This document outlines an agenda for a workshop on introducing graphic novels and comic life software to turn student writing into graphic novels. The agenda includes presentations on visual literacy, the elements of graphic novels, using student writing to create graphic novels in comic life, gathering images, creating a storyboard, an introduction to comic life software, independent work time to create graphic novels, and a sharing session at the end. Teachers will assign students to create two graphic novels - one before winter break and one after - addressing a driving question and reflecting the social studies curriculum.

1. Introduction to Graphic Novels/Comic Life
Voices In History
December 4, 2010
Agenda
9-9:15 – Welcome, housekeeping and introductions
9:15-9:30 - Check in
● How has the implementation of blogging and online resources impacted
student engagement in your classroom?
● Think-Pair-Share
9:30-9:45 - The Graphic Novel and Visual Literacy Presentation
● What’s the story behind the image and how does the presentation of the image make the message
compelling?
● What is a graphic novel?
● What are the elements that make up a graphic novel/comic?
9:45-10:00 - Turning Student Writing Into a Graphic Novel
● Content: Student writing piece
○ Create Driving Question for your graphic novel to explore
○ Include factual information that addresses the question
○ Include clear introduction and a clear conclusion
● Form: Comic Book/Graphic Novel using Comic Life software
● Genre: Non-Fiction or Historical Fiction
● Composition: Putting it all together
○ Write script from narrative
○ Selecting images to move the story forward
○ Storyboard to create blueprint for your graphic novel
10:00 - 10:15 - Gathering and Organizing Images
● Use copyright-friendly images
● Rename image files to reflect content
● Organize images in an asset folder on the desktop
● Populate storyboard with image file names
10:15-11:00 - Creating Your Storyboard -Independent Work
● Brainstorm with colleagues to develop a driving question, based on your curriculum and pacing
calendar
● Work with project planning sheets
○ Plan today’s graphic novel project
○ Think about how you will schedule and implement the graphic novel project in your classroom.
○ Plan for a 5-Day (session) project
● Populate your storyboard with script and images
11:00-11:30 - Introduction to Comic Life
● Overview of the Interface
○ Library
○ Details
● Six basic elements of a graphic novel
○ Page
○ Panel
○ Picture
○ Caption
○ Speech Balloon
○ Comic Lettering
● Saving and embedding Your Graphic Novel on your blog

2. ● Do’s and Don’t of a graphic novel
11:30- 12:00 - Creating Your Graphic Novel - Independent Work
12:00- 1:00 Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 - Completing Your Graphic Novel - Independent Work
2:00 - 2:30 - Share-out and collection of projects - Save as a Movie project and upload to Host site.
2:30- 2:45 - Check Out
● What are the implications of using graphic novels in your classroom?
● Think-Pair-Share
2:45 - 3:00 Assignment and Survey
● Students will complete two graphic novels, including storyboards reflecting planning process: one
before Winter Break and one after the break , content reflecting social studies curriculum and
addressing driving question
● Continue gathering assets (images) for your next social studies unit and use the blog to upload images
and elicit student responses.
● Students will continue writing reflective journals on the blog in sync with your curriculum and pacing
calendar.
● Bring in exemplary student graphic novel and storyboard for conversion to a still-image movie
● Show a sample of upcoming project
Workshop Survey and Equipment Return