Lesson 4: Using Manga in the Classroom

What is manga?

Manga refers to a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels. It encompasses a wide range of genres and themes, from action-adventure and romance to science fiction and fantasy. Manga is typically serialized in magazines before being compiled into bound volumes known as tankōbon. The art style of manga often features distinctive characters with large, expressive eyes and dynamic action sequences.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, manga is "A style of Japanese comic book or graphic novel typically aimed at adults as well as children, characterized by strong characters and narratives and an emphasis on emotional depth and visual impact." It differs from American comics as it is recognized as a "form of mass entertainment, with an emphasis on strong characters and complex plots" (Schodt, n.d.).

How to use manga in the classroom?

Using manga in the classroom can be an engaging and effective way to enhance learning across various subjects. Here are some suggestions on how to incorporate manga into different educational settings:

1. Literature and Language Arts: Introduce manga adaptations of classic literature or original Japanese manga with English translations to supplement traditional texts. Analyze the themes, characters, and plot structures present in manga to deepen students' understanding of storytelling techniques.

2. History and Social Studies: Utilize historical manga that depict significant events or periods in Japanese history, such as the Meiji Restoration or World War II. Encourage students to compare and contrast the portrayal of historical events in manga with traditional textbooks, fostering critical thinking and historical analysis skills.

3. Language Learning: Integrate manga into language learning activities by providing bilingual manga or manga with furigana (phonetic annotations) to support students at different proficiency levels. Students can practice reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and cultural understanding through engaging manga narratives.

4. Art and Visual Literacy: Explore the artistic elements of manga, including character design, panel layout, and visual storytelling techniques. Encourage students to create their own manga panels or storyboards, fostering creativity and artistic expression while developing visual literacy skills.

5. Media Studies and Popular Culture: Examine the cultural significance of manga as a form of popular culture and mass media. Analyze the influence of manga on global entertainment industries, including film, television, and video games. Discuss topics such as manga fandom, cosplay, and manga's role in shaping contemporary youth culture.

6. Social and Emotional Learning: Use manga with relatable characters and themes to facilitate discussions about social and emotional issues such as friendship, identity, bullying, and mental health. Encourage students to empathize with the characters' experiences and reflect on their own emotions and relationships.

7. Cross-Curricular Connections: Integrate manga across multiple subject areas to create interdisciplinary learning experiences. For example, students can explore scientific concepts through manga genres like science fiction or delve into mathematical puzzles and logic problems presented in manga series.

When using manga in the classroom, it's important to select age-appropriate materials, provide cultural context as needed, and encourage respectful discussion and reflection. By harnessing the appeal of manga, educators can create dynamic and immersive learning experiences that cater to diverse student interests and learning styles.

Example Lesson for 7th Grade ELAR:

Grade Level: 7th Grade

Subject: English Language Arts

Lesson Duration: 2-3 Class Periods

Objective: Students will analyze and compare the themes, characters, and narrative elements in Volume 1 of two manga series, Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto and Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusanagi, to deepen their understanding of storytelling techniques and literary devices.

Materials Needed:

• Copies of Volume 1 of Naruto manga

• Copies of Volume 1 of Yona of the Dawn manga

• Chart paper or whiteboard

• Writing utensils

• Graphic organizers (optional)

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) addressed:

• 7.3 Reading/Vocabulary Development. Students understand new vocabulary and use it correctly when reading and writing.

• 7.6 Reading/Media Literacy. Students use comprehension skills to analyze how words, images, graphics and sounds work together in various forms to impact meaning.

• 7.9 Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Theme and Genre. Students analyze, make inferences, and draw conclusions about theme and genre in different cultural, historical, and contemporary contexts and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.

Procedure:

Day 1: Introduction to Manga and Series Overview

1. Opening Activity (15 minutes): Begin the lesson by asking students about their familiarity with manga and their favorite manga series. Discuss the characteristics of manga, such as visual storytelling, panel layout, and recurring themes.

2. Introduction to Naruto and Yona of the Dawn (20 minutes): Provide an overview of the two manga series, Naruto and Yona of the Dawn, focusing on Volume 1. Discuss the premise, main characters, and central themes of each series. Show images or book covers from Volume 1 to help students visualize the characters and setting.

3. Guided Reading (30 minutes): Divide the class into small groups and distribute copies of Volume 1 of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn. Instruct students to read the first chapters closely, paying attention to character introductions, setting establishment, and initial plot development.

4. Group Discussion (15 minutes): Reconvene as a class and facilitate a discussion about Volume 1 of each manga series. Encourage students to share their observations, reactions, and questions about the characters and storyline.

