Writing about Comics as described by Scott McCloud

Scott McCloud' 1993 book, "Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art", uses comic style drawings and frames to help readers understand comics. He traces the history of what he defines as comics from ancient times to 1993. McCloud's definition of comics is "Juxtaposed (side-by-side) pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer" (20). Scott McCloud's book is interesting because he helps us to under the difference between cartoons and comics. Comics must be more than one drawing in a frame and must be sequential. He also makes it clear that comics need not be funny to quality (in fact most are not). He talks about icons which are representational drawings or symbols that stand for various ideals, concepts or even words. Icons figure prominently in comics.

Scott McCloud also explains that all comics can be explained in the term of a triangle. At the left point is "reality" and at the right point is "language/meaning" and at the top point is "The Picture Plane". This triangle "represents the total Pictorial Vocabulary" of comics..." (51)
Some other important points are how time and space are the same in comics and how wide or how many frames there are in a comic can represent time.

I chose a comic strip called "Jumpstart". Here is the link:

http://www.comics.com/comics/jumpstart/archive/jumpstart-20081003.html


"Jumpstart" is about a middle-class black family: dad is a cop, mom a nurse and they have a son and daughter. The comic strip author, Robb Armstrong, uses his comic strip to portray blacks more accurately. He says "Many readers see themselves reflected in Jump Start's scenario. I'm thrilled that people say that. I'm drawing about my life; about a black couple because I'm black. Nearly every married couple I know is like Joe and Marcy. The image of young blacks is so skewed, so false. I don't know anybody who's carjacking, playing basketball, rapping. Joe and Marcy and the characters I've developed are deep and based on real life."

The comic strip covers the family in all aspects of their lives: school, work, social situations, other family members, political activity, etc. It also features several white characters who interact with the family. This comic strip fits the definition of comics as found in Scott McCloud's book on page 20. Also, each strip has no less than 4 frames concentrating on a particular subject to make a point.

Style Rules Essay Peer Reviews

Only two people reviewed my style rules essay. One didn't critique it at all. This person just noted that our papers have the same format! The other person gave some good advice about not repeating the same phrase over and over.

The peer review process was better for me with the Writing Technology project. I sensed more overall class involvment in the project. For the Style Rules Essay, I would have preferred if someone said if my writing made any sense or was useful. Overall, I don't really find peer reviews to be a useful tool.

What other's are saying

I seems that most of my classmates prefer Strunk and White because it is short and punchy. Like me, they view it as a reference book with a few writing guides. Many students appear to prefer a short, to-the-point read. Others don't want a reference book. They find Joseph Williams's book a tough, dry read, but much more useful. Those that are striving to be professional writers, prefer Williams.

Most students found the peer review process for the Writing Technology project to not be truly useful. They didn't feel that got a "true" critique. I think we should all remember that it's not easy to criticize one's classmates.

Strunk & White vs. Williams

I like "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White and "Style: Toward Clarity and Grace" by Joseph Williams. However, they differ in significant ways.

The Strunk & White book is a vocabulary/grammar book. However, it goes a bit further than the usual vocabulary or grammar book, because it gives readers tips on using vocabulary and grammar properly to write well. It is an easy-to-read, accessible book. Students and professional writers and editors will find this book very useful.

Williams' book goes much deeper. To me it's a syntax/writing book. Even those who are well-read and have studied English grammar and taken many writing classes will find this book an eye-opener. It was a daunting read at first for me, but on the second reading it became much more accessible. It is a grammar book that guides writers on using grammar to write strong, clear, effective sentences and paragraphs. Williams clearly diagrams a sentence should begin and end. He also diagrams how a paragraph should flow. It is a great tool for professional editors who have to make a non-writer's (e.g. scientist) work into something very readable and accessible.

Revising with Williams

I chose to revise a section of 'Final Examinations' in the EMU online catalogs using Williams writing guides.

Original text in catalog:

Final examinations are given by instructors to help evaluate a student’s achievement in a course. Whether or not that evaluation shall include the final examination shall be determined by the instructor in line with departmental and University policy. If a final examination is not given, the scheduled examination period shall be used for other class activity.
If a final examination is given, students shall take the examination with their own class and at the hour indicated on the examination schedule. Failure to take the examination at the scheduled time will result in a grade of E in the course, except when the requisite conditions for granting an I are present.

If the student finds that he/she has three examinations scheduled on one day, he/she may request the instructor of the class having the first examination of the day to arrange to take the examination at another time. If he/she finds that he/she has four examinations scheduled for one day, he/she may request the instructors of the first two examinations to make arrangements so that no more than two are scheduled in one day. He/she may appeal to the head of the department in which the course is offered if a satisfactory solution is not reached.

My revision:

Instructors use final exams to help evaluate how well each student has learned the subject. However, a student's final grade from that course may or may not include the points earned on the final exam. Each instructor, using departmental and University policies, determines how the final grade is calculated. If no final examination is given, the instructor must use the scheduled examination period other class activity. If a final examination is given, students must take the examination with their own class and at the time already scheduled. Any student who fails to take the course's final examination at the scheduled time will receive a grade of E. An incomplete (I) can be given if University or departmental policies permit.

Student who find that they have three examinations scheduled on one day may ask the instructor administering the first examination of the day to reschedule the examination for another day or time. Students that have four examinations scheduled for one day can ask the instructors of the first two examinations to make arrangements so that no more than two are scheduled in one day. Any student who is still unable to arrange a satisfactory final examination schedule may appeal to the course's department head.

I find my revisions much less stuffy and more accessible to readers. I especially wanted to get rid of the he/she's. I have to tried use William's rule about keeping the subject and verb close together.

Strunk and White: First Impressions

My first impression of "Elements of Style" by Strunk and White was that it's a very useful little book to have for any writing class. Some of the rules they demand the reader follow are debatable, especially rules 1 and 2. One has to remember that the first part of this book was written about 80 years ago by Strunk. E.B. White added to it over several decades. Prof. Strunk lived 1869-1946. E.B. White lived 1900-1990 roughly. When Prof. Strunk first started teaching, the education field did not have a national body to promote a standard of teaching English. Also, childhood education was not compulsory. A lot did not attend school or attended only a few years. Prof. Strunk's students were not used to writing English a certain way, so he created his own standard. There was an Eastern board elite that liked to promote itself as the ideal speakers and writers of English.

The speaking, reading and writing of American English has long been shrouded in controversy, debate, and politics. "Elements of Style" is Strunk's (and White's) take on the issue.

Peer Review Recap for Writing Technology Invention Essay on Google Docs

Jeff and Beth and I were in one group for the peer review project. I found their comments about my 1st draft helpful. Beth advised me to not make so many short and choppy sentences (although they are complete sentences). I didn't realize I was writing so many. In fact, Strunk and White advise against this also. Jeff advised me to expand on my ideas and use actual quotes from our readings. I had referenced three of the writings in this draft, but just gave a general overview of what the writing is about. I agree I should use actual quotes also. Actually, I had already made several changes to my draft stored in my personal home computer. I also had a lot of typos. But all of my drafts have typos. They will be corrected.

Jeff and Beth said they liked how I explained my project. I just need to flesh out my ideas more.
I don't think either was overly nice or overly negative in their review. I found their feedback useful.