Smile: A Graphic Novel

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are some differences between graphic novels, novels, and comic books?

Teaching Suggestion: Ask students to share their favorite of the three formats and explain why they like their choices. Provide examples of each format to facilitate discussion.

• This Scholastic Video explains what graphic novels are and why they’re important for readers.
• This article from Andrews McMeel Publishing describes the differences between comics, graphic novels, and illustrated novels.

2. What is an autobiography and how is it different from other forms of writing?

Teaching Suggestion: Read aloud sentences or phrases that describe autobiographies and biographies (e.g., “This type of text is written in first person”). Have students indicate which type of text the phrase describes by moving to a designated area in the classroom labeled either “Biography” or “Autobiography.”

• Autobiography article from Britannica Kids – explains the origins of autobiographies
• Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir from Blurb Books – delves into the biases in autobiographies, points of view, and more

Short Activity [optional]