Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Genre Study

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

3, 4, 5

Overview

This lesson capitalizes on the popular appeal of comics by using them to introduce the concept of genre. Students begin by working in small groups to analyze differences and similarities among a selection of comics from a variety of subgenres. Based on their discussion, they determine what subgenres are represented and divide the comics accordingly. They then analyze the professional comics' uses of conventions such as layout and page design. Finally, they create their own comics using an online tool.

    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 3

    ELA21.3.33

    Write personal or fictional narratives with a logical plot (sequence of events), characters, transitions, and a sense of closure.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.3.33

    Vocabulary

    • Personal narrative
    • Fictional narrative
    • Logical plot
    • Sequence of events
    • Characters
    • Transitions
    • Closure

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • A personal narrative tells about an event that was personally experienced by the author, while a fictional narrative tells a made up story.
    • A narrative story describes a sequence of events in a logical order (beginning, middle, end) and provides a sense of closure as an ending.
    • A narrative story describes the actions, thoughts, and feelings of the characters.
    • Narrative transitions indicate when and where the story is occurring.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Write a personal narrative that recalls a personal experience or a fictional narrative with a made-up story.
    • Write a narrative with a logical sequence of events and details that describe how the characters feels, acts, and thinks.
    • Use appropriate transitions in narrative writing.
    • Write a narrative that ends with a sense of closure.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Narrative writing includes predictable elements, like a logical sequence of events and an ending that provides the reader with a sense of closure.
    • Because narrative writing describes a chronological sequence of events, it includes transitions that indicate the time and place in which the story is occurring.
    • Narrative writing can be used to tell about something that happened to them personally or it can tell a story they made up.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 4

    ELA21.4.35

    Write personal or fictional narratives using a logical plot, transitional words and phrases, sensory details, and dialogue, and providing a sense of closure.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.4.35

    Vocabulary

    • Personal narratives
    • Fictional narratives
    • Logical plot
    • Transitional words and phrases
    • Sensory details
    • Dialogue
    • Closure

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • A personal narrative tells about an event that was personally experienced by the author, while a fictional narrative tells a made up story.
    • A narrative story describes a sequence of events in a logical order (beginning, middle, end) and provides a sense of closure as an ending.
    • Narrative transitions indicate when and where the story is occurring.
    • Sensory details use descriptions of the five senses.
    • Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Write a personal narrative that recalls a personal experience or a fictional narrative with a made-up story.
    • Write a narrative with a logical sequence of events and sensory details.
    • Use appropriate transitional words and phrases in narrative writing.
    • Include dialogue in narrative writing.
    • Write a narrative that ends with a sense of closure.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Narrative writing includes predictable elements, like a logical sequence of events and an ending that provides the reader with a sense of closure.
    • Because narrative writing describes a chronological sequence of events, it includes transitions that indicate the time and place in which the story is occurring.
    • Narrative writing can be used to tell about something that happened to them personally or it can tell a story they made up.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 5

    ELA21.5.34

    Write personal or fictional narratives incorporating literary elements (characters, plot, setting, conflict), dialogue, strong voice, and clear event sequences.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.5.34

    Vocabulary

    • Personal narratives
    • Fictional narratives
    • Literary elements
    • Characters
    • Plot
    • Setting
    • Conflict
    • Dialogue
    • Voice
    • Event sequences

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
    • A personal narrative tells about an event that was personally experienced by the author, while a fictional narrative tells a made-up story.
    • A narrative story describes a sequence of plot events in a logical order (beginning, middle, end).
    • Narrative writing includes text elements, like characters, setting, and conflict.
    • Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters in a text.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Write a personal narrative that recalls a personal experience or a fictional narrative with a made-up story.
    • Write a narrative with a logical sequence of plot events.
    • Incorporate literary elements into their narrative writing, like characters, setting, and conflict.
    • Include dialogue in narrative writing.
    • Use a strong voice in writing by developing a personal writing style.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Narrative writing includes predictable elements, like a logical sequence of events and characters, setting, and conflict.
    • Incorporating dialogue between the characters can add details to their narrative writing.
    • Narrative writing can be used to tell about something that happened to them personally or it can tell a story they made up.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    ReadWriteThink
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom
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