Analyzing Characterization in the Picture Book Together We’re Strong

Use of Text and Images in Characterizing Albertina Sisulu

The picture book Together We’re Strong (2014) – by Liesl Jobson, Alice Toich and Nazli Jacobs – tells the story of Albertina Sisulu. Through close analysis of this picture book, write an essay of at least six paragraphs in which you show how the different images and written text used in the picture book contribute to our understanding of the book’s main character.

Your essay could, for example, focus on some of the following aspects of the picture book plot, setting, and the character’s actions, dialogue, thoughts and appearance. Remember that you should not simply identify examples in the book. You need to be able to explain how these images and the specific language used contribute to characterisation.As part of your discussion, it essential that you engage with the following academic article: “Picture/text relationships: An investigation of literary elements in picturebooks” by Miriam Martinez and Janis Harmon (2012). Your essay should include at least one instance of paraphrasing an aspect of the writers’ argument and at least two quotations from the article (which should be properly integrated into your essay). You should be able to reference the article and the picture book correctly, both as in-text references and in a reference list.

Remember that you should be able to identify and discuss only those aspects of the article that are relevant for the specific argument that you are trying to make in your essay. You may choose to use the given article in order to introduce and contextualise your essay, or you may choose to use aspects of the given article to support or elaborate on your analysis of the picture book itself.
Your essay should contain:
an introduction
four paragraphs in the body of the essay (each of which focuses on a particular aspect of the topic)
a conclusion
a reference list.

Please take note of the following:
The picture book does not contain page numbers. Please assign page numbers to each page. It does not matter whether your page numbering is slightly different to another student’s pagination. What matters is that your in-text citations that accompany quotations from the book include page numbers.The APA referencing guide has been uploaded onto Blackboard and appears under the “Module information” tab.

The assignment must be uploaded onto Blackboard no later than 20 March 2020. It will be processed through Turn-It-In.Please remember that copying from other students and/or reproducing content from online or other sources (without proper acknowledgment, referencing and quotation marks) is strictly prohibited. Students who plagiarise will receive 0% for the assignment and are likely to fail the module.

You are also strongly encouraged to make an appointment to see either a designated tutor for the EPS10A2 module or a consultant in the UJ Writing Centre. Students who consult with either a tutor or a Writing Centre consultant at least once will be awarded an additional 5% for their essays. Please see the points below.The tutor consultation times and the contact details for the Writing Centre appear on Blackboard.

If you see a designated tutor for the module, she will keep a record of your consultation and require that you sign next to your name on a list. If you instead choose to make an appointment with a Writing Centre consultant, you will be given a slip of paper by the consultant confirming your consultation. You are then required to give this slip to one of the designated tutors who will record it on their lists and require you to sign next to your name. It is your responsibility to ensure that your participation has been recorded by one of the tutors before the submission date.You may choose to seek assistance with planning the essay, understanding the question, understanding the prescribed article, referencing, analysing the book,structuring your paragraph or improving your use of language. Please note though that you should not wait until the last week to make an appointment to see either a tutor or a consultant.