The goal of teaching students literature is to grow a literate populace. Graphic novels are an inventive method which promotes a lifetime reading habit. The promotion of literacy with graphic novels through
Graphic novels offer an opportunity for readers to experience text and art fused together. The appeal of graphic novels to young people offers educators an opportunity to introduce students to diverse literary voices, to teach literary terminology and techniques, such as dialogue to build a bridge to other classics and as a basis for writing literary based arguments, and to offer alternatives to traditional texts and mass media.
Reading comprehension, as well as the comprehension and interpretation of themes, literary devices, and social issues is improved through the study of graphic novels. Graphic novels may be used in an educational setting as component of an interdisciplinary thematic unit, to introduce a specific content area component, or on their own as a stand alone piece of literature for study. Reluctant readers and visual learners are less resistant to graphic novels. Visual learners through analysis of the illustrations gain an understanding of the cognitive and literary concepts in a graphic novel which results in stronger comprehension of the material. “In any subject area, studying a graphic novel can bring media literacy into the curriculum as students examine the medium itself. Students can explore such questions as how color affects emotions, how pictures can stereotype people, how angles of viewing affect perception, and how realism or lack of it plays into the message of a work” (Schwartz). Students are offered the opportunity to analyze the works’ through the lens of art analysis relating to the colors, textures, words, textboxes, frames, camera angles, and to make connections between all of those element and evaluate their effectiveness.
Graphic novels may also improve a students’ social skills by introducing students to diverse people and cultures they may not encounter otherwise. Educators may use graphic novel to give new voices to minorities and people with diverse viewpoints.
Differentiation of instruction opportunities are afforded as well. An instructor may offer students the opportunity to read a graphic novel as a part of a unit. An example being a unit on the Holocaust. If students are offered the opportunity to read a text at the appropriate reading level from them as an individual rather than having to read the same text as a whole class, but instead focus on the themes of the unit as it portrayed through multiple perspectives. Examples of texts that may be read in such a unit could be Maus, The Diary of Anne Frank, Number the Stars, Hidden, The Book Thief, Night, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.
Benefits of Reading Graphic Novels for All Students
There are many benefits to reading graphic novels. One as mentioned is comprehension, but another, a key to encouraging reading and learning, is motivation. Motivated readers are defined as “engaged, curious, and anxious to talk about what they are reading. They are able to read from several texts at the same time, look forward to new challenges and value text choice and time to engage with print” (Marinak et al., 2010, p. 503).
Kyle Redford’s (n.d.), article from Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity stated,
Additionally, in class discussions, the graphic novel’s easy-to-read accessible format allows struggling readers into the world of classic literary references that would otherwise be accessible only to stronger readers. Graphic novels are a wonderful way to help dyslexic readers strengthen their vocabulary, build their reading confidence, and foster a love of story. (para. 4)
He also stated in the same article,
The brilliant thing about the graphic novel is the way they offer dyslexic readers several different cues to the story. If a reader gets snagged on the vocabulary or storyline of a graphic novel, illustrated pages offer contextual cues to help decipher meaning. But don’t be fooled; strong readers love the graphic novel as well. The attraction can be likely be explained by the enjoyable format. (para. 3)
Graphic novels not only help struggling readers, but good readers enjoy the illustrations and cues that help to understand the storyline.
Another benefit to having students read graphic novels is that it helps the students gain a broader vocabulary, to appreciate and enjoy reading. CeCe Bell (n.d.), the author of the graphic novel, El Deafo, stated in an article on struggling and reluctant reader in Reading Rockets, a national public initiative used by educators,
But there was like this sense of satisfaction for readers who maybe have a little bit of difficulty reading. Here are these pictures that help propel me through. It doesn’t take very long to get through a page. Suddenly you read a 220-page book, and you’ve never read a 220-page book in your life. It’s like this gateway to reading maybe things that are more difficult down the road… Graphic novels can introduce struggling readers to the world of classic literature. Classical Comics and Graphic Classics, for example, publish graphic novel versions of Dickens, Shakespeare, Twain, Alcott, and other great writers. (para. 5-7)
Bell is a deaf person, and she chose to write her semi-autobiography as a graphic novel, telling her story through a rabbit that shares how she balanced her life experiences.
Graphic novels benefit all students. According to Fisher & Frey (2013), graphic novels help students gain valuable literacy skills, such as previewing content, summarizing information, visualizing, reviewing, and analyzing texts. As McTaggert indicated, “[Graphic novels] enable the struggling reader, motivate the reluctant one, and challenge the high-level learner” (as cited in Fisher & Frey, p. 32).
Wellen, Lauren, and Edgar Ramos. “Comic Books to Graphic Novels: Lutheran Education Journal.” Lutheran Education Journal | Published by Concordia University Chicago and the Lutheran Education Association., 5 Nov. 2019, https://lej.cuchicago.edu/columns/from-comic-books-to-graphic-novels-ways-to-help-students-learn-to-read/.