33rd Annual Student Research Conference
Using Graphic Novels to Teach Characterization in the Secondary English Classroom
Taylor L. Jokerst♦
Dr. Barbara Price, Dr. Summer Pennell, and Dr. Sarah Day, Faculty Mentors
The inclusion of graphic texts in secondary English classrooms has become very popular in recent years, and has been lauded as a miracle cure for reluctant readers. However, simply putting a graphic novel in front of a student does not make them more excited to read. In order for graphic texts to provide benefits, students must engage with the characters in the graphic novel in a way more meaningful way than traditional texts. During this case study, a group of freshmen high school students read one traditional text and one graphic text. After the completion of their novels, students wrote an essay in which they analyzed the theme of the works through character. By examining the differences in student engagement with characters, a better understanding of the best ways to utilize graphic texts in classrooms to improve student literacy is revealed.
Keywords: Graphic Texts, English Education, Characterization, Education, Memoir
Topic(s):English
Education
English MAE Intern
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA