Kapow! Creating Graphic Novels, Grades 6-8
Creating Stories that Center Art
8 class sessions, 1.5 hours per class (12 hours of instruction)
April 2 - May 21
Thursdays
4:30 - 6:00 p.m. PST
Course Description:
Have you ever read a graphic novel and thought about creating your own? Now’s your chance! Graphic novels are a way to tell stories with an emphasis on art.
In this course, you will be able to create a graphic novel or comic book about a topic of your choice. Students will have the opportunity to create their own narrative piece, practicing skills like creative thinking, outlining, drafting, and editing. They will make art to go along with the story, either by hand or on the computer (using a program of their choice or one recommended by the instructor). They will then have the opportunity to learn to edit and refine their stories, adding various elements to make the product uniquely their own.
Course Objectives:
Instructor Biography:
Taryn Williams has been working in the field of education in a variety of ways for the past 15 years and thinks learning should be both engaging and fun as well as impactful. She received both a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies with a focus on Urban Education and a master’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Pennsylvania. Following this, she was a Kathryn Davis Fellow for Peace in the School of Spanish at Middlebury College and was in the inaugural cohort of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education’s Strategic Leadership in Education program. A recipient of both a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany and a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching to India, Taryn has taught students in a variety of K-12 settings across the U.S. and world. She most recently served as the Head Teacher at a small school in the Alaskan Bush and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Education at the University of California, Irvine.
Have you ever read a graphic novel and thought about creating your own? Now’s your chance! Graphic novels are a way to tell stories with an emphasis on art.
In this course, you will be able to create a graphic novel or comic book about a topic of your choice. Students will have the opportunity to create their own narrative piece, practicing skills like creative thinking, outlining, drafting, and editing. They will make art to go along with the story, either by hand or on the computer (using a program of their choice or one recommended by the instructor). They will then have the opportunity to learn to edit and refine their stories, adding various elements to make the product uniquely their own.
Course Objectives:
- Practice the elements of narrative writing (character, setting)
- Understand and practice story mapping
- Explore different types of narrative writing
- Refine drafting, editing, and revising skills
- Learn how to structure a story in a logical but engaging way
- Practice tying words and art together in a logical way
- Foster a love of writing through engaging activities
Instructor Biography:
Taryn Williams has been working in the field of education in a variety of ways for the past 15 years and thinks learning should be both engaging and fun as well as impactful. She received both a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies with a focus on Urban Education and a master’s degree in Elementary Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Pennsylvania. Following this, she was a Kathryn Davis Fellow for Peace in the School of Spanish at Middlebury College and was in the inaugural cohort of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education’s Strategic Leadership in Education program. A recipient of both a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Germany and a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching to India, Taryn has taught students in a variety of K-12 settings across the U.S. and world. She most recently served as the Head Teacher at a small school in the Alaskan Bush and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Education at the University of California, Irvine.