JOHN LEWIS IS AN INTERESTING man with a vibrant history. This week we will begin the process of discovering more about the graphic (auto)biography of Congressman Lewis, and begin our visual analysis of the work March 2. Similar to your study of The Catcher in the Rye, we'll work partly in-class to complete journal style worksheets on this text.

Monday

Information gathering on Congressman John Lewis. Students will begin by researching his congressional web page. At the end of class, we will begin watching a CNN interview of John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, two of the three collaborators on our text.
HW: Finish taking notes on the yellow pre-reading worksheet, due tomorrow at start of class. You should also listen to the following interview from NPR.

Tuesday

Careful analysis of the cover image, and reading of pages 5-7. Reviewing some of the graphic novel techniques we see, and discussing our view of the cover.
HW: Watch the clip on the Freedom Riders from The Smithsonian, and complete the worksheet on the history of the freedom riders using this map and by watching this video:

Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/The-Freedom-Riders.html In the spring of 1961, black and white civil rights activists rode buses to protest the segregationist policies of the Deep South (Marian Holmes, Brian Wolly, Photos courtesy of Corbis, Getty Images and Library of Congress, Audio clips courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways).

Wednesday

In class analysis of pages 8-16. How does the text create three story lines (the visual, the 1960 poisoning story, and the commentator's narrative)? What techniques/tools does the artist use?
HW: Making connections: the artist/writers uses President Obama's first inaugural speech as a frame for the historical narrative. Why? Watch this clip on then-Senator Obama's oration skills. What connections do you make to the subject material of March? keep notes on this video:

In 2004, a one-term senator from Illinois took the stage to deliver the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. By the time Barack Obama had finished speaking, Democrats across the country knew they had seen the future of their party. Political speech experts featured in this episode include: Michael A.

Thursday

In-class analysis of pages 17-21. What is the story being told? How is the film industry complicit in the racism exhibited via Jim Crow laws? Reading an in-class essay on racism in film and Hollywood.
HW: Reading pages 22-30.

Friday

Discussion of last night's reading. Review of graphic novel techniques within the text. We will also begin a short essay about fighting for justice.
HW: Writing your 1.5 page long essay on justice, due Monday.