Graphic Novels – Rob Hopkins

1. Overall, the two scholars pinpoint the overall goal of teaching English, and more specifically literacy. Using a genre of comic books, both scholars were able to energize the classroom experience and change the attitude of approaching the concepts of literacy. It enables students to expand critical thinking and analytical skills by questioning the judgments of who tells them what literacy merit is. Teachers have a specific role in literacy identity. The introduction of comics utilize cultural literacy concepts that can also “address mature subject matter…autobiographical, fiction and nonfiction.” They can “literally put a human face on a given subject” making it more relatable and exciting for middle and highschool English, often sparking a drive to expand their interest in reading.

2. Reading the graphic novel series was defiantly more strange, but I found it vary useful to open my mind to what literacy really stands for. I know when I was in elementary school going into middle school, graphic novels and comics were my favorite things to read, even though my parents weren’t always supportive. I understand how critically important it is for the use of variety when it comes to diversifying the range of literature in the classroom. I will most defiantly be using graphic novels, dramas, and comics in my classroom to promote the educational outcome of my students.