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Personal Statement Structure: How to Organize Your Essay

Padya Paramita

July 1, 2020

If you’re about to be a high school senior, you’ve probably heard this many times by now — the personal statement can make or break your application. Using just  650 words, you have to demonstrate who you are, what makes you unique, and what you’re passionate about in a way that impresses admissions officers. Once you’ve found the perfect topic, the question then becomes, what is the right personal statement structure?

High school students are used to writing a traditional five-paragraph essay. The Common App essay doesn’t follow that pattern. Your personal statement structure needs to highlight the core of your personality and character with more of a “bang.” So, you can’t necessarily go on philosophical tangents or drag out introductions. In this blog, I’ve elaborated on ways to organize your essay so that you can captivate admissions officers at your top choice colleges and sets yourself apart from the other applicants. 

How to Organize Your Essay

No matter what you’re writing about, your essay needs to be well organized and flow smoothly. Admissions officers will not appreciate a haphazard piece of writing that seemingly tells no story or where the narrative is all over the place. As you figure out personal statement structure, you need to keep 3 key aspects in mind: the introduction, the evidence, and the ending. Let’s take a closer look at each of these elements.

The Introduction

An exceptionally important step in your personal statement structure is your introduction. Obviously, this is the first thing that admissions officers will read, so you have to make a memorable impression with your opening statement and paragraph. Remember that these officers read hundreds of applications - and essays - each day, so it’s crucial that you start your story off in a unique way so that you grab and keep their attention. 

• Hook: The hook of your essay is a catchy phrase or sentence that should capture the reader’s attention immediately as they start your essay. Your hook can include a quote (for a personal statement, quotes are better suited if they’re a dialogue from real life rather than from a famous person), a fact that might startle your audience, or a vivid description of something unique and makes the admissions reader say, “That’s interesting!” and want to keep going.

Example of a hook: It hit me when I was twelve years old: I had a problem. I hated taking showers. 

• Problems: Once you’ve got your hook, you can build on it by outlining the problem, or issue that you faced. Because many essays often tell stories of growth in an individual or how the writer worked on something they’re passionate about, there’s often a conflict that stands in the way. As you work on your personal statement structure , consider whether you faced any obstacle that could go hand in hand with your hook.

Example problem: No, it had nothing to do with the warm water, fragrant hair products, or the time spent alone, but rather with how I spent my time afterward. For a little over a year, I blow-dried and straightened my hair after every shower, turning what should have been a fifteen minute affair into an hour-long ordeal. Why did I do this? It was a symptom of what I call ‘The Curly Hair Teenage Angst Syndrome.’ 

• Solution or Thesis: You’ve probably heard the word “thesis” when it comes to your English class essay. This is the main point, the purpose of your essay. What do you want to convey to the reader in the next few paragraphs? As you introduce your essay, you want the reader to know that this is a story of personal development or hard work and determination. So, take advantage of the introduction to provide a picture of exactly what you’ll be covering in your response — how did you get to the solution? This gives the admissions officer an idea of what to expect as they continue reading.

Example thesis: My hair was perfectly straight, but I hated it. I hated succumbing to my vanity, continuing to do something that the reasonable part of my brain knew was silly. Deep down I could acknowledge that I was blow-drying my hair only for external approval and that ultimately, my curly hair was just fine by me. 

The Evidence

Once you’ve introduced the topic or theme of your essay, it’s time to get into the more nitty gritty details. Next up in the personal statement structure : the evidence. If your story is about your amateur wrestling career or how you founded your own company, it’s time to let the admissions officer know about the specifics. Because this essay is one of the most effective ways to let the colleges of your choice get a picture of who you are, making careful choices here is very important. You want your personality to shine through by using captivating dialogue, vivid descriptions, and subtle tone techniques. The reader should come out of this experience knowing what makes you unique and different from other candidates. 

You don’t have to use overly flowery language. The point is clarity and vividness. The more concrete your depiction of events, the better the admissions officers can picture it, and understand why this topic is important to you. And of course, as cliche as it sounds - remember to show, not tell.

Example evidence: As a lifelong artist and self-proclaimed craft aficionado, I decided to bring my cache of crafting supplies to the hospital the next day: colored-paper, yarn, fabric, beads, and more. My grandma and I spent hours weaving bracelets and debating color combinations. By the time it got dark, my grandma, satisfied from an unexpectedly eventful day, fell asleep quickly, unbothered by her back pain. I went home, eager to brainstorm new crafting ideas. I scrolled through blogs, scoured YouTube compilation videos, and scribbled down crafting plans in my sketchbook.

