Organizers and Mind Mapping

A graphic organizer is a tool you can use to brainstorm and organize your thoughts.

A graphic organizer is helpful because you can represent ideas in a visual way.

Sample of a mind map

"Reproduced with permission from MindTools.com http://www.mindtools.com/pages/articles/newISS_01.htm

How will a graphic organizer help me?-organize information visually-see relationships between ideas-Use a helpful pre-writing activity

What types of organizers are available?Graphic organizers aren’t all that new. You’ve completed many graphic organizers. The following chart is an example of a

graphic organizer, as are mind maps, webs, timelines, flow charts, Venn diagrams, and graphs.

Reading Reflecting

Double Entry Reading Journal

Basic OrganizersThis flow chart enables you to

organize a series of events.First

Event

Second Event

Third Event

Basic Organizers

Trait

• Quote to support that trait

• Quote to support that trait

Trait

• Quote to support that trait

• Quote to support that trait

Trait

• Quote to support that trait

• Quote to support that trait

Use this spider map to organize ideas and examples.

Details become more specific the further you move from the center of the map.

Character Sketch

Basic OrganizersVenn diagrams enable you to compare and contrast

ideas. Areas that overlap show similar ideas.

Idea

IdeaIdea

Areas that do not overlap show different ideas.

Basic OrganizersConcept maps illustrate relationships among ideas. Relationships are

labeled on lines connecting ideas.

Information is organized from general (at the top of the page) to more specific (as you move down).

Reprinted with permission

Basic OrganizersMind maps are helpful for brainstorming numerous ideas within one topic.Similar ideas are

grouped together.Relationships

between ideas are not shown.

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Basic Organizers

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Sample Mind Map

How can I access graphic organizers?You can access many types of graphic organizers easily. Use paper, a pencil, sticky

notes, pencil crayons, and markers to make a graphic organizer.

Use computer programs, such as Microsoft Word (“SmartArt”; text boxes and arrows).

Go to Inspiration (www.inspiration.com) for various free downloadable templates.

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How do I begin developing a graphic organizer?Your purpose determines the kind of organizer you need. How many ideas are

needed to examine your topic?

How many categories are required to organize various levels of your topic?

Is your purpose to describe or to compare?

Purpose

What steps do I follow to develop a graphic organizer?

Assignment: Develop a Mind Map of Favourite Foods

My favorit

e foods

1. Write your main idea (My Favourite Foods) in the center of the page.

2. Identify general elements (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert) of your topic.

3. Identify specific elements (waffles, pizza, seafood, chocolate cake) of your topic.

4. Use lines to connect elements to the main idea.

5. Add visuals to enhance your mind map.

Breakfast

Lunch

Supper

Dessert

Waffles

Pizza

Seafood

Chocolate cake

Information is read, or added, easily as brainstorming continues!

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HOW DOES A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER HELP ME WRITE A PARAGRAPH?Details in the mind map were organized chronologically (first meal to the last) and paragraph writing was easy! I enjoy different kinds of food, but some are my favourite! For breakfast, I love waffles with whipped cream and strawberries. For lunch, I love a good pizza loaded with toppings! For supper, I love seafood, especially lobster and scallops. Chocolate cake makes the perfect dessert. These foods are high in calories, but I love them all the same!

Menu, please!

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