Knowledge and Skills Statement
Provide small groups with several texts that include print and graphic features. Task students with analyzing the print and graphic features in the texts. Have students discuss the purpose of each print or graphic feature and how they support comprehension of the overall text.
Notes:
- Consider providing a list of print and graphic features for students to look for. The list might include print features, such as captions, subheadings, and bold print, and graphic features such as photographs, illustrations, timelines, and graphs.
- A teacher may wish to provide a few texts for each pair so they can see a variety of different graphic features.
Further Explanation
For this SE students are expected to analyze how an author purposely uses print and graphic features to enhance the reader’s understanding of the text.
Research
1. Dallacqua, A. K. (2012). Exploring literary devices in graphic novels. Language Arts, 89(6), 365-378. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ981296
Summary: This article presents an innovative approach to exploring literary devices by using comics. The study emphasizes the importance of multimodality, especially as it related to visual literacy. Multiple online resources and definitions are included. The article includes the multiple uses of graphic novels as part of a Reading and English Language Arts class.
2. Pantaeo, S. (2015). Language, literacy and visual texts. English in Education, 49(2). doi:10.1111/eie.12053
Summary: This study examines the use of visual design and images on students' comprehension, interpretation, analysis and creation of the students' own images. This article is based on multimodality, specifically visual literacy. The teacher examines the students' response to visual elements of art and design and use the text-based responses to the images.