Hello, my professor is allowing to do a revision to potentional get back all the points back if i do good on it. I have attachetd my orginal submission (annoted-essay pdf). I have also attahced what i have been working on for my essay revison which is the “essay 2 (hopefully first and last revision)” pdf. For the understanding comics pdf, I only need you to read chapters 1,2, and 3. The rest of the pdf will not be necessary for this assingment. ALso, my professor really likes my thesis, so dont change that. Also, I plan to keep the same 4 scenes, but please jsut expand on what i have written. Also Some very important notes:
1) i don not want this to sound like AI, it should be able to bypass AI dectors
2) follow my professors feedback
3)The deadline is strict
Here is the prompt, make usre to follow it and pay attention to the highlighted parts please.For your second essay, you will apply concepts from Scott McClouds Understanding Comics as
well as my online lecture How to Describe Drawn Art to form an argument about Batman: The
Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland.
First, pick one of the following topics to apply to the story of Batman: The Killing Joke:
Topic A: The (seemingly) opposite quality between the Joker and Batman, as
characters, one as the villain versus the other that is the hero, one good versus
the other evil. (We usually see Batman as the hero and the good guy, while
Joker is the villain or the bad guy. But is it as simple as that? And what does that
mean about human nature, ethics, our cultural assumptions, etc.?)
Topic B: Sanity and insanity and what motivates people to do what they do. (Joker is
typically seen as crazy. Is he, though? Joker wants to drive James Gordon crazy to
prove a point about insanity. Is Jokers point correct, though? Is Batman sane?
What does sane and insane mean, and how does the book comment or challenge
our typical assumptions about mental health?)
Topic C: Trauma, specifically the pain people experience and how it motivates them,
how they respond and cope. (Both Batman and Joker have lost people they love. Why
do they react so differently to that loss? What makes Joker react his way and Batman
react his own? If someone is responding to a trauma, does that excuse or explain the
questionable behavior that they then do?)
Alternative Topic (with my ok): Any other topic that really interests you and you
notice in the story (such as a gendered reading, an ethnic reading, a classist reading,
etc. BUT get that new topic approved with me beforehand. If you write about a topic
that is not one of the above and does not get my direct ok ahead of time, I cant
accept that paper for a grade. This is for the purpose quality control. Not sure? Pick
one of the topics above.)
There may naturally be some overlapping of topics, but it still helps to focus on one topic for
now for the purpose of textual analysis, brainstorming, and drafting. Also, you dont strictly need
to answer each and every single question listed under each topic; think of the questions as
springboards to jump off from to help you figure out what you want to write.
Once you have a topic in mind, look for how Alan Moore and Brian Bolland explore that specific
topic within the book Batman: The Killing Joke. The way I want you to do this is by narrowing
down the book by choosing four specific scenes to focus your attention on (versus analyzing the
entire story). Analyze how those four specific scenes depict or explore or comment on the
specific topic you have selected. Devote one body paragraph to each scene. When you start
drafting, youll begin by looking for connections. In your final draft, those connections will
become argumentative, meaning youll have a specific claim and will use your scene details as
evidence to persuade the reader.
What exactly defines a scene? A scene in this context is a sequence of panels that follows
the action of specific characters in one specific setting. Most scenes in this story at least one or
two pages and cover ten to twenty panels or so. Most scenes in this comic start at the top of a
page, and most end at the bottom of another page (Moore and Bolland use a very traditional
layout in this regard, which makes separating scenes a lot easier.) If in doubt about whether
something is one scene or more, ask me by email.
NOTE: One of your four scenes MUST be the joke scene at the end of the novel where Joker
tells Batman a joke and the two laugh, ending the story. These are the final two pages of the
story.
From your draft work on these four scenes, you then form a specific, main claim interpreting
what Batman: The Killing Joke seems to communicate about that topic you selected above. That
claim will form your thesis. Your thesis claim should be balanced between description (the
literal, obvious things the text shows us directly) and interpretation (your own ideas analyzing
the meaning of the text, ideas that are not obvious but meaningful and interesting and
unpredictable). Too much summary will form an obvious, simple thesis with nothing interesting
or deep to argue, and too much interpretation will form too speculative and imaginative a paper
with not enough support to persuade the reader that you are right. You are seeking a balance
where your argument is both grounded in the text but sufficiently interesting and insightful. See
my guidelines below about forming bolder thesis statements.
Analyze both the words and actions in the text of The Killing Joke and what the art and visuals of
The Killing Joke communicate (such as through line, shape, color, panel-to-panel transition,
whatever elements you feel are most relevant to help you make your case).
Visuals description and analysis of the four scenes should form a large percentage of your
evidence for this paper in order to be convincing, and you must use concepts from McClouds
Understanding Comics or my lecture How to Describe Drawn Art to make your argument even
more convincing. Quote McClouds text when applicable and use McClouds terminology to
help you describe and dissect the scenes you have chosen.
