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 MemoirsActivity: • 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)