The exercise of preparing your response should help you set the agenda for our class discussion!

In general, responses have two functions: The first is to serve as a check that you are engaging in the course work and to give me a way to evaluate your performance in light of the course goals.  The second, and, perhaps, more immediately important function is to jump-start our discussion by having you organize your thoughts before our class discussion.

FORMAT  This short response may be one paragraph or several, but should be between one and one and a half pages, double-spaced.  It must be typed.  No title is necessary.  While it need not take the shape of a formal essay, it should conform to the general profile of good, academic writing. 

CONTENT  For this response, I'd like you to choose one panel from the novel Road to Perdition and provide a detailed analysis of it.  Sketch, trace, or photocopy that panel to hand in with your analysis and note the page number and location on the page from the novel. (You will not be graded on your artwork!)  For the analysis, start by asking yourself that key question: "What do you see?" and then make sure to follow up every important observation with that all-important question that will move you from description into analysis: "What's the significance?"  You should have a thesis statement for your analysis, and provide clearly explicit reasoning for the conclusions you draw.  Your thesis statement should include a clear announcement of what theme you feel is being expressed.  (Remember the difference between a topic or subject and a theme.)  Each supporting point should be developed fully, and you should be precise in both your observation and in your assessment.  Be sure to include an explanation of what is suggested by the image, rather than merely what is depicted.  Pay special attention to anything you can identify as a convention of this type of storytelling.

GRADING  Responses will be graded with a number (1-5), based on a few simple criteria:  A five will demonstrate analytical insight and sophistication of observation; a focused, coherent, analytical main point; detailed evidence or specific examples; explicit explanation of the significance of the evidence presented; and clarity and correctness in its prose.  Good responses will demonstrate a grasp of how narrative and visual techniques are converted to images in the context of a graphic novel.  Passing responses will exclude plot synopsis.  Please use the guidelines from the style sheet for this course when you're writing, formatting, editing, and proofreading your response.  Please check the syllabus for rules on plagiarism, revision, and late work.

If you need clarification on the assignment, or if you want advice, please just ask!
See a sample student responses for other assignments.

REMINDERS:  You should also see the film Road to Perdition before Tuesday, Sept. 16.