Using Cartoons, Comic Books and Graphic Novels in the Classroom

Using Cartoons, Comics, and Using Cartoons, Comics, and Graphic Novels in the Graphic Novels in the ClassroomClassroom

Quinn Rollins2013

About Me…About Me… I was raised in

the 70’s and 80’s on a steady diet of cartoons

Comic StripsComic Strips The only part

of the paper that mattered was the comics page

My CareerMy Career In my “previous

life,” I was a cartoonist for the University of Utah

I was also a toy designer for Palisades Toys

Impact on TeachingImpact on Teaching

In my social In my social studies teaching, studies teaching, I often use I often use political political cartoons, comic cartoons, comic strips, comic strips, comic book characters, book characters, and graphic and graphic novels.novels.

Political CartoonsPolitical Cartoons Published in

newspapers or online

About current events

Useful for class discussions

Comic StripsComic Strips Serialized or

stand-alone

Published in newspapers or online

Useful for cause & effect, character analysis

Comic BooksComic Books Serialized or

stand-alone

Superheroes

Independent

Good for key ideas, character mapping

Graphic NovelsGraphic Novels Self-contained

books

Developed characters

Varied settings

Often address a social issue

Why use Graphic Novels?Why use Graphic Novels? Can help promote

complex reading skills

Can play a role similar to children’s literature

Why use Graphic Novels?Why use Graphic Novels? Point of reference to

bridge what students already know with what they have yet to learn

Making inferences from pictures + text

Transfer this skill to lessen the challenge of a new book

Why use Graphic Novels?Why use Graphic Novels? Use as another kind of

pop culture• Can address curriculum

standards• Motivate students to

learn• Enhance learning• Provide additional

opportunities for those who struggle with literacy tasks

What makes it a Graphic What makes it a Graphic Novel?Novel?

Structure• Beginning, middle, end• Climax

Character• Main character develops

through conflicts Artwork

• Text is both written and visual

• Each picture aids in interpretation of the text

Graphic Novel as a ToolGraphic Novel as a Tool“For students who lack the ability to

visualize as they read, it provides a graphic sense that approximates what good readers do as they read.”

“ …it provides an excellent way for reluctant writers to communicate a story that has a beginning, middle and end.”

“…easy for the students to look at a short comic strip and identify story elements.”

-- Rachael Sawyer Perkins

Graphic Novels as a ToolGraphic Novels as a Tool“The brain…is a meaning-maker, constantly

searching for patterns, connecting bits of new information to old, fashioning wholes from parts and parts from wholes. It’s also shamelessly self-centered. The brain makes sense of the world in terms of personal learner needs.”

-- Stephen Cary

Other ways to use Graphic Other ways to use Graphic NovelsNovels

Use wordless graphic novels to teach dialogue, characterization,voice and other literary functions

Other ways to use Graphic Other ways to use Graphic NovelsNovels

Emphasize critical literacy – analyze, read, and understand the motive of the author and accuracy of the reading

Other ways to use Graphic Other ways to use Graphic NovelsNovels

Students are more capable of understanding complex issues than they’re capable of accessing traditional texts.

Graphic novels can reduce cognitive load, while still portraying sophisticated concepts.

Using Graphic NovelsUsing Graphic NovelsThey give the teacher an opportunity

to bring youth culture into the classroom.

- We care about their interests- They contribute something of value- Students see us as fellow learners(their ability to read these texts usually

exceeds that of the teacher)

Things to watch out for…Things to watch out for…

Adaptations

They should be used as supplements, not replacements for the original text.

Things to watch out for…Things to watch out for… Superheroes

• Most superhero graphic novels assume the reader has encyclopedic knowledge

• Are more implausible than “real world” graphic novels

• Characters might be well-known through movies or other media

Things to watch out for…Things to watch out for…The same tools you use for analyzing

other literature can (and should) be used for graphic novels- Graphic Organizers- Character Maps- Sequencing- Webs- Compare/Contrast

Things to watch out for…Things to watch out for… Content

• Language• Violence• Sex• Alignment to curriculum

A Few More A Few More Recommendations:Recommendations:

American Born ChineseAmerican Born Chinese

StructureSettingCharactersPlotThemeArtwork

American Born ChineseAmerican Born ChineseHow does the structure of American

Born Chinese impact the reader?

How would the structure influence how you might teach the novel?

American Born ChineseAmerican Born Chinese

Characters:

Monkey King

Jin Wang

Danny

Chin-Kee

American Born ChineseAmerican Born Chinese

Conflict:

Monkey King / Gods

Jin Wang / Wei-Chen

Danny / Chin-Kee

American Born ChineseAmerican Born ChineseThemes:PrejudiceRacismAcceptanceImmigrationSelf-KnowledgeAssimilation

American Born ChineseAmerican Born ChineseHow does the artwork underscore the

message of the text?

How would a different style of artwork change the book?

ConclusionsConclusionsGraphic Novels and Comics are seeing

a surge in popularity among young readers, and can be a powerful tool with students

Gaining academic acceptance is an uphill battle with parents and some administrators

Don’t sacrifice rigor because “it’s only a comic book”

And yes, I still like “SuperFriends.”