Your goals are to be:
Specific: Pick out specific elements of the scenes, make specific claims, offer specific
ideas and reasons
Clear: Explain what you mean, use direct and understandable language, show what
you mean
Well-supported: Whatever claims you make, you back them up with reasons and
evidence that substantiate your opinions. You use evidence from the visuals of the
book as well as the words. You use McCloud to assist you.
Insightful: Use first person. Speak for yourself. Use your own voice and bring in
your own associations and ideas. Go beyond the superficial to find deeper ideas and
meaning, things that are not obvious to a casual reader. Your paper is a honest effort
to explore the ideas and the novel, and your essay is engaged and thoughtful.
Im not specifically listing the many essay basics from Essay 1, like formatting, the title formula,
etc. But they still apply, too. They just arent your primary focus like the four items above
(especially when youre drafting).
NOTE: You are NOT allowed to use any source for this paper beyond my lectures,
Understanding Comics, or The Killing Joke book (not movie). Outside sources include what
other critics or readers have said about the novel, and those sources are strictly forbidden. If you
quote an outside source, your paper will be graded down considerably. If you borrow someone
elses ideas through plagiarism, even if briefly, your paper will receive a zero. This needs to be
YOUR analysis, your ideas, and your work on display. No AI, either. However, using your own
knowledge gained from experience or other classes (not quoted from outside sources, but known
by you directly) is perfectly acceptable and encouraged, as long as it used secondarily to this
book (for example, other Batman stories name Joker, but this book does not. Therefore, follow
this book primarily and dont say Joker has a specific name). Another example: If youve taken a
psychology course and you learned some ideas about insanity that you remember well enough to
use there, then go for it. Just be clear about where you learned it, and use first person for
maximum clarity.
FOLLOW-UP NOTE: You ARE allowed to use very basic knowledge about the character of
Batman, so long as it is not specific to only one or two movies or comics. In case you dont know
anything about Batman, here is what is officially allowed as common knowledge, not requiring a
source or quote or reference to use (meaning, feel free to use this information in your essay):
Batmans real name is Bruce Wayne.
Batman is born rich with two loving parents. His parents are shot and killed in a
mugging that goes wrong. Bruce witnesses the killings himself when he is just a
boy.
Seeing his parents get killed motivates Bruce to become a crime fighter.
Bruce invents the Batman as a way to scare criminals so he can fight, stop, and
catch them more effectively.
Bruce lives alone with his old butler, Alfred. He has a gigantic mansion called
Wayne Manor, and underneath the mansion are a series of caves that Batman
uses as a headquarters. That headquarters is called The Batcave.
Batman has had different sidekicks over the years. The most famous one is named
Robin. Different young men have played the role of Robin over the years.
None of them appear in this story outside of a picture. Another former sidekick is
named Batgirl. In real life, her name is Barbara Gordon, the daughter of
Commissioner Jim Gordon. Barbara is the one whom Joker shoots in this story.
Batman knows Barbara is Batgirl; Jim Gordon does not know his daughter was
ever Batgirl. (We can assume Joke doesnt know this, either.)
Batman abhors guns and refuses to kill. As violent as Batman can be, its
generally known that because he saw his mother and father killed by gun
violence, he refuses to use guns and to kill people. (At the end of the story, for
example, Batman does NOT kill Joker. Hes afraid he might kill him one day, but
he really wants to help Joker instead. You could argue Joker does not want to kill
Batman either, for his own reasons.)
Joker is never named, not in this story nor in most Batman stories. Do not call him
Jack. Jack is his name in one popular movie (the Tim Burton movie). Joker is
anonymous. This story is the first book to really explore more of what Joker was
like before the chemical accident that discolors his skin.
There is an animated movie based on this comic book story. Its not allowed in
this essay. (It is not good, by the way, so youre not missing anything.) Its not
even a faithful adaptation of the story. Dont watch it or use it, please.
If you are a super Batman nerd and wish to use some of your more obscure
Batman knowledge to make a better point in your essay, 1.) do not look it up and/
or quote an outside source (its not allowed in this essay) and 2.) email me. I can
make exceptions, but make your case to me first.
You are allowed (and encouraged) to email me a copy of your rough draft for direct feedback
from me. Please send it as a pdf or word file, or even copy and paste it into an email. Email it *************************** As long as you send it to me by Thursday, January 29, by noon, I will
review it. It can be one paragraph, too (sometimes this is easier for you to send and better for me
for feedback. Im not asking for a full draft). After that day and time, I will (politely) tell you I’m
not reviewing it anymore. I won’t mark spelling errors or little things; I will address larger advice
to help you improve the areas I grade for most (detail, clarity, support, and insight).
Rough drafts are optional. No one loses any points if they send nothing. Do what you will. At the
same time, it really pays to get feedback from a teacher. So I urge you all to email me a draft,
even if it’s partial. Please do not send me four drafts this week, though. Try to send me one solid
draft once, and then we’ll go from there.
