2.1 - Techniques in Selecting and Organizing Information

Brainstorming List

- visualize your plan first in writing

Thesis Statement

- Should be short, about 1-2 sentences in length

- Must be easily spotted and not hidden away from the readers

- Should be exact, not broad and should only draw one interpretation

- Attempts to make an assertion and present an argument. It must take a stand and not merely restate the topic

Graphic Organizers

- Visually organize information that shows how ideas relate to one another

Mind Map

- represent knowledge of a concept or idea

- useful for brainstorming and exploring topics or ideas

Venn Diagram

- show the similarities and differences between two or more people, objects, or ideas

Flow Chart

- show the different steps in a process

- picture of separate steps of a process in sequential order

- generic tool that can be adapted for various purposes and can be used to describe various processes, such as manufacturing, administrative, or service processes, or a project plan

Hierarchical Topic Organizer

- shows the order of ideas and their place in a hierarchy

- allows students to see the big picture (concept at the topic) as well as the topics (underneath) and then the facts (bottom) at a glance

Outlining

- tool we use in the writing process to help organize our ideas, visualize our paper’s potential structure, and further flesh out and develop points

Topic Outline

- list of ideas arranged in a specific order

- it shows how information is presented in writing

- phrase form; divided into two levels: the headings and the subheadings

Headings

- represent main ideas

- roman numerals (I, II,III, etc.)

Subheadings

- represent supporting ideas

- capital letters

Sub-subheadings

- specific details or concrete examples of supporting ideas

- Arabic numbers (1,2,3, etc.)

Sentence Outline

- more specific technique because it already states the main idea and the supporting ideas in full sentences

Topic Sentence

- main idea and key element in developing a unified coherent paragraph

- brief overview of the main idea of the whole paragraph

Cohesion

- achieved when sentences are connected at the sentence level

- includes the way the sentences relate to each other

Coherence

- achieved when ideas are connected

- this includes how easily the entire text is being understood by the reader