Blog 6 (Amreena Khan)

Part 1

I chose to read the article The Case for Graphic Novels in Education. I think this is a great article explaining the importance of graphic novels. Being not only an entertainment but how graphic novels have a vast range of themes and can create a great experience with art and words together. For a very long period, comics were considered as a medium for laugh and enjoyment having no link with education but graphic novels and their teachings have brought a new light to education. Graphic novels urge the reader to dive deep in the story giving a clear understanding of actions and emotions and how this art communicates. I found this article to be very useful due to the example novels and activities provided for discussion in different classroom settings. These activities help identify how graphic novels work and can be very useful. There are activities on depicting emotions and action, translating a scene, and telling a story without words.  This is a great resource and I would use its ideas to create activities with graphic novels in my classroom.

Part 2

Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole all her life. When she visits a roller derby bout with her mother she sparks interest for it and signs up for roller derby camp. Her friend is interested in dance so she signs up for dance camp. This is where their paths go in different directions and Astrid’s journey begins with derby camp. She struggles to keep up with other participants at the camp, keeping her friendship with Nicole and making new friends. As the summer comes to an end and her derby bout comes closer she learns that she is capable of roller derby, and is strong enough to lose/make friendships.The words and pictures in this novel are mostly relatable giving the same information although the pictures give up better expressions, reactions, and emotions. They show to the extent the action is taken. I think this is a great graphic novel and I really enjoyed reading it as well as the art and expression in the pictures that are created to describe the text.