Graphic Novels- Evaluation Criteria
Critical readers must evaluate the format of a graphic novel, to ensure that readers are able to follow and comprehend the story effortlessly. Griffith (2010) provides the following questions to guide educators’ evaluation:
1. Does the graphic novel have an interesting cover that correctly depicts the content?
2. Are the illustrations arranged in a way that readers can easily follow the sequence?
3. Do the gutters aid comprehension or distract the reader?
4. Is the text clearly readable with an appropriate font and font size?
5. Does the white space between the text, frames, and illustrations help readers move through the book, or are the pages too busy?
6. Is there a glossary to assist with vocabulary in nonfiction graphic novels?
7. Is there a table of contents or index to help readers locate information in non-fiction graphic novels?
1. Does the graphic novel have an interesting cover that correctly depicts the content?
2. Are the illustrations arranged in a way that readers can easily follow the sequence?
3. Do the gutters aid comprehension or distract the reader?
4. Is the text clearly readable with an appropriate font and font size?
5. Does the white space between the text, frames, and illustrations help readers move through the book, or are the pages too busy?
6. Is there a glossary to assist with vocabulary in nonfiction graphic novels?
7. Is there a table of contents or index to help readers locate information in non-fiction graphic novels?
Graphic Novel Illustrations - Evaluation Criteria
The artistic content of the story contributes to reader comprehension; illustrations provide additional information and detail. Readers infer information, tone, and mood through the subtle and evident clues woven into the visual elements. Because of this, illustrations are equally important as text.
Griffith's (2010) criteria to evaluate the artistic elements of graphic novels:
1. Does the color palette aid the reader in understanding the tone and mood of the story?
2. Do the illustrations refine characterization by giving clues as to character emotion, mood, and personality?
3. Does the style of art fit the type of story or information in the novel or seem disjointed and out of place?
4. Has both positive space and negative space been used to create a visually pleasing effect?
5. Do the illustrations provide enough context and action to keep the reader moving through the story?
Griffith's (2010) criteria to evaluate the artistic elements of graphic novels:
1. Does the color palette aid the reader in understanding the tone and mood of the story?
2. Do the illustrations refine characterization by giving clues as to character emotion, mood, and personality?
3. Does the style of art fit the type of story or information in the novel or seem disjointed and out of place?
4. Has both positive space and negative space been used to create a visually pleasing effect?
5. Do the illustrations provide enough context and action to keep the reader moving through the story?
Graphic Novel Content - Evaluation Criteria
Lastly, the content of the graphic novel must be evaluated, as graphic novels should contain all the literary elements we expect from great fiction and non-fiction.
Fiction graphic novel criteria:
1. Does the graphic novel have three-dimensional characters with characteristics similar to your readers?
2. Does the graphic novel have themes relevant and important to your readers?
3. Is the conflict relevant and appropriate for your readers?
4. Are there age-appropriate moral, ethical, or political themes that resonate through the story?
5. Does the action keep your readers’ interest and motivate them to continue reading?
6. Is the climax realistic and true to the rising action?
7. Is the denouement satisfying as a culmination of narrative events?
8. Does the resolution bring the conflict to a satisfying end?
Non-fiction graphic novels require alternate criteria:
1. Does the content have a clear organization that aids reading comprehension?
2. Is the information interesting enough to keep readers actively engaged with the text?
3. Are there appealing charts, graphs, and other visual aids to help the readers understand the concepts?
4. Are there enough supporting details to explain or describe each main idea?
5. If the information is sequential, such as a how-to, are there enough steps so that the reader can replicate the process?
6. Is the content relevant and age-appropriate for the developmental level of your readers?
Fiction graphic novel criteria:
1. Does the graphic novel have three-dimensional characters with characteristics similar to your readers?
2. Does the graphic novel have themes relevant and important to your readers?
3. Is the conflict relevant and appropriate for your readers?
4. Are there age-appropriate moral, ethical, or political themes that resonate through the story?
5. Does the action keep your readers’ interest and motivate them to continue reading?
6. Is the climax realistic and true to the rising action?
7. Is the denouement satisfying as a culmination of narrative events?
8. Does the resolution bring the conflict to a satisfying end?
Non-fiction graphic novels require alternate criteria:
1. Does the content have a clear organization that aids reading comprehension?
2. Is the information interesting enough to keep readers actively engaged with the text?
3. Are there appealing charts, graphs, and other visual aids to help the readers understand the concepts?
4. Are there enough supporting details to explain or describe each main idea?
5. If the information is sequential, such as a how-to, are there enough steps so that the reader can replicate the process?
6. Is the content relevant and age-appropriate for the developmental level of your readers?