I do believe there are multiple literacies, and the graphic novel is one of them! I think our society is changing very rapidly, and graphic novels do fit into that change. Graphic novels also do have higher level vocabulary words than regular young adult fiction. So it is nice to see reluctant and struggling readers read something that not only are they interested in, but will be exposed to higher vocabulary. Too often, struggling readers are kept in low level books and never see higher level text. Graphic novels are one way they can access higher levels.
I don't think reading graphic novels or IMs can be considered "semi-literate" it is just a different form of literacy. On 11/6/06, Bill IVEY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi! > > While at NMSA, I came across an article in the "Wall Street Journal" by > Meghan Cox Gurdon. In it, she reports that "for the first time in the > history of the National Book Wards (...) a graphic novel - a story told > through a series of drawn panels, with bubble dialogue and little or no > narrative text - has been nominated in any category." The book, by the > way, is a young-adult book - "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang. > > I inadvertently recycled the article before coming home, but as I remember > it Mrs. Gurdon had seriously mixed feelings about the graphic novel > format. On the one hand, she was applauding its ability to get some kids > interested in reading who may never have enjoyed reading before, and noted > the historical and cultural connection with the TinTin and Asterix books > from France. On the other hand, she seemed to be worried that TV and video > games are already making for a generation less inclined to the kind of > deep thought that comes from spending time with more complicated text, and > that we might be creating a generation of semi-literate readers who may > never feel the desire to pick and up and appreciate a traditional book. (I > wish I could quote her exactly - sorry!) > > So I wanted to put those ideas out there and see what was on your minds - > thoughts, hopes, concerns, questions. > > Have a great week! > > Take care, > Bill Ivey > Stoneleigh-Burnham School > > > _______________________________________________ > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive > -- - Heather "The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall; nations perish; civilizations grow old and die out; new races build others. But in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen again and again and yet live on. Still young, still as fresh as the day they were written, still telling men's hearts of the hearts of men centuries dead." --Clarence Day "While the rhetoric is highly effective, remarkably little good evidence exists that there's any educational substance behind the accountability and testing movement." —Peter Sacks, Standardized Minds "When our children fail competency tests the schools lose funding. When our missiles fail tests, we increase funding. " —Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Presidential Candidate _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