Once you’ve fleshed out your plot and descriptions, you’ve arrived at the final part of understanding the personal statement structure. Just as it’s crucial to start your essay in a catchy manner, it’s essential that your ending is memorable as well. There are a few ways you can end your response. Your conclusion can refer back to your opening paragraph — especially if you’d started with an anecdote — and talk about it in light of the things you mention as part of the evidence. You could choose the expansion route and reflect on a personal or universal truth, and how you’ll focus on events or similar situations moving forward. You could also take it back to your thesis — talk about your growth, and how you’ve changed or how your life may have shifted. Or, you could be more creative and take less of a traditional path and end in a quote or ellipses. 

Example ending: In addition to establishing a meaningful friendship, this experience seeded a mentality that will continue guiding my actions, attitudes, and interactions. It showed me the value of being empathetic and considering others' perspectives. I learned to view my setbacks and predispositions as mere short-term obstacles that can be overcome with a growth mindset - truly believing that anybody can do anything.

Now that you have a clearer understanding of personal statement structure , it’s time to start brainstorming. Once you have a topic, think carefully about the best ways to approach it through your essay. Write multiple drafts to figure out the best way to convey your story so that you can stand out among the competition. Good luck!

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Writing Resources - Graphic Organizers

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What is a Graphic Organizer?

A graphic organizer is a visual tool designed to represent ideas and concepts, highlighting their meanings and relationships. It typically illustrates the connections between facts, concepts, terms, thoughts, and ideas, aiding writers by providing a visual map or diagram of their thoughts. Graphic organizers are also known by various names, such as knowledge maps, concept maps, story maps, cognitive organizers, advance organizers, or concept diagrams.

Excellent explanation of graphic organizers, with examples from a teaching perspective.

A long list of many types of organizers, free to download

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Using Graphic Organizers for Writing Essays, Summaries and Research

Ask any student – essay writing is one of the most despised tasks of their educational career. Perhaps there is so much displeasure associated with the task because it’s perceived as too linear – there isn’t enough visual and creative appeal. But if you use graphic organizer for writing essays then you can make writing enjoyable – or at least less terrible.

Not only enjoyable but graphic organizers (or diagrams) can make the writing process a snap. They’ll help you think outside the box, draw conclusions you wouldn’t normally observe, and make the entire process faster and more efficient.

Why Use Graphic Organizers for Writing

The phrase “graphic organizer” is just a fancy way of saying “diagram” or “visual aid.” Basically, they are a visual representation of the information you’ve acquired in the research process. There are quite a few reasons why you should use them when writing essays or summaries.

• Helps you visualize your research and how elements connect with each other
• Enhance your essays, summaries and research papers with visual elements
• Track correlations between your thoughts, observations, facts or general ideas

When it comes to essay writing, the most common graphic organizers are webs, mind maps, and concept maps .

Using Webs for Brainstorming

Webbing is a great way to see how various topics are interrelated. This graphic organizer is particularly useful during the brainstorming step of the writing process.

A web can sometimes get a bit messy. Usually, there are lots of arrows to connect overlapping ideas. However, even with lines crisscrossing every which way, it is still a great way to visualize your thoughts. If you’re using an online diagramming software like Creately you can overcome some of this because we automatically arrange the object for you.

Once you’ve created a map to document all your ideas and establish connections, you can easily transition to other forms of diagramming to better organize the information.

For example if you’re writing a research paper about the food web of the Australian bushes you can start creating a food web diagram similar to the one below. This way you can easily visualize the web while writing the paper. This is a simple example but graphic organizers become even more important when the subject gets complex.

Although simple this example shows the importance of using graphic organizers for writing summaries. A comprehensive diagram pretty much does the summation for you.

Using Mind Maps as Graphic Organizers

Mind maps are a great way to depict a hierarchy. What is hierarchical organization ? The concept is simple: a singular topic dominates with each subsequent idea decreasing in importance.

Usually, the mind map starts with the thesis (or main idea) at the center.  From there, you can branch out with your supporting evidence.

Use this process to replace your traditional note taking technique – note cards, outlines, whatever. You’ll quickly realize a mind map is a great way to formulate the structure of your essay. The thing to note here is that the nature of the mind maps force you think about sub topics and how to organize your ideas. And once the ideas are organized writing the essay become very easy.

