Charts, Maps, and Graphs
You can organize your thoughts using graphics and outlines. Below are some
examples of ways to use graphics and outlines to organize your ideas and
thoughts.
Outline
You can use an outline to help think through the stages of the writing
process. You can use an outline to understand other people's writing, as well.
Example:
I.
My Dog Sparky
A. Physical characteristics
1. Black fur
2. Long ears
3. Black nose
4. Short tail
B. Skills
1. Runs fast
2. Swims well
3. Rolls over
C. Personality
1. Very friendly
2. Likes kids
3. Wags tail
Concept Map
A concept map is a special form of a diagram. A concept map links thoughts
together. The links are labeled and show direction with an arrow symbol. The
labeled links explain how all of the thoughts relate to each other. The
thoughts read like sentences.
Example:
Clustering
Clustering helps you organize ideas, images, and feelings around a word or
idea. As you cluster, your thoughts tumble out. Sometimes you can begin to
see patterns in your ideas.
Example:
Sequence of Events Chain
A sequence of events chain is used to describe the stages of something. It
shows the order of events.
Example:
Venn Diagram
A Venn diagram is made up of overlapping circles. In this example, the
shaded area is where the circles overlap.
Example:
Each circle is labeled on the outside with a topic. Inside each circle, facts
are listed for the topics. Facts are true statements about a topic. When a
fact is listed in the overlapping area of the circles, this means the fact is
true for both topics.