The Incredible Benefits of Graphic Novels and Visual-Based Storytelling
Comics, manga, visual stories–they come in a variety shapes, sizes, and names. Graphic novels are a popular form of literature that combine text and images to tell a story. They have been around for centuries, but they have only recently become a recognized form of literature. In the past, graphic novels were often dismissed as being juvenile or low-brow, but this is no longer the case. Graphic novels are now widely accepted as a legitimate form of literature, and they are being used in schools and libraries to teach a variety of subjects.
Graphic novels have not been traditionally used for education, but it is time we understand and accept the learning benefits of utilizing graphic novels and visual-based storytelling in the classroom. First, they are visually appealing, which can help to engage students and keep them interested in the material. Second, graphic novels can be used to teach a variety of subjects. Third, graphic novels can help students to develop students' literacy skills, such as reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking.
As much as teachers would love for this to be untrue, the fact of the matter is many students do not like reading. One of the most important benefits of using graphic novels in the classroom is that they can help to engage students who are struggling with traditional forms of literature. Many students who find traditional novels to be boring or difficult can find graphic novels to be much more accessible. This is because graphic novels use a variety of techniques to capture the reader's attention, such as strong visuals, action sequences, and humor. Being able to see the action and characters and not having to conjure up the images in the mind can make reading much more enjoyable for reluctant readers.
Graphic novels are not just applicable in English class to get students to read. In social studies or history, graphic novels can be used to teach students about historical events, historical figures, and different cultures and perspectives. For example, the graphic novel "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi tells the story of a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. This graphic novel can help students to understand the challenges and experiences of people living in a different culture.
Political comics are a type of short form visual-based storytelling that can be used to teach students about current events and social issues. These comics often use humor and satire to make their points. For example, the political comic "Doonesbury" by Garry Trudeau has been running for over 50 years. This comic has been used to teach students about a variety of social issues, such as the Vietnam War, the AIDS epidemic, and the Iraq War.
In science, graphic novels can be used to teach students about scientific concepts, anatomy, and about prominent scientists. For example, the graphic novel "The Stuff of Life" by Hope Jahren tells the story of a scientist who studies the science of plants. This graphic novel can help students to understand the importance of plants and the science behind them.
Throughout science textbooks there are many images so students can visualize what they are learning about. Textbooks do not qualify as graphic novels, but they do show the importance of graphics in learning. Without having access to images and graphics, many fields of science would be extremely difficult to learn. Using a graphic novel to teach a scientific concept is a great way to keep students engaged and learn effectively.
Graphic novels are not necessarily used in math, bust visual-based storytelling is. When kids are first learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division visuals are used to show what is happening to quantities and how to visualize how they are changing. Throughout all of the different grades, students create graphs in math class. This is an example of visual-based storytelling. We use graphs to analyze the change in variables and without them the field of mathematics would be very limiting.
In addition to engaging students in various school subjects, graphic novels can also help to improve students' literacy skills. Graphic novels can help students to develop their reading comprehension skills by providing them with multiple ways to access the text. For example, students can learn about the characters and plot by reading the text, but they can also learn by looking at the images. This can help students to develop a deeper understanding of the text.
Graphic novels can also help students to develop their vocabulary skills. The images in graphic novels can provide students with visual representations of words, which can help them to remember the meaning of those words. In addition, graphic novels often use a variety of literary devices, such as metaphors and similes, which can help students to expand their vocabulary.
Finally, graphic novels can help students to develop their critical thinking skills. Graphic novels often present complex issues in a way that is easy for students to understand. This can help students to learn how to think critically about these issues and to form their own opinions.
The benefits of graphic novels don't just end there. There are several things students can learn from graphic novels that were not mentioned above:
- Graphic novels can help students to develop their creativity and imagination. The combination of text and images can help students to think outside the box and to come up with new ideas.
- Graphic novels can help students to develop their empathy and understanding of others. Graphic novels often explore complex emotions and relationships, which can help students to develop empathy for others.
- Graphic novels can help students to develop their writing skills. Graphic novels can help students to develop their writing skills by providing them with a model of how to tell a story through text and images.
If you are interested in using graphic novels in your classroom, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it is important to choose graphic novels that are appropriate for your students' age and interests. Second, it is important to provide students with opportunities to discuss the graphic novels they read. This can be done through class discussions, group work, or individual writing assignments. Finally, it is important to be flexible and willing to experiment with different ways of using graphic novels and visuals in the classroom.
Find ways to add visuals to all of your lessons to make the content you are teaching students clearer. There is no one right way to use graphic novels and visual-based storytelling, so find what works best for you and your students.
