Stage 3: Rough draft of all 5 pages

The third stage was completed as the students were taken through different activities throughout the remainder of the week to exemplify sequential art techniques including Motion-to-Motion, difference between time and space, using narrative and text and their difference, as well as techniques of drawing emotion. After completing this third stage, the rough pencil draft of the 5-pages, we will begin the fourth stage of perfecting the panels and adding necessary text and narration that helps support the story and a continuous flow. I was surprised to see the ease in which they adapted to the project and the activities. They had never studied such material but with their level of understand after such a short period of time, I could have sworn they were subjected to graphic novels since childhood. Upon completion, the students want to watch the movie Persepolis and celebrate the completion of such an intense program. Finally, they have become comfortable with asking question and speaking their mind, even the odd joke about my broken Arabic. Instead of quiet drawing with the famous singer Farouse playing in the background, I hear the odd “Miss Rebecca” across the classroom and it truly makes me smile. The last day of the week was interrupted by a news cast heard from the mosques concerning another death in Qalqilya, the class stopped to listen, the music was turned off and I couldn’t help but examine their reactions. I saw fear for the coming summer months, when there are masses of youth, with no jobs under frustrating conditions of economic deprivation and occupation