Reading Process Comparison between Graphic Novel and Traditional Novels

Abstract

Through this study, I examined how readers use different reading process when reading a graphic novel and traditional novel. The guiding question for the study was how does the process differ when reading a graphic novel when compared to a traditional novel? This research is a qualitative study of one student’s processing while reading a graphic novel compared to a traditional novel through the use of verbal protocols of reading. While reading both the graphic novel and traditional novel the subject used a variety of strategies such as visual cues, inferring, predicting, connecting, questioning, author’s style and rereading. Based on the finding, one major conclusion can be drawn: if teachers are going to use graphic novels with their students, students will need specific instruction on how to read a graphic novel.