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FAQ's |
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Comic Books & Graphic Novels |
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What's a comic? We all know! Right?
com.ics (kom'iks)n. plural in form, used with a singular verb. 1. Juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or produce an aesthetic response in the viewer. Scott McLeod |
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What's a graphic novel?
A
long story, usually in special format-bigger pages, hard
covers, better printing. "Graphic novels, if they're done well, have greater
complexity and scope than one-issue stories."
Dennis O'Neil
DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics |
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Are graphic novels explicit & vulgar? Are they childish?
As with any other format, from books to films, there are examples of graphic novels and comics that are childish as well as examples of the same that are explicit in terms of sexuality or violence.
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Comics & Graphic Novels offer a broad range of
subject matter from silly to serious just like any other format.
They are for everybody ! |
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You know your audience best, whether it's for your students or
for your own child.
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Each
of us have different sensibilities and will make different
judgments about what is appropriate.
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Assess comics and graphic novels as
you would any other
materials you choose.
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Are comic books funny? The short answer is...
sometimes!
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Do comic books and graphic novels
"The presence of comics in a junior
high school library resulted in a dramatic 82% increase in library traffic
and a 30% increase in circulation of non-comic books."
Larry
Dorell
Media Director at West Junior High School in Columbia, Missouri |
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"All students, not just those oriented to the traditional print medium of books, need to feel comfortable coming to the library to use whatever information sources will satisfy their needs."
Jane
Sparks
Christenberry Middle School of Knoxville, TN |
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"Visual communication is rich, evocative, and
immediate,
and transcends barriers that language sometimes raises. When
pictures and words are used together to communicate, the result can
be much greater than either alone could produce."
Elizabeth
B. Thomsen
100 Graphic Novels for Public Libraries |
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Graphic novels should be included in public libraries because they appeal
specifically to a largely reluctant patronage:
TEENAGERS!
Stephen Weiner
Creating a Graphic Novel Collection for the Public Library
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Are comic books just for boys and young men?
No! There is
growing body of comic books and graphic novels that appeal to people
of all ages and interests.
With
concerns in education that the literacy gap is widening between
girls and boys, books that get boys reading are essential.
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Are comic books and graphic novels a genre?
No! They are a format.
The comic book and graphic novel format encompasses
a wide variety of genres.
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From
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From... |
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in Larry Gonick's |
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through... of Jimmy Gownley's
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& Superheroes |
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Manga |
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Myths & Legends
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History
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to... |
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Art Speigelman's Pulitzer Prize Winning
Maus: A Survivor's Tale
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"In 1990, Art Spiegelman won
the Pulitzer Prize for Maus, signaling to the publishing mainstream what aficionados of the graphic novel had long known: Comic books
are a medium capable of exploring themes every bit as serious as those
studied by any prose novel."
Martin
Pedersen
"Comix at 100," Publishers Weekly, June 12, 1995 |
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Learning the Language |
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A
whole new way
of seeing!
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A Case For Comics & Graphic Novels
•Assist
Poor Readers
Comics and graphic novels are excellent tools for use with children and young adults with poor reading skills.
Connect
with Visual Learners
As educators become increasingly aware of the importance of different learning styles, it is clear that comic books can be a powerful tool for reaching visual learners.
•Develop
Strong Language Arts Skills
Several studies have shown that students who read comic books regularly have better vocabularies and are more likely to read above grade-level.
Convey
Educational Messages
Government agencies, the military, museums, and other nonprofit organizations have long used educational comics to reach general audiences.
•Stimulate Readers to Explore
Other Literature
Many comic book fans become avid book readers. Comics can stimulate interest in all types of fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, historical, etc.) as well as mythology, legends, and nonfiction.
Engage Adult Readers
The average age of American comic book readers is 25. Many readers who were avid fans as teenagers continue reading into adulthood, broadening their taste in comic book genres to reflect more mature interests.
Michael
R. Lavin @
Librarian & visiting instructor on the faculty of the Library and Information Studies, State University of New York at Buffalo |
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Curricular Connections Using graphic novels is a wonderful way to: • - engage kids in the viewing and representing ELA strand, • - Enhance Visual Literacy skills & • - Enrich any subject matter! |
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"Graphic Novels are a
powerful tool for conveying the literary experience to a generation of readers comfortable with television and computers." Scott McCloud "Comics & the Visual Revolution," Publishers Weekly, October 11, 1993 |
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That's All Folks! |
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