Title: 2-3D: Comic Book Features
Course: Course Development Guidelines > Section: Sample Lesson: ENG3U 2-3: A Hero's Shield

[fa-rocket] Learning Goals

  - Describe the factors that contribute to stress and conflicts in the workplace.

[fa-th-large] Narratives

Most comics have a story. They have a narrative structure of an orientation, complication and resolution. Sometimes the narrative has a coda such as an epilogue or a moral.

Each frame of a comic strip usually captures a moment in the developing story. The complication takes at least one frame, sometimes more if there are a number of characters and settings. The resolution is often funny and is a natural ending.

Dialogue is usually brief and direct to develop the story line.

[fa-th-large] Conventions

People can usually read the conventions of comics very well but are often unaware that this is what they are doing because it seems so obvious.

The common conventions of a comic include:

    - Use of symbols like speech and thought bubbles, movement lines, familiar objects like light globes, punctuation signs
    - Use of facial expressions and gestures to show action and thoughts
    - Variety of framing devices to show changes in the action, close ups and point of view shots are common
    - Artwork related to lighting, background, use of thick and thin lines, unusual colours or rendering.

[fa-th-large] How to Create Your Own Comic

Use this animation to help you get started on your comic strip:

[fa-th-large] Online Comics

If you are not confident about your drawing capabilities, do not worry. There are many resources you can use to make your comic online. Experiment with the following online comic sites and see which ones work with your vision and story-telling style:

    - Make Beliefs Comix
    - Pixton
    - StoryboardThat

Now that you have finished the reading, move on to activity 2-3E: Making Your Comic Book.

[fa-check-square] Success Criteria

Before moving on to the next section, make sure you understand the following:

[fa-check-circle] I can identify sources and give examples of stress in the workplace.

[fa-check-circle] I can explain eustress and distress.

[fa-check-circle] I can demonstrate using the stress and performance curve, the point of optimal performance.