Using Graphic Novels (GNs) in the Classroom

What are GNs?

Text & images (not comic books)

Full-length stories

Fiction & non-fiction, age/grade level

Why use them?

Study genre itself Build critical

reading/thinking skills

Affinity groups/situated

learning Examine literary

elements

Popular & Fun

Multiliteracy theories of graphic novels

Linguistic

Visual

auditoryGestural

Spatial

Semiotic systems in graphic novels

Codes+conventions=meaning in graphic novels

Color,texture, lines, shapes,form

Balance, layout vectorality

Reader’s meaning

How to use graphic novels

Handouts#1 Comics terminology

#2 Practicing text-image relationships

#3 Graphic novels – in class activity

#4 Graphic novel activity – 2 part

#5 Selected resources

Thank you!