Above is a mind map of a research proposal. Click on it to see the full image or you can see the fully editable template via this link . As you can see in this mind map the difference areas of the research proposal is highlighted. Similarly when your writing the research paper you can use a mind map to break it down to sub topics. We have more mind map templates for you to get started.

Concept Maps

A concept map will help you visualize the connection between ideas. You can easily see cause and effect – how one concept leads to another. Often times, concept mapping includes the use of short words or phrases to depict the budding relationship between these concepts.

If you look closely you can see that its very similar to a mind map. But a concept maps gives more of a free reign compares to the rigid topic structure of a mind map. I’d say it’s the perfect graphic organizer for writing research papers where you have the license to explore.

By creating a concept map , you can also see how a broad subject can be narrowed down into specific ideas.  This is a great way to counter writers block.  Often, we look at the big picture and fail to see the specifics that lead to it.  Identifying contributing factors and supporting evidence is difficult. But with a concept map, you can easily see how the smaller parts add up to the whole.

Why Bother With Graphic Organizers?

If you already detest the writing process, adding another step might seem insane. However, there really are several advantages of using them.  If you haven’t already accepted the benefits of each individual diagram style, here are some more perks of graphic organizers in general:

• Quality essays are based on detail. No one is going to accept your opinions and reasoning just because you say so. You’ll need proof. And organizing that proof will require attention to detail. Graphic organizers can help you see that detail and how it contributes to the overall concept.
• Graphic organizers are flexible. You don’t need one of those giant pink erasers. You don’t need to restructure your outline. All you have to do is draw a few arrows and bam – the relationship has totally changed.
• No matter what you are writing about, a graphic organizer can help. They can be used to structure an essay on the Great Wall, theoretical physics, or Spanish speaking countries.
• If you write an outline, can you easily see how point A influences point X? Probably not. But if little thought bubble A is sitting out there all by itself, you can visualize the way it ties into point R, T and X.
• Some of us find it difficult to put our opinions, thoughts, and ideas into writing. However, communicating our feelings with little doodles and sketches is far less threatening.
• As a writer, our brain often feels like a 2-year-old’s toy box – a big jumbled mess. Taking that mess and putting it onto paper with some semblance of organization is challenging. Rather than trying to take your thoughts from total chaos to a perfectly structured list, just try to get them out of your brain and onto paper in the form of a diagram.
• A graphic organizer helps you establish validity and relevance. You can easily nix the ideas that don’t support or enhance your thesis.

The next time you are faced with a writing project, take a few minutes to explore the efficiency of graphic organizers. You can find a wealth of templates here.

Have you ever used a graphic organizer to structure an essay? How did it go? Do you have a diagram suggestion for the writing process that wasn’t mentioned here? Let us know!

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How to Use Graphic Organizers to Write Better Essays

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If you’re a student, there’s no way around the inevitable: You’re going to have to write essays. Lots of essays. In fact, the five-paragraph essay is so fundamental to the high school curriculum that it’s still used on the ACTs, and knowing how to recognize the organizational structure of essays will help you score higher on the SATs.

Even though it seems like a chore, knowing how to organize and write an essay can have a lasting effect on your life, from getting into a better college to scoring a better job to performing better in that job long after your high school days are over.

Here’s a secret: Using graphic organizers for writing essays can help you write better essays faster. (And don’t count yourself out if you’re an educator—you can offer these tools to help your students succeed.) We’ll show you exactly how to do it.

Why use graphic organizers

When ACT graders or teachers are looking your essay, they’re looking for very specific criteria; essentially, they’re looking at how well you’ve organized your thoughts. Many students don’t take the time to outline their essay structure before writing, and that always means a lower score on a test and a lower grade on the essay in class.

Using a writing template can feel like an unnecessary step in an already complicated process. If you need extra motivation to implement these organizers into your writing routine, consider all of their benefits. Graphic organizers can help you:

• Save time by showing you where each piece of the essay “lives.”
• Have more productive brainstorming sessions, either by yourself or with a group.
• Make connections between ideas and create a more cohesive argument.
• Pinpoint holes in your arguments and either adjust the thesis or find supporting statements.
• Keep track of your research.
• Organize your thoughts and come to interesting, more compelling conclusions.
• Stay in the right direction when you feel lost in a sea of words.
• Manage anxiety by converting the fear of a blank assignment into an action plan with a clear map.

