Using Graphic Organizers to Using Graphic Organizers to Understand TextUnderstand Text

By By

Barbara NoelBarbara Noel

2 Types of Text2 Types of Text

NarrativeNarrative

ExpositoryExpository

Sample text –Primary Sources: Lewis and Clark Journals Primary sources:  http://www.campusschool.dsu.edu/lofti/primary.htm Follow in the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark http://www.sierraclub.org/lewisandclark/ Secondary Sources:From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers

Retrieved June 3, 2007

Narrative

SettingWhere &When

Problem

Event #2

Event #1

Event #3

BeginningMiddle

End

Characters

ExpositoryExpository

1.1. EnumerationEnumeration

2.2. DescriptionDescription

3.3. SequenceSequence

4.4. Comparison and contrastComparison and contrast

5.5. Cause and EffectCause and Effect

6.6. Problem and SolutionProblem and Solution

EnumerationEnumeration

Lists information that Lists information that is connected such as:is connected such as:– StepsSteps– IdeasIdeas

Signal / Cue WordsSignal / Cue Words– the followingthe following– ThenThen– in addition      anotherin addition      another– furthermore finally  furthermore finally  

From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/

Sample EnumerationSample Enumeration

Preparing and preserving plants is a time-Preparing and preserving plants is a time-consuming and demanding process.  A consuming and demanding process.  A specimen has to be spread out properly, specimen has to be spread out properly, then pressed between two sheets of then pressed between two sheets of blotting paper.  The paper soaks up the blotting paper.  The paper soaks up the moisture from the specimen, drying it out.  moisture from the specimen, drying it out.  The specimen must be removed, aired, The specimen must be removed, aired, and placed between fresh sheets until it is and placed between fresh sheets until it is completely dry, so it won't rot. completely dry, so it won't rot. 

DescriptionDescription

Has a main topic and Has a main topic and details that draw a details that draw a picture in the reader’s picture in the reader’s mind. mind.

From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers

Sample DescriptionSample Description

        "..... in my walk I Killed a Buck Goat of this Countrey, "..... in my walk I Killed a Buck Goat of this Countrey, about the hight of the Grown Deer, its body Shorter the about the hight of the Grown Deer, its body Shorter the Horns which is not very hard and forks 2/3 up one prong Horns which is not very hard and forks 2/3 up one prong Short the other round & Sharp arched, and is imediately Short the other round & Sharp arched, and is imediately above its Eyes the Colour is a light gray with black above its Eyes the Colour is a light gray with black behind its ears down its neck, and its face white round its behind its ears down its neck, and its face white round its neck, its Sides and rump round its tail which is Short & neck, its Sides and rump round its tail which is Short & white: Verry actively made, has only a pair of hoofs to white: Verry actively made, has only a pair of hoofs to each foot, his brains on the back of his head, his each foot, his brains on the back of his head, his Norstrals large, his eyes like a Sheep he is more like the Norstrals large, his eyes like a Sheep he is more like the Antilope or Gazella of Africa than any other Species of Antilope or Gazella of Africa than any other Species of Goat."  Goat."  Lewis and Clark As Naturalists

SequenceSequence

Shows a series of events Shows a series of events

Signal / Cue WordsSignal / Cue Words– First second thirdFirst second third– Until while by last soon Until while by last soon

then after at that timethen after at that timenow duringnow during

From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers

Sample SequenceSample Sequence

By early 1803 Lewis was in Philadelphia. He By early 1803 Lewis was in Philadelphia. He took crash courses in medicine, botany, zoology, took crash courses in medicine, botany, zoology, and celestial observation. He studied maps and and celestial observation. He studied maps and journals of traders and trappers who had already journals of traders and trappers who had already reached as far up the Missouri River as the reached as far up the Missouri River as the Mandan villages in North Dakota. By the time he Mandan villages in North Dakota. By the time he left Washington he knew as much about the left Washington he knew as much about the West, and what to do when he got there, as any West, and what to do when he got there, as any man in America.  man in America.  Lewis and Clark:  Preparations

Comparison/ ContrastComparison/ Contrast

Describes the Describes the characteristics of characteristics of something as they are something as they are similar or different to similar or different to something else.something else.

