How to Use Graphic Novels in the High School Classroom
Graphic novels are a fairly untapped genre when it comes to instructional materials for a high school classroom. They can be used across the curriculum and are gaining popularity with educators. Many teachers would like to use them but just don't know where to start. There are several ways that you can incorporate graphic novels into your classroom instruction.
Instructions
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Ease into graphic novels by using them as complements for what you're already doing. There are great modern adaptations of Shakespeare's plays in the form of graphic novels, as well as illustrated original text versions. Additionally, a comic such as "Bone" explores the heroic identity and the journey of the hero. It works well as a comparison piece to "The Odyssey," "The Lord of the Rings" and "Harry Potter."
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Start small. Use a frame from a graphic novel in which the scene or face is very obvious. Have the students analyze the tone in the frame by looking at the visual clues. Next, ask them to fill in the words for the frame in the speech bubble you've whited out. Use these as first lines for stories or just exercises in dialog writing and tone. You can expand later by using a strip or even a page and having students write the scene.
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Use them in science classes. Often, graphic novels are quite imaginative and fall into the genre of science fiction. All good science fiction has its basis in scientific fact that has been stretched or challenged by the writer's imagination. Using science fiction to open up discussions about basic scientific principles can be powerful. Moreover, students realizing that science teachers read too can have a huge impact. The graphic novel "Dignifying Science" covers the lives of female scientist who made profound contributions in their fields. So, if science fiction isn't your thing, perhaps science history is.
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Teach major historical events by using comic books. The Holocaust and the Rwanda genocide are both topics in graphic novels such as "Maus" and "Deogratias." Both books have units available online.
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Be careful and choose wisely. You know the culture of your school best. At some schools, the introduction of a graphic novel won't pose a problem, and likely you'll be praised for your progressive teaching tactics. In other districts, it may cause the parents to round up pitchforks and torches and meet you in the parking lot after the last bell rings. However, with Scholastic embracing graphic novels it will soon be easier for teachers nationwide to utilize this unfairly ignored genre.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider asking the art teacher to do a multi-disciplinary unit with graphic novels. You can read one in English class and have students write and illustrate their own while they study graphic novel illustration in art. Even better, do the writing in English and the illustrating in art, and read the novel in science or social studies.
Graphic novels such as "Maus" and "Deogratias" can be intense. You may want to excerpt these or get parent permission before teaching them in their entirety.
Always check with your administration before you introduce a graphic novel into your classroom. Not only can they be controversial, but they can also be pricey.
