Techniques in Selecting and Organizing Information

Vocabulary flashcards covering brainstorming tips, graphic organizer types, outline formats, and key concepts for selecting and organizing information in writing.

Brainstorming

A group creativity technique that gathers spontaneous ideas to solve a problem or generate new topics.

Cubing

A brainstorming activity that examines a topic from six viewpoints such as definition, comparison, association, components, uses, and arguments for/against.

Free Writing

A brainstorming tip that involves writing non-stop without attention to spelling or grammar to let ideas flow freely.

Listing

A brainstorming method where every idea that comes to mind is quickly written down in a simple list.

Mapping / Clustering / Webbing

A visual brainstorming technique that jots ideas on a large surface, connecting related thoughts by lines or branches.

Graphic Organizer

A visual communication tool—also called concept map, story map, etc.—that displays ideas and their relationships to separate essential from non-essential information.

Concept Map

A type of graphic organizer that links two or more concepts with descriptive words showing their relationships.

Web

A graphic organizer that illustrates how categories of information are related to one another around a central topic.

Mind Map

A hierarchical visual diagram with a central idea and branching sub-ideas, often using colors and images.

Flow Diagram / Sequence Chart

A graphic organizer that presents steps, stages, or events in chronological or logical order.

Venn Diagram

Overlapping circles used to compare and contrast two or more concepts, highlighting similarities and differences.

Organizational Chart

A graphic organizer that depicts the structure or hierarchy within an organization.

Pie Chart

A circular graph divided into slices to display proportional data.

Graph (Line, Bar, etc.)

A plotted representation of data points whose coordinates satisfy a relation, used to show trends or comparisons.

Table

A systematic arrangement of data in rows and columns for easy reference and comparison.

Outline

A general plan that organizes main ideas and subordinate points before writing a text.

Number-Letter Outline Format

Traditional outline style that uses Roman numerals, capital letters, Arabic numbers, and lowercase letters in a nested hierarchy.

Decimal Outline Format

An outline style that uses a decimal numbering system (e.g., 1.0, 1.1, 1.1.1) to indicate levels of ideas.

Topic Outline

An outline whose headings and subheadings are expressed as single words or brief phrases.

Sentence Outline

An outline that states each heading and subheading as a complete sentence.

Selecting Information

The process of choosing which ideas, facts, or details are relevant and necessary for a writing task.

Organizing Information

Arranging selected ideas logically—using techniques like brainstorming, graphic organizers, or outlines—to produce a coherent text.