The Graphic Novel in High School

     Bringing the Graphic novel into school seems like no easy task, but yet according to the selections of articles for this weeks readings appears very beneficial.  The first task at hand is learning exactly what a graphic novel is.  One of the articles defined a graphic novel to be a comic book that bind and consisting of more than 50 something pages where as another article defined it as comic consisting of a more complex plot.  Before one can bring a graphic novel into the classroom I think that it would be wise to learn a bit of what separates a graphic novel from the all to familiar comic book.  I thought to do a little research of my own to see how other sources and one definition that I found I felt fit best to describe a graphic novel and what separates it from the comic book is simply the novel that is put into comic book strip format and can stand alone rather than as series like the comic book.

     I would love to introduce this into the high school level but I would introduce the graphic novel through the history which correlates greatly with pop-culture, especially with lots of graphic novels and comics being produced into high budget films.  McTaggart brings about not only the benefits of the graphic novel in the classroom but also lists and gives some examples of graphic novels that have been used in the classroom as well as some sources to use when considering integrating the graphic novel into the classroom for beginners.  One of the key points that he makes is how the graphic novel benefits students of all levels from those who do not like to read to those who read on a daily basis.  He explains that the graphic novel can help struggling readers connect words and pictures, help students who can read to want to read, and challenge the readers at a different level. 

     The other readings as well as McTaggart explore the benefits of bringing the graphic novel into schools and offer sources and lists of graphic novels that can be used to explore different content areas.  I especially love the suggestions as to how to bring about teaching the graphic novel into the classroom and how to have it approved by the principle, fellow teachers, and parents since the graphic novel is still fairly new and may not be easy to convince others of its benefits.  I realize that if i plan on trying to incorporate the graphic novel somehow next semester while student teaching I have a lot of research and reading ahead of me.  I'm familiar with the comic book and have read a few myself by the graphic novel is an entire new playing field.