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EDUC 3070: Growing Up Palestinian

This guide accompanies Thea Abu El-Haj's class Growing Up Palestinian, at Barnard College, spring 2025. Zine class led by Jenna Freedman.

Logistics

One page zine

written and illustrated instructions for creating a pamphlet out of a single sheet of paper

  1. start with paper laid flat
  2. fold in half, long edge to long edge
  3. open flat
  4. fold in half, short edge to short edge
  5. while folded short edge to short edge, cut from the center to the crease
  6. push into the fold, so that the pages squish together
  7. fold into a booklet

This zine-making technique will challenge some people. Be patient with yourself if it's confusing. If it comes easy to you, help a classmate.

Storyboard/Wireframe

  • How many pages will your zine be?
  • What size will the pages be?
  • Storyboarding software--or paper!
  • Spreadsheet to track content
page 5: center graphic page 4: primary sources page 3: manifesto page 2: introduction, metadata
page 6: center graphic continued page 7: analysis back cover: future steps/playlist Cover: art, title

Other Zine Elements to Consider

Essay * Poem * Review * Drawing * Collage * Personality Quiz * Crossword Puzzle * Playlist * Top Ten List * Likes/Dislikes * How To * Comic * Rant * Blank Space * Art * Handwriting * Typewriting * Design Software * Stick Figures

Genre

  • personal
  • political
  • art
  • literary
  • split
  • compilation
  • minicomics
  • DIY

Digital Zine Resources

Use slides (Google <--copyable template, Powerpoint, Cryptpad, etc.). Pro-tip: change the dimensions of the slide to 8.5 tall x 5.5 wide. 

Use Canva: same thing. Their booklet default is sized for non-US sized paper, so also set the dimensions to 8.5 tall x 5.5 wide or you'll end up with annoying margins at the top and bottom.

Zine templates for Indesign, Word, and pdf

Online platforms: I recommend the Internet Archive for its accessibility features. https://archive.org/create