graphic novel one-pager for the final class)

Document 1: The abridged version of "A Conversation with Neil Gaimen" the author of Coraline
Document 2: Coraline Discussion Questions

II. Read through the shortened interview with Neil Gaimen for background knowledge. Read through the list of discussion questions provided for the novel Coraline. This is a resource for you to use with Coraline in the classroom.

III. Browse through any of the four sites listed below to get a feel for some of the resources available to you regarding graphic novels in the classroom. The first two links are from the author and illustrator of Coraline. The final two links will get you to Will Eisner's site and another contemporary expert in the field of comics, Scott McCloud.
http://www.neilgaiman.com/

http://www.pcraigrussell.net/

http://scottmccloud.com/

http://www.willeisner.com/

IV. Finally, apply the same set of questions we used in our last post (Will Eisner) to look at the graphic novel, Coraline:

(1) What surprised you?

(2) What challenged you?

(3) What frustrated you?

(4) What do you appreciate?

Bonus: What themes emerged for you in reading Coraline that would be applicable to using with students in the classroom?

Graphic Novel One-Pager Collection

We now have a convenient way of uploading our one-pagers to the website so that you don't have make copies for everyone.

Please follow the link below to our Drop.io site and upload your document:

http://drop.io/multipleliteracies#

Thank you!

Will Eisner Blog Response

Selected quotes from the Forward of Eisner's book:

This work (Eisner's book) is intended to consider and examine the unique aesthetics of sequential art as a means of creative expression, a distinct discipline, an art and literary form that deals with the arrangement of pictures or images and words to narrate a story or dramatize an idea. It is interesting to note that sequential art has only fairly recently emerged as a discernible discipline alongside filmmaking, to which it is truly a frontrunner. 

Comics have undoubtedly enjoyed wide popularity worldwide. However, for reasons having much to do with usage, subject matter and perceived audience, sequential art was for many decades generally ignored as a form worthy of scholarly discussion.  While each of the major integral elements, such as design, drawing and caricature and writing, have separately found academic consideration, this unique combination to a long time to find a place in the literary, art and comparative literature curriculums.  I believe that the reason for slow critical acceptance sat as much on the shoulders of the practitioners as the critics.  

Questions for Blog Response:

As a reader, engaging with Eisner's chapters:

(1) What surprises you?  

(2) What challenges you?

(3) What frustrates you?

(4) What do you appreciate?