With all those benefits, it’s hard to ignore how useful and vital graphic organizers are to writing. And once you’ve become adept at organizing your thoughts for something like a school essay, you’ll find that skill carries with you throughout your life, whether you’re trying to become a more intelligent debater to negotiate prices. It goes beyond just the essay to becoming a better thinker. And it starts with a simple template.

We’ll walk you through several use cases for graphic organizers and provide templates for you to download and fill in when you’re ready to write.

Brainstorming graphic organizers

Brainstorming is important, not only to come up with ideas for topics but to determine what information you need to include in the essay once you’ve determined your topic. Though many think of brainstorming as just freeflow thinking, brainstorming is most productive when you work within specific parameters.

That’s why essay brainstorming graphic organizers are useful, whether you’re using one to brainstorm on your own or you’re working with a group.

In Lucidchart, our mind map shapes and templates double as brainstorming graphic organizers. Start with an essay prompt as your central shape and then fill in the shapes that branch off your prompt with topic ideas. Alternatively, you can add your selected topic to the center and start brainstorming the different ideas you need to cover in your paper.

When the template is filled in, you’ll have a clear starting point for your essay or research paper.

Research paper graphic organizers

Nothing paralyzes students with fear quite like a research paper. These long-form papers require—as the name implies—quite a bit of research, and their purpose is to teach students how to look for valid sources to support their arguments.

But keeping track of all those sources and tying them into your argument can be tricky. That’s where a research paper graphic organizer can be a student’s greatest ally.

This template lays out the writing process itself. After you come up with a general topic, like “the disappearance of honey bees,” fill in the “Research Paper Topic” box.

Then, start looking for reputable sources (Wikipedia doesn’t count) and use the five sources boxes to hold the most relevant quotes and statistics you find. Using those quotes and statistics, you can then fill out a thesis statement that is supported by the research.

Then, you’ll be able to focus your paragraphs on a single topic each that supports the thesis statement and your overarching argument. After you’ve filled out the template, the backbone of the research paper is complete: All that’s left to do is fill in the spaces between sources and arguments.

5-paragraph essay graphic organizer

When it comes to writing the five-paragraph essay, writing diagrams are key. By using graphic organizers for writing, you’re no longer staring at a giant blank piece of paper with no idea how or where to begin. Your graphic organizer is your map.

Although using writing diagrams may seem time-consuming, the fact is that taking the time to fill a graphic organizer in before writing actually saves time. If there’s a problem with the argument, it will show up on the diagram, or if there’s not enough evidence to support your argument, you’ll know before you’ve wasted time writing the paper. And, as we said before, even if your writing is terrible, if your argument is sound, you’ll still score a decent grade.

Try this 5-paragraph essay template to get you started.

Don’t feel pressured to come up with a compelling title right away. Instead, it’s more important that you come up with a thesis statement that can be supported by three solid arguments. Fill in that thesis statement and your arguments. Then, for each argument, figure out three supporting details to support your case.

That’s it! You’ve got the most essential parts of your 5-paragraph essay completed.

Now, come up with an introduction that sets the stage for your argument and a conclusion that wraps up and restates your thesis and supporting arguments in a compelling way. Now you have a solid plan for your paper and can approach it with confidence.

If you’d like a more linear graphic that exactly follows the structure of the 5-paragraph, use the writing template below and follow the same process.

Visuals, such as graphic organizers for writing, can help you better understand concepts, think creatively, and collaborate with your classmates—and there are plenty of other templates where these came from.

Lucidchart offers hundreds of templates to help you through your studies, including timelines, Venn diagrams, word maps, and more. Sign up for Lucidchart and upgrade to an Educational account for free.

Resources for teachers

Providing graphic resources to students is essential; after all, many of your students will be visual learners, so while you may beautifully explain how the process works, there will be some who won’t understand until they see a template of the essay itself.

Lucidchart has many resources for teachers, from lesson plans to writing templates. While you’re teaching your students how to write essays or research papers, it’s useful to print out the templates and fill them out together (even using a completed template as a separate assignment with a separate grade) so that your students can get a feel for properly filling out graphic organizers before attempting it on their own.

