Graphic novels in the classroom

Graphic novels were not something I was introduced to, and actually read, until last Spring in one of my English classes. As a lover of classic literature, I wasn’t sure how comics fit into a serious English scholars’ library. However, it was no surprise when my prospective of graphic novels changed as so many opinions do throughout one’s college years.

The first graphic novel that was introduced into my arsenal of books was the autobiography Persepolis. In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi writes about her childhood in Iran and the effects the Islamic revolution played in her life. This book not only helped me learn more about the Islamic revolution but also opened my mind when it came to integrating graphic novels into ones library and into the classroom.

Graphic novels can be used for a wide variety of reasons, all of which I believe are beneficial to secondary students. Students with learning disabilities or those who speak English as a second language might have an easier time reading if they have pictures to associate with the text or could help them understand the scenario better. Also, students who have no trouble reading but just have a distaste for reading in general, especially when it comes to classic literature, graphic novels could help introduce the text in a way that interests them more. Students who enjoy reading and have no problems diving into the world of classic literature can also appreciate graphic novels that are adaptations of classic literature or even just their own creation as a new type of reading.

All in all, I believe that graphic novels are beneficial to a wide variety of students and should be more frequently included in secondary classrooms. Graphic novels help level the playing field for students with all ability levels and introduce a new and exciting way of reading literature.