Crafting Your Own Graphic Organizer

Graphic organizers serve as valuable aids in comprehending information, commonly employed in educational settings to teach various concepts. They facilitate comparison, summarization, timeline construction, and visualization of relationships. Some widely used types include Venn diagrams and more general formats.

Begin by sketching a circle on a blank sheet of paper, preferably in a horizontal orientation for ample drawing space. Utilizing a compass ensures an evenly sized and neat circle. Remember to draw the circle to one side, not in the center.

Draw a second circle positioned to overlap the first one in the center of the paper. If your initial circle is off to the right, adjust this one to the left while maintaining the overlap.

• Ensure your compass remains at the same setting to keep both circles uniform in size.

Verify that there's ample room for writing on the outer edges of both circles and their overlapping area. If space is insufficient, consider erasing and restarting, or switch to a larger sheet of paper.

Utilize the Venn diagram as a tool for comparing and contrasting two entities. Label the top section of each circle with the items being compared, such as books, people, movies, animals, etc. Write 'Both' in the overlapping section.

Highlight differences between the two entities in the outer circles, reserving the center overlap for similarities. List distinctive traits of each entity in their respective outer circles, and commonalities in the center.

Sketch a vertical line down the center of your paper. Ensure its straightness by using a ruler, drawing from top to bottom.

• Whether your paper orientation is vertical or horizontal is your choice, depending on the desired writing space.

Draw another line horizontally, intersecting the vertical line. Measure approximately ½-1 inch from the top with your ruler to allow space for headings above each column.

Label each column's top with a heading, leaving a small gap between the page's top and the horizontal line. The T-chart facilitates comparison and contrast, so each heading should represent the two entities being compared. Examples of comparable items include:

• Computers
• Smartphones
• Stories
• People
• Cities
• Countries

Enumerate the distinguishing details of each entity. Organize your list using bullet points or numbers, ensuring the details align with the respective column.

• Unlike the Venn diagram, there's no shared space to list commonalities; focus solely on differences between the two entities.
• For instance, differentiate the United States from Australia by listing relevant details under each respective heading.

Create a rectangular box at the upper left corner of your paper, positioned horizontally. Utilize a ruler for straight lines, ensuring each box is approximately 3 inches square, providing ample space for internal writing.

Allocate a 1-inch gap to the right of the initial box, then reproduce an identical box in the page's center (3 inches square). Use the ruler for precise measurements of the box's sides.

Mark another inch to the right of the central box, completing the top row with a third box of matching dimensions (3 inches square). This forms a top row on your paper comprising three 3” x 3” boxes, each separated by a 1-inch gap.

Sketch right-pointing arrows in the 1-inch spaces between the boxes, directing from left to right. Ensure there's an arrow from the left box to the middle, and another from the middle to the right box.

Label the left box as “1,” the middle box as “2,” and the far-right box as “3.” Opt for small-sized numbers, as additional information will be written within these boxes.

• Position the numbers in one of the box's corners, like the top left, possibly enclosing them within a small box to separate from the text to be added.

Proceed to the bottom of the page and replicate the drawing of three 3” x 3” boxes along the page's lower edge, maintaining 1-inch gaps between them. This should result in nearly identical rows of three boxes along both the top and bottom edges of the page, with approximately 2 inches of space between the top and bottom rows.

Sketch left-pointing arrows between the boxes, moving from right to left. Therefore, draw an arrow from the right box to the middle box, and then from the middle box to the left box.

Label the right box as “4,” the middle box as “5,” and the left box as “6.” Maintain small-sized numbers to allow space for content within the boxes.

• Once again, consider enclosing the numbers within small boxes to distinguish them from the content to be written.
• Position the numbers in the same corner chosen for the top row for consistency throughout the chart.
• Ensure the top row reads “1” to “3” from left to right, while the bottom row reads “4” to “6” from right to left.

Draw a downward arrow from box 3 to box 4. This indicates to readers of the flow chart to direct their attention downward along the right side of the page rather than diagonally across it.

Populate the boxes with information relevant to a sequence of events or timeline. Flow charts are invaluable tools for analyzing event sequences and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.

