SEQUENTIAL GRAFFITI
A COMIC LITERACY PROGRAM
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A 1992 survey by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics estimated that about 21 percent of the adult population - more than 40 million Americans over the age of 16 - had only rudimentary reading and writing skills. Most adults in this "level one" category could pick out key facts in a brief newspaper article, for example, but could not draft a letter explaining an error on their credit card bill. A subgroup in this category - representing roughly 4 percent of the total adult population, or about 8 million people was unable to perform even the simplest literacy tasks.
I believe that the main reason for these kinds of numbers stems not from ability but from appreciation. Young students are forced to read works that hold no interest, no excitement for them and because of this they grow to dread reading. Today when television and video games hold so much sway in their lives, books are passé and boring, at least most books will seem that way to today's youth. There is however, one type of book that marries the best of classic literature, video game animation and Hollywood action in one package and that would be the graphic or sequential novel or perhaps you know it as the "comic book".
Let's be realistic, youth literacy is nowhere near what it should be and regardless of any misconceptions held regarding comics, the simple fact is that Children that read comics, read. The ability to read is a major factor in an individual's quality of life as well as their personal sense of worth and well being.
With this in mind the goal of Sequential Graffiti: A Comic Literacy Program (SGACLP) is three fold. Through the use of comic literature and interaction with industry professionals, SGACLP proposes to:
1.To create an ongoing interest and enjoyment in reading.
2.To teach the basic tenets of critical reading.
3.To encourage readers to produce stories of their own.
In doing so SGACLP plans to foster increased sense of self worth and pride through both the increased ability to read and support of written projects by student participants. By giving these students a forum to share their stories and validating the worth of their efforts, I believe that we can truly make great inroads in this area.
Upon completion of the SGACLP tract, SGACLP plans to gather and publish these works in various formats to be made available for commercial sale. Any and all profits generated from these publications will be used for the purchase of more materials for the SGACLP as well as to fund satellite projects and/or scholarship/grant programs for students who wish to pursue a literary education beyond the secondary school level.
In addition to commercial sales of these projects SGACLP also plans to solicit support from private entities to aid in the purchase of program materials and cost of publication. It is hoped that this program will prove to be self sufficient in a short period of time.
Thank you for your interest.
Sincerely,
Robert "Comickaze" Scott
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"For my generation, it was the comic book that led directly to the printed page."
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Source and Reference:
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BOOKS:
The Power of Reading:
Insights from the Research
- Stephen Krashen
Every Person a Reader:
An Alternative to the California Task Force Report on Reading
- Stephen Krashen
Brainbomb:
Comics and Creativity for Kids
- Brian Clopper and others
SITES:
National Center for Education Statistics
1990 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
20006, USA, Phone: (202) 502-7300
1992 National Adult Literacy Survey
This is one in a series of reports that look at the results of the National Adult Literacy Survey, a project funded by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education
National Institute for Literacy
This page was developed by the team at NIFL and UUcom, Inc
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-0498
1-800-USA-LEARN
National Education Association (NEA)
1201 16th St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-833-4000
National School To Work Learning & Information Center
400 Virginia Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20024
T: 800-251-7236
F: 202-488-7395
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Last updated 10/2/2000