Day 2: Analyzing Themes and Literary Devices

1. Review (10 minutes): Begin the lesson by reviewing the main characters and plot points from Volume 1 of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn discussed in the previous class.

2. Theme Analysis (30 minutes): Introduce the concept of theme in literature and explain how authors convey themes through characters, plot, and symbols. Using chart paper or a whiteboard, create a T-chart with the titles "Themes in Naruto Vol. 1" and "Themes in Yona of the Dawn Vol. 1." Ask students to brainstorm and record common themes present in each manga series.

3. Character Analysis (30 minutes): Discuss the main characters in Volume 1 of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn, focusing on their introductions, personalities, and initial character development. Have students choose one character from each series and complete a character analysis graphic organizer, identifying traits, actions, and relationships.

4. Literary Device Exploration (20 minutes): Introduce common literary devices used in manga, such as foreshadowing, flashback, and symbolism. Provide examples from Volume 1 of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn, and discuss how these devices enhance the storytelling and convey deeper meanings.

Day 3: Comparing and Reflecting

1. Comparative Analysis (30 minutes): Divide students into pairs or small groups and assign them to compare and contrast Volume 1 of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn based on themes, characters, and narrative elements. Encourage students to support their comparisons with evidence from the text and illustrations.

2. Group Presentations (30 minutes): Have each group present their comparative analysis to the class, highlighting similarities and differences between the two manga series in Volume 1. Facilitate a discussion following each presentation, allowing students to ask questions and share their insights.

3. Reflective Writing (20 minutes): Ask students to individually reflect on their experience reading and analyzing Volume 1 of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn. Prompt them to consider how the themes and characters resonate with their own lives and experiences. Students can write a short reflection or create a visual response, such as a comic strip or character portrait.

4. Closing Discussion (10 minutes): Conclude the lesson by discussing the impact of manga on storytelling and literature, as well as the value of comparing different works within the same genre. Encourage students to continue exploring manga and other forms of literature that interest them.

Assessment: Assess students' understanding through their participation in group discussions, completion of graphic organizers, comparative analysis presentations, and reflective writing assignments. Evaluate their ability to analyze themes, characters, and literary devices in Volume 1 of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn, as well as their critical thinking and communication skills.

How to scaffold down or up depending on the grade level:

Scaffolding can be adjusted to meet the needs of students at different grade levels, whether it's to simplify the content for younger students or add complexity for older students. Here's how the lesson plan could be scaffolded:

Scaffolding Down (Lower Grade Levels):

1. Simplify Vocabulary: For younger students, simplify the vocabulary used in the discussion and reading materials. Provide definitions for key terms related to manga, such as "panel," "character," and "plot."

2. Use Visual Aids: Incorporate more visual aids, such as character posters or simplified diagrams of panel layouts, to help younger students understand the structure of manga and identify key elements.

3. Provide Guided Questions: Instead of open-ended discussion prompts, provide guided questions to help students focus their analysis. For example, ask students to identify the main characters and describe their appearance and actions in Volume 1 of each manga series.

4. Shorten Reading Assignments: Break down the reading assignments into shorter excerpts or chapters to accommodate shorter attention spans and reading abilities.

5. Modeling and Think-Alouds: Model the process of analyzing manga by thinking aloud while reading aloud selected excerpts. Demonstrate how to identify characters, understand their emotions, and interpret visual cues.

6. Group Support: Provide additional support by assigning students to mixed-ability groups where stronger readers can support and scaffold understanding for struggling readers.

Scaffolding Up (Higher Grade Levels):

1. Complex Vocabulary and Literary Devices: Introduce more complex vocabulary related to literary analysis and literary devices used in manga, such as "metaphor," "irony," and "suspense." Challenge students to identify and analyze these devices in Volume 1 of each manga series.

2. Extended Writing Assignments: Instead of short reflections, assign longer writing assignments, such as analytical essays or character analyses, where students can delve deeper into the themes and characters of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn.

3. Independent Research Projects: Encourage students to conduct independent research projects on topics related to manga, such as the history of manga, influential manga artists, or cultural influences on manga storytelling.

4. Advanced Comparative Analysis: Challenge students to conduct a more in-depth comparative analysis of Naruto and Yona of the Dawn, exploring not only themes and characters but also narrative structure, art style, and cultural context.

5. Creative Expression: Provide opportunities for students to create their own manga panels or short manga stories, applying their understanding of storytelling techniques and artistic elements.

6. Cross-Curricular Connections: Integrate other subject areas, such as history, sociology, or psychology, into the analysis of manga themes and characters, allowing students to explore connections between manga and broader academic disciplines.

By scaffolding the lesson up or down, educators can ensure that all students are appropriately challenged and supported in their learning, regardless of their grade level or prior knowledge of manga.