You may email me questions as often as you like. If I have already answered your question in an
advice post, I will say so, but otherwise, I realize a lot of things may come up as you write. Email
me. I’m here to help, each and every day, until the paper is due.
The final draft of this essay is due through Canvas by Friday, January 30, at 11:59 p.m. It must
be uploaded as a word or pdf file. Papers submitted late without any previous explanation will
receive no credit.
You have the option of revising Essay #2 for a new grade. However, to be eligible for that
revision, you must submit at least two pages of material for this essay, and you must submit your
work on time. Those two pages might be the beginning of the paper, a very rough draft, or even a
detailed outline. But I need to see some evidence that you have begun the paper in earnest. If
your submission is under two pages or is blank, you will receive a grade without the chance to
revise it later.
Revisions for Essay #2 are due on the same date as revisions for Essay #1: Tuesday, February 10,
by 11:59 p.m. See the course syllabus for details.
This paper is worth up to 300 points.
Late or missing essays receive no credit. Essays submitted on time but which fall below the two
page minimum will receive a score but be ineligible for revision.
It is very important that you read all guideline below to maximize your approach to writing this
essay.
Essay Structure:
This paper requires an introduction very similar to your first essay. Be direct and clear
(no hooks); name the books, italicize and only italicize their titles (since theyre books),
name the authors, and name the illustrators. Introduce both Batman: The Killing Joke and
Understanding Comics. Briefly summarize what these books are about (two or three
sentences total per book). Mention your topic briefly (trauma, sanity, etc.) and establish
its role in this story and in your essay. Then end your intro by stating a thesis. See the
thesis guidelines below. A good thesis will launch your essay far and a poor thesis will
limit it completely, so crafting a strong thesis statement is more important than last essay.
Tip: Like Essay 1, it may be worth holding off on your intro till your whole paper is
complete. Have a loose thesis in mind, but otherwise, its a lot easier to introduce
everything else once everything else is drafted out.
Do you start writing the body with a thesis in mind? Or do you start writing and find your
thesis along the way? I think it depends (if you are truly inspired by a great idea, run with
it!), but its normally a little bit of both. It pays to start with a topic in mind and maybe a
loose idea of what you think you want to argue (and that is why Discussion Board #4 is
asking what Im asking: To get the ball rolling sooner). This helps you focus on choosing
your scenes and deciding which art elements and words are worth focusing on. But
honestly, the text and the examples you find will move your thesis in new, unexpected
ways. Sometimes one key detail will shift your whole perspective, altering (and
improving) your thesis. Eventually, especially as your scene analysis improves, I would
revisit that original loose thesis and make it tighter and bolder.
For the body paragraphs, write four body paragraphs total. You have four scenes total for
four body paragraphs total. In other words, spend one body paragraph per scene.
For each body paragraph, start with a topic sentence that states the main point or idea of
that scene as it relates to your thesis; that main point should be bold, interesting, and
relevant to your thesis. I would draft out the paragraph first to find your point clearly,
then circle back and write this topic sentences once its evident what that claim is.
For each body paragraph, spend that paragraph on key panels, dialogue, and art details
that you wish to describe in detail and analyze for meaning. Look for deeper meaning in
those details. See last weeks discussion and video about description leading to analysis
for guidance about how to do this. Each body paragraph should be lengthy; you are
describing, quoting, and analyzing, and this cannot be done quickly and done well at the
same time. Take your time here. Use first person (I think this color may represent . . .
or I associate this with . . .).
So for extra clarity, a good body paragraph takes the following rough format:
A topic sentence that clarifies which specific scene youre focusing this paragraph
on (with pdf page numbers) and how it relates to your thesis claim. Example: In
the first flashback scene (pages 11 and 12), I think we learn that Jokers real
source of insanity may not be the trauma he experiences later but the nature of his
emotionally sensitive personality.
Tip: Its really hard to write a great topic sentence first. It GOES first, but its
tough to write first. So consider consider coming back and writing your topic
sentences after you do everything else in the paragraph first.
Then pick out one scene detail that supports what you want to say. Describe it in
one sentence or so, then analyze its meaning in another sentence or two (or more
if its a super juicy meaning). Remember: Description is neutral and specific
(The gloves have symmetrical lines and dark blue color). Analysis is personal
(use first person) and speculative (I associate symmetrical lines with order and
organization; they are straight and narrow, the way we describe people, too, who
follow the law. But blue is cold, like the ocean or ice. It lacks emotion. Maybe this
person follows the law without emotion, which feels a little inhuman to me
personally.)
Make sure you are using art! Dont focus only on dialogue. Dialogue is allowed
and its an excellent detail to use, but all words and no visuals leads to a
non-passing paper. We read McCloud for a reason.
While describing art details, talk the talk. Use the vocab, at the bare minimum,
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