Signal wordsSignal words– howeverhowever even even

thoughthough– butbut on the contraryon the contrary– yetyet otherwiseotherwise– despitedespite in comparisonin comparison– stillstill on the other hand on the other hand

From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers

Sample Comparison/ContrastSample Comparison/Contrast

In temperament Lewis and Clark were In temperament Lewis and Clark were opposites. Lewis was introverted, melancholic, opposites. Lewis was introverted, melancholic, and moody; Clark, extroverted, even-tempered and moody; Clark, extroverted, even-tempered and gregarious. The better educated and more and gregarious. The better educated and more refined Lewis, who possessed a philosophical, refined Lewis, who possessed a philosophical, romantic and speculative mind, was at home romantic and speculative mind, was at home with abstract ideas; Clark, of a pragmatic mold, with abstract ideas; Clark, of a pragmatic mold, was more of a practical man of action. Each was more of a practical man of action. Each supplied vital qualities which balanced their supplied vital qualities which balanced their partnership.  partnership.  Biography of Lewis and Clark     

Cause/EffectCause/Effect

Shows several reasons why something Shows several reasons why something happenedhappenedSignal / Cue WordsSignal / Cue Words

for this reasonfor this reason thusthusin order toin order to as a resultas a resultbecausebecause consequentlyconsequentlyso thatso that on account of on account of thereforetherefore accordingly accordingly

From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers

Problem and SolutionProblem and Solution

To identify a problem To identify a problem and give possible and give possible solutionssolutions

Signal WordsSignal Words–       problemproblem

   solution   solution   because   because   cause   cause   since   since   as a result   as a result   so that   so that

From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers

Sample ProblemSample Problem

On June second they arrived at a major fork in the river, in On June second they arrived at a major fork in the river, in north-central Montana, an estimated 465 river miles north-central Montana, an estimated 465 river miles upstream from the mouth of the Yellowstone. It shouldn't upstream from the mouth of the Yellowstone. It shouldn't have been there. No Indian informant had mentioned it. have been there. No Indian informant had mentioned it. There was not even a hint of it from anybody. Yet it posed There was not even a hint of it from anybody. Yet it posed the most significant geographical question of the entire the most significant geographical question of the entire Expedition. Which of these rivers was the Missouri?  The Expedition. Which of these rivers was the Missouri?  The issue was fraught with danger. They needed to reach the issue was fraught with danger. They needed to reach the Rockies, find the Shoshoni Indians, get some horses, Rockies, find the Shoshoni Indians, get some horses, portage to the head of the Columbia, and reach the Pacific portage to the head of the Columbia, and reach the Pacific before winter closed in.  To choose the wrong route would before winter closed in.  To choose the wrong route would consume twice the time it would take to correct the mistake, consume twice the time it would take to correct the mistake, and would, Lewis declared, not only lose them the whole of and would, Lewis declared, not only lose them the whole of the present travel season, but "would probably so the present travel season, but "would probably so dishearten the party that it might defeat the expedition dishearten the party that it might defeat the expedition altogether."altogether."      Decision at the Marias   

From: http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers

WebsitesWebsites

Education Place Education Place http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ Index of Graphic Organizers Index of Graphic Organizers http://www.graphic.org/goindex.html http://www.graphic.org/goindex.html SCORE SCORE http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/torganiz.htmhttp://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/torganiz.htmGraphic Organizer Makers http://teachers.teach-Graphic Organizer Makers http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/ nology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/ Write Design Graphic Organizers Write Design Graphic Organizers http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/ http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/ Graphic Organizers Graphic Organizers http://www.enchantedlearning.com/graphicorganizers/biohttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/graphicorganizers/biography/index.shtml (need to be a member)graphy/index.shtml (need to be a member)