Abigail Bilkis    

Project 1 

ENC 2135 

Draft 1

Is Your Diary A Novel?

Is a diary considered a novel or a category in itself? How about both? The book and series Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a very unique novel and series due to the fact that it is written in a diary format. Jeff Kinney started out by writing comics he then took a pen and paper and created the amazing Diary of A Wimpy Kid series.  The author, Jeff Kinney, even calls it “a novel through cartoons” on the cover of the book.  With the use of detailed text and simple drawings Jeff Kinney depicts and describes the life of Greg. These novels are continuously enjoyed amongst readers hence the reason  that “there are currently 10 novels written for this series as well as 3 movies” (BOOKS).  “That led to a book contract and a steady place for several years on The New York Times best-seller list (June Kids' Book Club).” Although this book series may be written in an uncommon format, A Diary of a Wimpy Kid is still considered a novel since it contains plot elements and character devolvement, contains realistic events, and is a lengthy book. 

 

A captivating novel uses plot elements, such as, conflict and resolution, climax, rising and falling actions. Each of the books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series contains all these basic elements. Without them the novel would be boring and have no storyline. In the first novel the one of the conflicts that Greg the main character is facing is trying to find where he belongs in middle school. The solution is that he and his best friend Rowley only need each other. Diary of A Wimpy Kid, also has the development of characters. The novel has a protagonist, Gregory, who the novels perspective is told by. The novel also has an antagonist, Gregory’s brother Rodrick. There is also round character in the novel, Gregory’s best friend, Rowley as well as, Gregory’s parents and younger brother. These various types of character types are commonly found in fiction novels. These are certain aspects that we tend not to look for we just enjoy them subconsciously because that makes for a good read. These characters are not only devolved through the text of the novel but also the “hand-drawn” pictures. These picture help guide your imagination in visualizing the characters and the plot line, with the use of thought bubbles. 

 

A good novel has aspects that relate to realistic events that could happen to the normal individual. To start off the book is about an awkward middle schooler who is just trying to get by but has an annoying sibling and bullies. Many people can relate to at least one of the situations in the previous statements.  There are many life lessons that are taught throughout the Diary of Wimpy Kid series. The lessons that are taught are not geared towards a specific group of people but a collective whole. Some of the main life lessons taught in the series are, “Dream big, your family is not the weirdest, and good kids are worth the cheese touch (8 Life Lessons).”A sense of connection between the audience and the characters makes a novel more enjoyable to the reader. The visuals on the page depicting the relatable events make the connection stronger because the reader can see the same or similar thing that has happened to them.  Being able to understand and put yourself into the story is the main character makes for a strong novel.  A reader wants to be able to understand and both feel like an outsider of the novel.  

 

“In the definition of the word novel it contains the word length” (The Definition of Novel). On average the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are over 100 pages. Some may say “quality over quantity” but no one ever says a novel that is a page long is one of the best of all times. “Once you are writing for the 8- to 12-year market, one should would aim for around 40,000 words (How Long Should My Novel Be).” The length of the book is expanded on with the abnormal novel use of sketched graphics on almost every page. These depictions of the actions add depth and comprehension to the novel and series readers.   The best novels of all time, like the ones on the New York Time Best Seller, are usually quite lengthy. 

 

When you take a glance at the first page of a book you expect to see a couple of paragraphs and maybe some dialogue. Unless you pick up one of the books from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, these book are an unconventional written novel. The first page is usually a couple of sentences with a drawing of a cartoon. Which may take away from the imaginative aspect of a novel since there are pictures that show what each character and scene looks although they are not extremely detailed. But even in the movie which is supposed to be visual the directors tended to incorporate the exact images into the movie which draw the movie and the novels together.  The novel and series went worldwide, according to NPR “the books are popular all over the world being translated in to 35 different languages. (June Kids' Book Club)” Not exactly a book full of “substance” but parents will encourage the reading of this book because at least their child is reading some form of book. 

 

By the time you read those final words on the page you are intrigued and are wanting more. I believe that is the most important aspect of a good novel, not wanting it to end. Next time you find yourself looking at your diary take into consideration that it could be the next best-selling novel. A novel brings enjoyment to a reader and I think this is one of the most important things about how A Diary of a Wimpy Kid successfully bend genre rules. A Diary of a Wimpy Kid might be considered a strange take on the classic idea of a novel but it is successful because of the elements it contains, the realistic content and the all-around length of each book. 

 

 

Peer Review Sheet – Third Draft

Peer Reviewer: ___Hailey Jenkins______________________     

Author of Paper: ___Abigail Bilkis___________________

Title of Paper: ___Is your Diary a novel?_______________

 

Read the paper once through before making any response or edits. Complete the following instructions on your second reading.

 

1. What is the main thesis of this essay? (copy it down below):

 

Although this book series may be written in an uncommon format, A Diary of a Wimpy Kid is still considered a novel since it contains plot elements and character devolvement, contains realistic events, and is a lengthy book.

 

1. Strikethrough any sentences, phrases, or words. This includes unnecessary information, redundant descriptions, excess fluff, etc. 

 

1. Bold and underline any points that you think the writer needs to include more information. This includes a more extensive definition, further background information, a more thorough description, etc.

 

1. Underline any mechanical errors (spelling, grammar, run-on sentences, fragments, etc.) in the paper.

 

 

1. Highlight (in pink) any part of the paper that are awkward (meaning any sentences that read strangely or any points where you are confused by what the writer is trying to say).

 

1. Star every word used two or more times in a paragraph (excluding genre name and articles). Suggest different word choices for the overly repetitive words.

 

1. Highlight any part of the paper that is not following MLA guidelines for citation or formatting.