Prewriting: Graphic Organizers
Introduction
Have you ever sat there, staring at a blank page, unsure of where to start? Writing an essay can be intimidating and overwhelming! Using a graphic organizer can help! Graphic organizers are a helpful tool that allow our brains to make sense of the information we are trying to process and write about in a visual way. Once we see the information laid out in an appealing, logical way, it’s often easy and even fun to turn that into a powerful essay!
Watch
- https://bit.ly/3fOfS41 Links to an external site. – Kristen Fante “Graphic Organizers” (YT 2:52)
Visit
- https://bit.ly/2zTyqR0 Links to an external site. – Education Place: forty printable graphic organizers
Key Ideas
- The type of graphic organizer you use depends on your personal preference and the purpose of the essay you are writing. Get to know each kind and become familiar with their purposes so you know what to use and when!
- Graphic organizers don’t just help improve your essay’s organization. They improve your writing as well. When you know exactly what you want to say, your writing will be more clear, concise, and smooth!
Apply
- Research/Discuss each of the following types of graphic organizers and discuss when each would be appropriate: Pizza/Cluster, Mind Map, Cycle, Venn Diagram, Timeline, Tree.
- Using a Venn Diagram, compare and contrast two things that interest you. Examples include sports teams, social media platforms (Facebook vs Twitter), Hobbies, TV shows.
- Choose and use a graphic organizer to plan your weekend!
- Choose and use a graphic organizer to construct an argument for why you should earn some new privilege at home or why a change should be made in your school.