Getting Graphic:
   Using Graphic Novels
   in the Language Arts Classroom
  • The Paper
  • Vocabulary
  • Evaluation
  • Discussion
  • Graphic Novel List
  • Resources
  • About Me
Picture
image retrieved November 23, 2012 from http://dw-wp.com/resources/what-is-a-graphic-novel/

GRAPHIC NOVEL VOCABULARY

Monnin’s (2010) Graphic Novel Vocabulary

The Basics:

Panel: A visual or implied boundary, and the contents within it, that tell a piece of the story.

Gutter: The space between the panels.  As the reader moves from one panel to the next, they predict and conclude what is happening.

Picture
Retrieved November 25, 2012 from http://csmt.uchicago.edu/glossary2004/images/graphicnovel-3.gif

Content Panels

Word Panel: The panel contents ONLY use words to tell a piece of the story. 

Image Panel: The panel only includes images to tell a piece of the story. 

Word and Image Panel: Both words and images are combined in a panel to tell a piece of the story. 

Story Panels

Plot Panel: Develop the graphic novel’s main events that unfold in the story. 

Character Panel: Develop individual or multiple characters, through actions, words, and internal thoughts. 

Setting Panel: Develop the time and place (setting) of where the graphic novel takes place. 

Conflict Panel: Develop the source of the conflict, or tension that motivates the story, in the graphic novel. 

Rising Action Panel: Develop the events that stem from the conflict and rise to the climax of the graphic novel. 

Climax Panel: The panels of greatest intensity in the story. 

Resolution Panel: Resolve the conflict and present the final outcome in the story. 

Symbols Panel: Panels that contain images and/or words that represent something larger than themselves.  

Theme Panel: Develop the main idea and messages of the graphic novel. 

Foreshadowing Panel: Develop the story by hinting at what is to come later. 

Combination Story Panel: Use two or more types of panels to create a literary effect. 

Picture
Retrieved November 24, 2012 from http://ccdigitalpress.org/nwc/chapters/george-et-al/img/mccloud-gutter.jpg

Gutters

Moment-to-Moment Gutter: Readers experience little closure between panels and merely observe what happens from one event to the next.  

Action-to-Action Gutter: Readers see a single subject or character going through specific transitions. 

Subject-to-Subject Gutter: Readers move from one subject to another, progressing the storyline.  This encourages reader involvement to find meaning in the transition. 

Scene-to-Scene Gutter:  Move readers across time or space, requiring readers to use deductive reasoning. 

Aspect-to-Aspect Gutter: Challenge readers to think about the characters feelings and emotions delivered across panels.  

Non-Sequitur Gutter: Although panels may appear to have no relationship, these gutters depict significance and literary elements such as symbolism or foreshadowing.

Picture
Retrieved November 25, 2012 from http://blog.slq.qld.gov.au/summerreadingclub/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Speech-Bubbles.jpg

Balloons

Word Balloon: Enclose print-text  and/or dialogue that divides artwork from printed text.  

Story Balloon: Non-dialogue text that focuses on progression of the story and timeline. 

Thought Balloon: Focus on a character’s thoughts and ideas.  

Dialogue Balloon: Focus on conversation between characters.  This can be multiple characters speaking or one character speaking to themselves.

Sound Effect Balloon: Use text-onomatopoeia or images to convey sound in the story.  

Balloon-less Balloon: Words or images depicted without visual boundaries to create a certain effect.  

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.