Selecting and Organizing Information

Brainstorming

A structured but free-flowing method of generating creative ideas, solving problems, and exploring different perspectives; important for prewriting and problem-solving.

Idea Map

A visual representation of related ideas; central idea in the middle with branches for subtopics; shows connections and hierarchies.

Venn Diagram

Graphic organizer with overlapping circles used to compare and contrast ideas; sections show unique and shared features.

Network Tree

Shows hierarchy or classification with branching structure; used for family trees, organizational charts, and scientific categories.

Spider Map

A central idea in the middle with main ideas branching out diagonally; supporting details branch further; also called a semantic map.

Problem-Solution Map

Analyzes a problem by listing causes, effects, and proposed solutions; helps in logical reasoning.

Timeline

Shows events in chronological order; can be linear (one sequence) or comparative (two sequences side by side).

Plot Diagram

Analyzes story structure with exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Series of Events Chain

Shows a sequence of steps or events leading to an outcome; e.g., Water Cycle steps.

Fishbone Map

Visualizes complex cause-and-effect relationships; main problem on the head, causes on the bones.

Cycle

Shows repeating processes; examples include water cycle, butterfly metamorphosis, or poverty cycle.

Persuasion Map

Organizes arguments for persuasive writing; includes proposition, reasons with evidence, and conclusion.

Outlining

Structured plan for organizing ideas; used before writing or after reading to structure information.

Decimal Outline

An outline that uses numbers with decimals to show hierarchy and relationships between main and sub-ideas, such as 1, 1.1, 1.2.

Alphanumeric Outline

An outline that combines Roman numerals, capital letters, and numbers (I, A, 1) to organize ideas into main points and subpoints.

Topic Outline

An outline that uses words or phrases only to represent ideas, focusing on keywords rather than full sentences.

Sentence Outline

An outline that uses complete sentences for each point or subpoint, providing full detail and clarity for the ideas being organized.