The sounds of a classic comic book fight scene have not always been associated with academic opportunities, but many teachers see Students reach for graphic novels and comics more often than traditional books. Comics and graphic novels fall under the umbrella term sequential art. It is a communication medium, not a genre, explains Stephane ManuelFounder of TrueFictionan educational company that uses comics to teach history. “It’s the deliberate juxtaposition of images and text to convey meaning. … Audio, text and video are all communication media and each has its own characteristics that make it great for learning.”
According to a study from 2023 Opinion poll According to the School Library Journal, graphic novels are growing in popularity in over 90% of school libraries. However, the same survey found that a majority of librarians encountered resistance from parents, teachers and others who did not see them as “real books.” The resistance often stems from the misconception that they are not scientifically based, too controversial and do not encourage reading, said literature expert Shawna Coppola on EdCollab Meeting 2024By breaking down stereotypes about comics and graphic novels, teachers can unlock the potential of these books as educational tools.
Rigor of the graphic novel
A common misconception is that graphic novels and comics are not academically challenging. However, graphic novels can be used to teach key concepts in line with academic standards in various subjects. Manuel creates historical comics that cover topics such as Brown v. Board of Educationthe Delano Grape Strike and the Zoot Suit Riots. His curricula encourage teachers to use primary and secondary sources to support student learning and understanding. “These comics provide a very good opportunity to have an in-depth dialogue about a historical moment,” he said.
Tim Jonesa library media specialist in Kentucky, uses comics and graphic novels to teach Media literacy by asking students to think about why the illustrator and author made certain choices. He might ask students why they think the creator used a close-up of a character’s face instead of zooming out, or what emotions the author or illustrator is trying to convey in a particular image. In addition, he asks students to watch ads or commercials and think about similar questions. Students are likely already thinking about these things in their heads, Jones said. Discussions allow them to verbalize how they Giving meaning to images.
While comics and graphic novels have fewer words per page than the average chapter book, authors have to choose their words more carefully. “They’re resorting to a higher vocabulary word that says in one word what the average person would need six or seven words to say,” Jones said. A study by the University of Oregon found that comic books have an average of 53.5 rare words per thousand, while children’s books average 30.9 and adult books average 52.7.
Controversial content
Historicalmany comics depicted women in a very sexualized way or contained a lot of racism and prejudice, Coppola said. These trends led to the false notion that all graphic novels contained inappropriate content for students. However, there are many Age-appropriate options available“When selecting graphic novels for a library collection, I focus on supporting the school community’s curriculum and giving students the freedom to explore different perspectives,” Jones said.