• Plot the events of a narrative, such as those leading to the climax.
• Provide procedural instructions, detailing steps like “First, do this...” and “Next, do that...”
• Map significant historical events, like the key moments of the American Revolution leading to its resolution.

Sketch a sizable rectangle on your paper. Choose between vertical or horizontal orientation based on your preference.

• Position the rectangle just inside the paper edges to match the paper's size, providing ample space for writing summary information from various sources such as stories, books, textbooks, or passages.
• Use a ruler for straight edges when drawing the rectangle.

Decide on dividing your rectangle into five equally-sized rows. Divide the rectangle's height by five to determine the approximate height of each row.

• For instance, if your paper is vertical, dividing 11” by 5 gives approximately 2.2” (or about 2 ¼”) per row. If your paper is horizontal, dividing 8.5” by 5 results in approximately 1.7” (or around 1 2/3”) per row.

Measure from the rectangle's top down to the determined distance from Step 2. Mark a small horizontal line with a pencil at this measurement.

• Then, align your ruler horizontally with the rectangle's top and draw a perpendicular line across the width of the rectangle.

Position your ruler's end on this new line and measure down the distance from Step 2 again. Repeat marking a small horizontal line at the determined distance and tracing a horizontal line across the rectangle's width.

• Now, you have completed two out of the five rows required for your overview chart.

From the bottom of the second row, measure the distance from Step 2 and mark a third horizontal line. Draw a line horizontally using your ruler to create the third row across the rectangle's width.

Position your ruler's end on the line at the bottom of the third row and measure the distance from Step 2 one final time. Make a horizontal mark at that distance and draw a line across the width.

• This final line delineates between rows 4 and 5, completing five rows of equal size across the rectangle's width.
• Ensure precise measurement of each row with your ruler.

Measure 1 inch from the rectangle's left side and mark a small vertical line with your pencil. Then, use your ruler to draw a vertical line from the rectangle's top to its bottom at the 1-inch mark.

Label categories for summarization within the 1-inch vertical column on the left side of the summary chart. This chart serves to summarize various types of passages, including stories, books, or nonfiction articles. Below are fundamental categories to write in the five boxes within the narrow vertical column on the left:

• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
• Why?

Complete the rows adjacent to each category with relevant information from the passage or story. Utilize bullet points, numbers, or complete sentences.

• For instance, under “Who,” specify the involved individuals or characters. Then, describe the story's setting or the article's location under “Where.” Address the time frame under “When,” major events under “What,” and the reasons behind those events under “Why,” based on the provided details.

Sketch a 3-inch square box on your paper, positioned horizontally. Place the box approximately 1-2 inches down from the paper's top and centered widthwise (i.e., leaving 4 inches on either side).

• Utilize a ruler for precise, straight lines.

Move half an inch to the right of the first box and then down by approximately 2 inches. Use your ruler for accurate measurements.

• Draw another box of identical dimensions (3 inches square) in this new position.
• Position this box slightly to the right and below the first one, resembling a step leading up to it.

Measure half an inch to the left of the initial box and then down by around 2 inches. Again, use your ruler to draw a third box with dimensions of 3 square inches.

• This box should also be slightly offset from the first box's left side, resembling a step leading up to it. Together, the three boxes should form a pyramid shape.

Draw a curved arrow from the top box to the right box. Then, draw another curved arrow from the right box to the left one. Finally, draw a curved arrow from the left box back to the top box.

• Connect the three boxes in a “circle” with the three curved arrows, all pointing clockwise.

Input information related to a cycle into the boxes. This diagram illustrates the repetitive nature of a cycle, showcasing how a process occurs repeatedly. Additional boxes can be added to the “circle” if necessary, albeit in smaller dimensions.

• Water cycle
• Human body cycles (e.g., circadian rhythm)
• Animal migrations
• Solar system cycles

• Establish a specific purpose for your graphic organizer prior to its creation. Each type of graphic organizer serves a distinct purpose, so ensure you select the appropriate one for your analysis or learning needs.

• Paper
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Ruler
• Compass