Introduction: We started our semester by talking about this genre living in different spaces. But they are definitely overlapping spaces. To visualize this, I'm going to be cliche about it. Here is a venn diagram where you can imagine, "young", "adult," and "literature" existing in each of the circles. 

Details: For this post, consider the texts we read this semester. Where would you place them on this diagram? Do any of the texts live exclusively in one space or another? Do some exist in two (young & adult, young & literature, literature & adult)? Would you put the texts we read in the very center of our diagram? You may not hold a firm position on all the texts we've read--I know I don't--so you might want to gravitate towards the novels we read you have a strongly felt opinion about. Include your arguments for why you made the choices you made. Consider the criteria you are using and be able to talk about that in class. I'm not asking you to respond to each other online, but do read what your classmates have to say. Notice similarities, differences--big differences, big similarities. Wonder about their criteria.

Use some of the hour I am giving you before 7:00 to respond to this post. We'll use this as a jumping off point for a broader discussion to close out our discussion of the genre. 

A long and rambling introduction
1. Graphic Novels were not a thing when I was a young reader. They were called comic books. As an adult, I've come to appreciate the remarkable history and richness of the genre, but, still, it's not in my wheelhouse. 

2. To that point: as children, my sister and I used to read the funny pages of our local newspaper together. It was the only thing we did together without fighting. Sometimes, I would say "I don't get it" and sometimes she would say "I don't get it" and the other one of us didn't get what there was not to get. That was until we realized that I was only reading the words in the bubbles and my sister wasn't reading them at all and only looking at the pictures. In this genre, you need to do both. 

3. My nephew Liam is a poet and artist at the age of 9 and 3/4. He's already written several multi-volume graphic novels and has plans for many more. He is personally inspired by the Dogman novels. I've become fascinated about what it has taught him about voice, visual rhetoric, narrative, and a host of other key reading skills. 

TODAY'S PROMPT: One is real and the other one is April Break fun. First, what do Graphic Novels do (besides the obvious) to a reader, what does it teach a reader how to do or not do, that text does not? What does the genre make possible for a reader? How might you apply those ideas to tonight's text? 

And, just for fun, if you were going to write a graphic novel, what would yours be about? 

Use this space, one post per group, to provide a brief synopsis of your anchor article (the one you all have to read. Include the title of your article (you don't have to include a full citation here).

1. Include one or two sentences of argument: what is the main argument of your article, what is it trying to convince readers. 
2. Include one or two sentences of methodology: how does/do the author/authors prove that argument? Is it a lit review? A survey? Interviews? An experiment? Archives? 
3. Include one or two sentences about the significance: why does this argument seem to matter--to the author first and foremost. Why do they want us to care about what they are saying? 

If you can produce these 3 to 6 sentences, you will have written a strong annotation for your article. And you will have a good model for how to write the annotations for the individual articles you will read. 

Could it be the kidney stone was a sign from the universe to postpone any discussion of poetry until April? Maybe. But it is, after all, National Poetry Month. There will be much teaching and discussion of Poetry, but not nearly enough writing of it. So harness your best lovesick, broken-hearted, starry eyed teenage self and have at it.

In honor of National Poetry Month, and because the world is in great need of joy and poetry, write a poem. 

Some inspiration, from one of the greats: 
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