With fast-paced action, powerful images, and dramatic plots that feature heroic adventures, contemporary comic books address themes that are important to young adults, including issues of acceptance, nonconformity, prejudice, social injustice, coming of age, triumph over adversity, and personal growth. In comic books, adolescents can explore current and historical events, legends and tall tales, mythology, and visual versions of classic novels and dramas. Some comics are even designed to raise social consciousness and interest in issues such as famine relief and environmental preservation, while others have anti-drug or sex education themes. While some young adults may turn to comics to find familiar characters and cultural icons such as Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man, others are simply looking to enjoy a good story.
Many educators have discovered that they can interest reluctant readers by including comic books in libraries and on reading lists. In addition, comic books appeal to many poor readers and visual learners because, in comics, readers are expected to apply different “reading” skills. No longer following a single line of text, the reader must let the pictures direct the reading. Comics can also help adolescents develop their language arts skills and expand their vocabularies while conveying educational messages and serving as a bridge to other types of literature.
© ______ 2006, Allyn & Bacon, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The reproduction, duplication, or distribution of this material by any means including but not limited to email and blogs is strictly prohibited without the explicit permission of the publisher.
Ask a Question
Have questions about this article or topic? AskToday on Education.com
HOME COOKING
10 Ways to Spice Up Your Barbecue
CELEBRATION
Happy Graduation
WORKBOOKS
New Workbooks Are Here!
Local SAT & ACT Classes
Popular Articles
- 20 Great Graduation Quotes
- Examining Possible Causes of ADHD
- Can Inventiveness Be Taught?
- What Do Test Scores Really Say About a School?
- Great Gifts for Middle School Grads
- Unraveling the Mystery of the Allergy Epidemic
- 9 Ways to Encourage Early Literacy
- Ten Great High School Graduation Gifts
- Is High-Stakes Testing Cheating Your Kid?
- Picky Eaters: Tips for Tackling and Myths Debunked
Add your own comment