ERIC Number: EJ1003147
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Nov
Pages: 7
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-8274
EISSN: N/A
In Defense of Graphic Novels
Hansen, Kathryn Strong
English Journal, v102 n2 p57-63 Nov 2012
In the 18th century, critics grumbled about a new literary form that supposedly threatened the abilities of youth to distinguish between reality and artificiality. This form was the novel, one of the literary forms that critics now hold dearest. Currently, the graphic novel receives a great deal of criticism. Yet many teachers have shown how graphic novels can help energize students whose interests are hard to capture, can aid low-level and nonnative English-speaking readers through the twinning of words with images, and can challenge higher-level readers to expand their analytical skills to include consideration of visual elements. The author hopes that teachers consider graphic novels for inclusion into their classrooms, but before they do so, teachers need to consider carefully the criticism that they are likely to face. By setting forth these potential criticisms, the author aims to help prepare teachers to counter these criticisms successfully so that they have at their disposal a uniquely useful body of literature. (Contains 1 figure and 1 note.)
Descriptors: Language Arts, Novels, Teaching Methods, Cartoons, Student Motivation, English (Second Language), Literature, Student Interests, Art
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A