Diego Trujillo Teacher Inquiry Project Article Summary and Response #2

Diego Trujillo Teacher Inquiry Project Article Summary and Response #2 EDUC 463 11-22-10

This article seems custom made for my topic as the author shares many of my views on the subject of the potential of graphic novels in the classroom. In particular, the author mentions several texts that I have had no experience with and am eager to include in my yearlong plan. American civil rights are a critical part of my classroom vision and the inclusion of a graphic novel that fits in with the subject matter is exhilarating to me. What if the original Captain America was one of the Tuskegee airmen?

Carter, James Bucky. “Transforming English with Graphic Novels: Moving toward Our ‘Optimus Prime’.” English Journal (2007): 49-52. Print.

Carter is a teacher from my generation and is looking back on his childhood to make connections to his students today. Throughout his article Carter makes solid observations about the hope and excitement surrounding the use of graphic novels in the classroom. Carter talks about his own college class and how his use of Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 1: Power and Responsibility has been received by his students enthusiastically as well as critically. Carter explains how the coming of age of a pop culture icon is just as effective as any other work on the subject and his students connect to it rapidly and how it fosters class discussion. The most interesting part of the article comes when the discussion turns to how graphic novels can help struggling students at the public school level. Carter mentions two teachers, Michael Smith and Jeffrey Wilhelm, who have found that graphic novels get male readers to respond and connect with the text in a way that they refuse to do with any other type of text. This allows struggling readers to display their skill and enjoy what they are doing in school instead of making the effort into an arduous slog. Japanese graphic novels, or Manga, are also mentioned. Carter says that Manga seems to resonate with female readers the most and tackle the same kinds of issues that more contemporary graphic novels do. Keeping students of both genders interested is extremely important and knowing that gives teachers precious options for struggling students.