Teaching
The Graphic Novel Course
Spring 2008

I designed this course for the college.

Students produced
  • A script
  • Panel drawings

The course also included novel discussions: 10th Circle
Persepolis, Maus and American Born Chinese
American Born Chinese

Example of a Class Assignment
Art Description Exercise

Write a brief description for each panel of page 1.





Speaker 1: ALMOST GOT IT, SIR.  AND …AND LIKE YOU TOLD ME TO.  I’M TRYING NOT TO TOUCH ANY OF THE BLOOD.

Speaker 2: Good.  That’s Very Good.

Panel 1

Speaker 1: THERRRE…
WE GO…




Panel 2

Speaker 2: WELL DONE.

Speaker 1: LOOKS LIKE MORE BLOOD IN HERE, TOO.

Speaker 2: YET WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE OLD MAN TO HAVE HAD SO MUCH BLOOD IN HIM.

Speaker 1: AN OLD MAN WAS KILLED TOO?

Panel 3

Speaker 2: NEVER MIND—AH.

Speaker 1: IS THAT…?  I MEAN, I’VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT…BUT I’VE NEVER SEEN…






Panel 4
Speaker 1: WELL, NOW YOU’VE HEARD AND YOU’VE SEEN.  HENH.  NOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN.



PANEL 5

Page 2: Establishing Shot:  Body of female, red hair, dressed in a satin, cape-like dress with a hood.  Splotches of blood are visible at her hip and breasts.  She doesn’t wear shoes or gloves; instead, her feet and hands are wrapped (ribbon-like) in the same material as her dress. text.
Pencil Draft of Student Work
Courses Taught

  • American Literature
  • British Literature
  • Contemporary Black Fiction
  • Contemporary Black Fiction (Science Fiction)
  • English Composition
  • Creative Nonfiction
  • Poetry Writing
  • Short Fiction
  • Writing the Graphic Novel Movie Adaptation
  • Magazine Editing
Free Writing Classes to Boost Creativity
By Jeremy Daugherty
Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2004
USA Vanguard


"When I think of creativity, I think of being inspired," said Bruce Alford, poet and speaker at this year's Creative Writing Workshop sponsored by USA's Freshman Composition Program.

The workshop was offered on Wednesday, Oct. 6, and was just one in a series of free instructional sessions focusing on becoming a more prolific writer.

"I assume that people who come here are having problems with creativity," said Alford, "so we are going to focus on the invention part of the exercise."

Alford used soft, tranquil music and explained that "taking the elevator to creativity" was something that he himself employs when stuck at a writing standstill.

Alford suggested that before trying to write anything, concentration is essential. A bag of miscellaneous objects was passed around so that everyone could have something solid to hold and concentrate on. The goal was to concrete the image of the object in your mind and keep it there long enough to write about it. These objects ranged from a pipe, a silver metal lighter and wooden effigy of a pig.

Eileen Zachariah, former USA student, has been to her share of writing courses over the years and found this workshop helpful.

"I thought maybe it might improve my writing a little bit since I'm retired now," said Zachariah.

"I had a lot of fun in class today," said Zachariah. "It brought back a lot of memories. I have had courses in the past, but you have to practice in order to get really good where you can see things."

Zachariah, also retired special education teacher, had her own special advice for writers who have been stuck on ideas or want to begin writing again. "Skip lines," said Zachariah, "and just keep writing!"