Analytic+graphic+organizers

Analytic Graphic Organizers

Description This strategy uses a visual format like charts, diagrams, and graphs to help students explore the characteristics, relationships, or effects of a complex topic. This supports students to organize their thoughts and construct meaning from text. Examples include cause-effect diagrams, comparison-contrast charts, and process flow diagrams.

Purpose Use during and after reading to: Provide a visual way to analyze how information and ideas are linked Help organize information for note-taking, learning, and recall Show specific relationships, such as cause-effect, sequence, comparison-contrast Synthesize information from different locations in the text or from multiple texts Convey understanding of information and concepts so misconceptions can be seen

Directions 1.Explain the purpose of using a graphic organizer to visualize how ideas link together. 2.Model how to complete a specific type of graphic organizer before asking students to complete that type in pairs and then individually. 3.After introducing several graphic organizers one at a time, present a variety of graphic organizers so students see how the shape of each graphic organizer shows how the information is connected. 4.Model for students how to select a graphic organizer depending on the purpose for organizing information: comparison, sequence, cause-effect, main idea-supporting detail, pro/con evidence, and so on. 5.Help students select an appropriate graphic organizer from the sample charts. 6.Assist students as needed while they organize the information. 7.Ask students how completing the graphic organizer helped them understand the text differently. Students might discuss this using a Think-Pair-Share or complete a Quick Write to respond.

Extensions Have students show their analytic graphic organizers to one another and compare their responses. Have students design creative variations of graphic organizers to fit the content. Have students use their completed graphic organizers as study guides, outlines for essays or other writing, or cue charts for question generating/answering a text (What is the main idea? What were the turning points in the chapter? What are the important steps in this process?).