2.1 What is a Graphic Novel
2.1 What is a Graphic Novel
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Explain what a graphic novel is and identify its characteristics
Explain what a graphic novel is and identify its characteristics
Introduction
Imagine stepping into a world where pictures come to life and stories take you on exciting journeys. That's what graphic novels are all about!
They are books that use colourful drawings to tell amazing tales. With every page you turn, you will discover a new adventure filled with bright colours, big emotions, and lots of fun. From superheroes to realistic fiction, graphic novels have something for everyone. Whether you have read lots of graphic novels before or you are just starting, get ready to explore a whole new way of enjoying stories that are as colourful as a rainbow and as exciting as a rollercoaster ride!
A. What is a Graphic Novel?
Graphic novels are book-length comics in which the entire story is told through sequential graphics (pictures). They cover a wide range of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and more.
Graphic novels are a subgenre of comics. It follows the format that is usually the same as comics1.
Fig 1.1: Examples of popular graphic novels.
B. What are the Features of a Graphic Novel?
C. What is a Comic Book?
A comic book serves as a visual medium that allows the author to narrate a story through a series of images.
Fig 1.2: Examples of popular graphic novels.
D. How Is a Graphic Novel Different from a Comic?
To learn about the difference between a graphic novel and a comic, watch the video below:
Vid 1.1: Graphic Novels vs. Comic Books3
E. Why do graphic novels play a vital role in our education, and what makes them so popular among learners?
We read graphic novels in school because they offer a unique and powerful way to enhance our reading and learning experience.
1. Engaging Visuals: Graphic novels are popular because they combine illustrations with stories, making reading more fun. The pictures help us better understand the plot and characters, making the stories come alive in our imaginations.
2. Improved Reading Comprehension: Reading graphic novels helps us understand stories better because we look at both words and pictures, making it easier to know what's happening and how characters feel. This makes us more confident readers.
3. Exploring Many Genres: These exciting books introduce us to a wide variety of genres and stories. From thrilling adventures to heartwarming tales, graphic novels take us on an incredible journey.
4. Encouraging Creativity: Reading graphic novels helps us use our imagination and think carefully about the pictures and words, which makes us more creative and better at understanding stories. We see how art and words work together to tell exciting tales!
F. What are the Elements of a Graphic Novel?
Let us look at the different elements that make the graphic books visually interesting4.
G. How To Read a Graphic Novel?
Please Note: In this unit, we will be reading a shorter version of a graphic novel.
H. Let Us Read a Graphic Story
Thunderbolt Kids U1.pdf-1-22.pdfGlossary
Glossary
Graphic: visuals/pictures
Fiction: A made up story, written to entertain the reader with a beginning, middle and end
Nonfiction: True facts and details, written to inform and teach the reader
Subgenre: A subcategory of a bigger genre
Summary:
Summary:
Graphic novels are book-length comics in which the entire story is told through sequential graphics.
The features of a graphic novel include:
a narrative presented in frames or panels
plot of the story that comprises a beginning, middle, and end
a series/sequence of illustrations
speech bubbles that contains dialogue
A comic book serves as a visual medium that allows the author to narrate a story through a series of images.
Elements of a graphic novel include:
Panel: a single drawing depicting a specific moment in a comic; generally contained within a square or rectangular frame
Frame: the edge or outline border of a specific panel in a comic
Narrative box: a rectangle or square, often at the top or bottom of a panel, in which the narrator of a comic shares information with readers
Gutter: the space between panels in a comic
Thought bubbles: a (generally) cloud-shaped outline within a comic panel that contains a character's unspoken thoughts
Speech bubbles: a (generally) circular or oval outline within a comic panel that contains a character's dialogue and indicates who is speaking
Splash Page: a comic book page that is mostly or entirely taken up by a single image or panel
References
1 A Guide to Using Graphic Novels with Children and Teens. Scholastic (2018) (link)
2 What is a Graphic Novel? The Bespectacled Librarian (2022) (link)
3 Graphic Novels vs. Comic Books. Barnes & Noble (2018) (link)
4 Opposite Land. Penguin Books Australia (2017) (link)
5 Interesting Facts about Manga. KCP International (n.d.) (link)
6 The Difference Between Comic Books and Graphic Novels. Book Written (2023) (link)
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