Video Summary:

The video titled "What is a Graphic Novel?" provides an overview of what graphic novels are, their format, layout, and important elements. It explains that graphic novels are not a genre but a format that can encompass any genre, including fiction, nonfiction, history, and fantasy. The video also details the structure of a graphic novel, which includes frames or panels, speech bubbles for dialogue, thought bubbles for characters' thoughts, sound effects, and captions for additional explanations. The video emphasizes that reading a graphic novel involves understanding the story through both the pictures and the words, and encourages readers to take their time and enjoy the story.

Key Steps to Understand a Graphic Novel:

1. Understand that graphic novels are a format, not a genre.
2. Recognize that stories in graphic novels are told in frames or panels.
3. Identify speech bubbles that communicate dialogue between characters.
4. Notice thought bubbles that indicate what a character is thinking.
5. Look for sound effects that describe what a scene might sound like.
6. Pay attention to captions that provide additional explanations for a scene.
7. Remember to read from left to right and top to bottom.
8. Take your time to enjoy the story, looking at both the pictures and the words.