An Inquiry Based Approach for Using Comic Based Stories to Teach Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (Hollywood or History?)

This book illustrates the belief that film can serve as a powerful tool in the social studies classroom and, where appropriately utilized, foster critical thinking and civic mindedness. The NCSS College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) framework represents a renewed and formalized emphasis on the perennial social studies goals of deep thinking, reading, and writing.

An Inquiry Based Approach for Using Comic Based Stories to Teach Liberal Arts and Social Sciences offers a collection of classroom-ready tools based on the Hollywood or History? strategy and is designed to foster inquiry through the careful use of selected motion pictures and television productions. The book seeks to overcome the many challenges that accompany classroom applications of Hollywood motion pictures. It recognizes that ― despite teaching and learning through Hollywood, or commercial, film and television productions being anything but a new approach ― purposeful and effective instruction through film is not problem-free.

In response to the problems and possibilities associated with teaching through film, An Inquiry Based Approach for Using Comic Based Stories to Teach Liberal Arts and Social Sciences develops a collection of practical, classroom-ready lesson ideas that might bridge gaps between theory and practice and assist teachers endeavoring to make effective use of film in their classrooms.

Adam P. Zoeller is a secondary school theology teacher with over twenty years’ experience teaching Scripture, Social Justice, and World Religions.

Thomas E. Malewitz is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Ed.D.: Leadership Program in the College of Education at Spalding University.