The United States Constitution is the cornerstone that supports our liberty. Yet most people are only vaguely aware of all that it specifies and why.
What if the Constitution and the disagreements that led to its crafting could be simply explained in about an hour?
That’s why Round Table Companies, a business begun by Corey Michael Blake, decided to do something about helping people understand complex topics. After Blake was joined in the business by a filmmaker, the men decided to create nonfiction comics (sometimes referred to as graphic novels) that tell important stories about our country.
Table of contents
The United States Constitution
Among the books Round Table Companies produced is an illustrated version of The United States Constitution. The comic is nonfiction, featuring how the founding fathers decided what needed to be in the document.
“The comic includes 100 percent of the original Constitution text as well as an illustrated storyline that depicts how the founding fathers created the document,” says a spokesperson for Round Table. “Narratives of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine and James Madison bring in a human component. This is vital to understanding the development of each article of the Constitution.”
Writing the Constitution was only part of the story. After the founding fathers were satisfied with the document, they needed to return to their home states to have it ratified so that it could become the law of the land. Ratification for initial approval took about nine months. (All 13 states ratified it within two years, by May 29, 1790.)
No Founding Mothers but Women Included
While there were no founding mothers who took part in the convention in Philadelphia, Round Table and the comic’s creators have included women as part of the process that looks to the future.
A female in period clothes is used to depict several of the explanations concerning the power of the Constitution. Women are represented in the sections that address Congress and its responsibilities. There’s no changing the all-male past but it’s good to see both genders represented going forward.
Preparing a Graphic Novel is No Easy Task
Though a reader can absorb the contents of the comic in under an hour, a graphic novel can take years to produce. The text needs to be researched and carefully planned, keeping in mind how and where to use illustrations. Once a written draft is approved, an artist takes over. For this comic, writer Nadja Baer scripted this adaptation. All the artwork was completed by Nathan Leuth.
“While the challenge of presenting the story clearly and simply meant that some detail had to be omitted, I wanted to remain true to what the men were discussing that hot summer in Philadelphia,” says Nadja Baer. “I read first-hand accounts of what transpired and then went on to read what historians had to say about the era and the work underway at the Constitutional Convention.
“Next I read six or seven biographies of the men to be featured in the story. I also read several books about both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I needed to have a solid foundation of knowledge.”
The Importance of Discussion
If students can read the story and absorb the detail without struggle, then this leaves classroom time open for discussion. That’s where Professor Katie Monnin came in.
Dr. Monnin is an educational consultant who specializes in educational engagement and outreach. She was hired to work on the project and put together a curriculum for teachers.
For Dr. Monnin, the project offered an opportunity to help a company practice what she preaches: “Literacy research shows that we are living through the greatest communication revolution of all time. Just as the printing press transformed communication, all of the technologies being released are creating a similar transformation for us now.
“With the teaching options available today, it is vital that we use both images and text,” says Dr. Monnin. “For a long time, we have known that kids learn on more than one level. Today both schools and publishers are beginning to embrace the fact that material needs to be presented both in text and as a visual in order to seal in learning for the students.
“I have worked with graphic novels for over ten years now, continues Dr. Monnin. “I am most proud of this behind-the-scenes look at the Constitution. The book represents an amazing level of scholarship. It is 100 percent accurate to the Constitution, yet there is a modern feel that makes it relevant to life today.”
More Progress in Education
Dr. Monnin’s work continues to focus on way to help students learn through discussion. She is now involved with www.Kialo-Edu.com, a free digital platform to make classroom give-and-take more constructive, teach civil discourse, and develop critical thinking skills.
Kialo provides templates for discussions. With questions like “Should IDs be required for Americans to vote?” or “Does traditional media help or hinder public understanding of political issues in the United States?” or “What is the best method for peaceful protest?”
Students are led through a thought process and can make up their own minds based on factual materials. Classroom teachers can pick up on what interests the students and expand from there.
Kialo offers innumerable options on many topics. It has been used in high school and college classrooms throughout the country. Because it is run by a nonprofit, it is entirely free. The website has been in operation since 2011.
It is a great companion to the already-published “The U.S. Constitution: A Round Table Comic.” Click the link to order copies.
To read about the American flag, read Mary Pickersgill: Maker of the Star Spangled Banner.