A Well-Supported Argument: Examining Assertions in Graphic Fiction

E-Page 89
 Analyze 
Use the basic features.

Analyses of fiction make arguments, but so do many fictional works. Notice, for example, the central assertion that the main character in “Mandarin Accent” seems to be making—that she is locked into a self-perpetuating cycle of guilt because of her mother’s unending demands and criticism.

ANALYZE & WRITE

Write one or two paragraphs analyzing how this work of graphic fiction makes an argument:

  1. Read back over the main character’s private impressions, which appear above panels 1, 6, and 11–15. What major concerns is she raising here?
  2. Reread the dialogue, and make notes about how it illustrates these concerns.
  3. How do the images contribute to the story and support the main character’s central assertion?

    Question