EN3AGN: American Graphic Novels

Module code: EN3AGN

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor David Brauner, email: d.brauner@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have at least 40 credits of EN-coded modules at Part 1 (except for visiting students). (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

We will read a diverse selection of late twentieth-century and twenty-first-century American graphic novels, with a particular emphasis on texts that interrogate and complicate the relationship between autobiography, biography and fiction. The form and content of the primary material will vary considerably, from superhero narrative to Holocaust memoir, but there will be a number of issues that cut across the set texts: identity-formation; gender roles and sexual politics; ethnicity; and the ethical responsibilities of the artist. 

The module has three broad aims: to provide you with knowledge and understanding of a range of work produced by American graphic novelists in the contemporary period; to help you develop an informed awareness of some of the major developments in the theory and practice of American graphic novels in the contemporary period; and to help you develop a set of close reading skills that will enable you to analyse graphic novels in detail. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad, deep and coherent knowledge and understanding of the American graphic novel form in the contemporary period
2. Apply the skills of close reading, interpretative analysis and independent critical argumentation developed over the course of the module in the context of a written coursework assignment and an online examination
3. Articulate concisely, accurately, and clearly their own ideas about the set texts, demonstrating independent critical thinking
4. Discuss and appraise the published research of critics in the field, drawing on relevant independent reading beyond material covered in seminars

Module content

We will begin by looking at the history of the graphic novel in America and at some of the critical approaches and discourses that have developed in the field of comics studies. The rest of the module will be devoted to intensive discussion of each of the set texts, focusing both on their formal strategies and on their thematic concerns. Authors studied may include Scott McCloud, Nick Sousanis, Alan Moore, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, Miss Lasko-Gross, Phoebe Gloeckner, Art Spiegleman, Kiku Hughes and Emil Ferris. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be delivered primarily through seminars, which will combine plenary discussion with group work and individual presentations. The weekly seminars will be supplemented by a plenary feedback session on the formative assignments, individual tutorials offering guidance on the coursework essays and a screencast providing detailed advice on how to revise for and approach the online examination. 

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Producing a draft for the written coursework assignment 

Reassessment

Additional costs