Katie Lee There is an ongoing debate on how children should be engaged in learning. Some educators believe that playing games can do the trick, whereas others think otherwise. One particular way of catching the attention of students is to use comic books in the classroom. Comic books should be used as a teaching tool because they can motivate reluctant readers and build vocabulary. First, comic books should be used to teach because they can encourage reluctant readers. They are perfect for those who struggle to read past huge blocks of traditional text and those who cannot sit still. The fast-paced stories featured in comic books can keep them on their toes. Moreover, there are many different genres for readers to explore, such as sci-fi, teenage romance, and thriller. Furthermore, comic books have vibrant characters and great imagination. To illustrate, most readers do not want to part from a book that draws the account of Batman’s action-packed life because of their curiosity of what could happen next. As comic books are able to help readers stay motivated, they should be used as a teaching tool. Next, increasing vocabulary is another reason why comic books should be used to teach. First of all, the visuals can lower the difficulty of learning new words. Also, according to Cunningham and Stanovich’s research, “[c]hildren’s books have 50 percent more rare words in them than adult prime-time television and the conversations of college graduates.” The words may not be used frequently in conversation, but they can still contribute to verbal skills. Thus, comic books should be used in class because they can allow readers to expand their knowledge. Some people argue that comic books are inappropriate and far from educational, but actually, they are not. Contrary to popular belief, comic books can actually give their readers new information that ranges from history to science. Although there are many benefits of reading a comic book, the majority of parents and teachers refuse to acknowledge its advantages and continue to believe that comic books are bad for their children. This prejudice against comic books should not exist because they can prove to be great teaching tools; people must remember that teaching tools should not be limited to traditional textbooks only. | 