2117 - Creating an Illustrated Graphic Novel on the Life, Theories, and Resurrection of a Classical Theorist.

Session Submission Type: Workshop

Description

Been doing this is a small group project in my classical sociological theory course for the past 10 years. The class is divided up into groups of five, and each group produces a graphic novel about a sociologist of their choice. Students can choose their roles within the group and create a group contract. The project involves four distinct sections: Part I: The Theorist’s Biography and Social Milieu. Part II: The Theorist’s Concepts and Theories Part III: The Theorist Is Resurrected in the Contemporary World and Permitted to Investigate Whether Their Theoretical Models Are Still Relevant. Part IV: Solving a Global Social Justice Issue Through Using an Acquired Superpower. The graphic novel is produced using Comic Life software, which also permits turning the graphic novels into video presentations. Theorists covered have included Herbert Blumer, Charles Horton Cooley, Erving Goffman, Nora Zeal Hurston, Margaret Mead, St. Clair Drake, E Franklin Frazier, Ida Wells-Barnett, Michel Foucault, Lester Ward, William Graham Sumner, Robert Park, Albion Small, W.I.Thomas, C Wright Mills, plus the theorists covered in the course itself (Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, Dubois, Marx, George Herbert Mead, Charlotte Perkins Gilman).
Skills learned in the project are how to research appropriate books and articles, how to turn quoted phrases into usable text snippets (microprose), finding appropriate photographs and graphics, and creating a narrative structure to tell the theorist’s story.
Grading of the project is based on a rubric that includes a measure of how well members of the group worked together with other members of the group. Students evaluate the participation of all other members of their group.
Discussion will include examples of finished products and problems that emerge during group projects.

Sub Unit

• Workshops / Teaching Workshop

Session Organizer

• Cecil E Greek, USF