Types of Graphic Organizers
A number of graphic organizers are useful for narrative text.
- Story Map - Map the important elements in the story.
- Sequence of events - List the action in the story.
- Character map - Specific characteristics of one or more characters within the story.
- Problem and Solution - Obstacles within the story and how the characters overcame them.
You can also use graphic organizers with expository text:
- Circle/Cycle - water cycle, life cycle, history between wars, etc.
- Cause and effect - wars, famines, natural events, mathematic operations, etc.
- Compare/Contrast - persons in history, events in history, natural elements, scientific experiments, mathematic operations, etc.
- Main idea with details - historic events, description of animal, plant, mineral, etc.
There can be more than one type of graphic organizer for each text structure or task. For instance, Compare/Contrast can be done using a T Chart or a Venn Diagram. Cause and Effect can be done using a Chain of Events or a Fishbone - if there is one cause and many effects. And one type of graphic organizer can be used with different text structures. The Fishbone can be used for cause and effect or main idea and details.