About Lucidchart

Lucidchart, a cloud-based intelligent diagramming application, is a core component of Lucid Software's Visual Collaboration Suite. This intuitive, cloud-based solution empowers teams to collaborate in real-time to build flowcharts, mockups, UML diagrams, customer journey maps, and more. Lucidchart propels teams forward to build the future faster. Lucid is proud to serve top businesses around the world, including customers such as Google, GE, and NBC Universal, and 99% of the Fortune 500. Lucid partners with industry leaders, including Google, Atlassian, and Microsoft. Since its founding, Lucid has received numerous awards for its products, business, and workplace culture. For more information, visit lucidchart.com.

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Effective essay writing graphic organizers to enhance your academic writing skills.

Are you looking for ways to enhance your essay writing skills? Do you struggle to organize your thoughts and ideas effectively? Utilizing graphic organizers can be the key to improving your writing process and producing more cohesive and structured essays.

Graphic organizers are visual tools that help writers brainstorm, plan, and organize their writing. They provide a visual representation of the relationships between ideas, making it easier to see the big picture and the flow of your essay. By using graphic organizers, you can break down complex topics into manageable chunks and create a roadmap for your writing.

Whether you’re a student working on academic essays or a professional writer crafting articles, utilizing graphic organizers can make a significant difference in the clarity and coherence of your writing. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using graphic organizers, discuss different types of organizers, and provide tips on how to effectively incorporate them into your writing process.

Master the Basics

Before delving into the complexities of essay writing, it is crucial to master the basics. Understanding the fundamental elements of an essay, such as the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, is essential for crafting a coherent and compelling piece of writing.

• Start with a strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and clearly states your main argument.
• Develop your ideas in the body paragraphs with supporting evidence and analysis.
• Conclude your essay by summarizing your key points and reinforcing your main thesis.

By mastering these basic components of essay writing, you can better structure your ideas and effectively communicate your thoughts to your audience.

Understanding the Essay Structure

When it comes to writing an effective essay, understanding the structure is crucial. An essay typically consists of three main parts: an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction: This is where you grab the reader’s attention and provide a brief overview of what your essay will be about. The introduction should also include a thesis statement, which is the main point or argument of your essay.

Body paragraphs: The body of your essay is where you develop your argument and provide supporting evidence. Each paragraph should focus on a single point and include detailed explanations and examples to support your thesis.

Conclusion: The conclusion is where you wrap up your essay by summarizing your main points and restating your thesis. It’s also a good place to leave the reader with a thought-provoking idea or call to action.

By understanding and utilizing this basic essay structure, you can ensure that your writing is clear, organized, and effective.

Choose the Right Organizer

When it comes to effective essay writing, choosing the right graphic organizer can make a significant difference in organizing your thoughts and boosting your writing skills. There are various types of organizers to choose from, such as the outline, Venn diagram, flowchart, concept map, and more. It’s essential to select an organizer that best fits the structure of your essay and helps you clearly outline your ideas.

Outlining: If you prefer a straightforward approach, an outline organizer can help you create a clear and organized structure for your essay. Use headings and subheadings to categorize your main points and supporting details.

Venn Diagram: A Venn diagram can be useful when comparing and contrasting ideas or topics. It allows you to visually represent the similarities and differences between two or more concepts.

Flowchart: For essays with a sequential flow of ideas, a flowchart organizer is ideal. Create a visual representation of the sequence of events or steps in your essay to ensure a logical progression of ideas.

Concept Map: If you want to explore the relationships between different concepts in your essay, a concept map can help you visualize the connections between ideas and brainstorm new insights.

Choosing the right organizer is crucial to effectively structure your essay and enhance your writing skills. Experiment with different types of organizers to find the one that best suits your writing style and helps you convey your ideas clearly and cohesively.

Selecting the Best Graphic Tool

When choosing a graphic organizer tool for your essay writing process, it is essential to consider various factors to ensure its effectiveness. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Type of Essay: Consider the type of essay you are writing and choose a graphic organizer that best fits the structure and organization needed for that particular essay type.
• Complexity: Evaluate the complexity of your ideas and arguments to determine the level of detail and hierarchy required in the graphic organizer.
• Visual Appeal: Look for a tool that is visually appealing and easy to comprehend, as this will help you better visualize and organize your thoughts.
• Flexibility: Opt for a tool that offers flexibility in terms of customization, allowing you to adjust the layout and structure based on your specific needs.
• Accessibility: Ensure that the graphic organizer tool you choose is accessible and easy to use on your preferred devices and platforms.

By carefully considering these factors, you can select the best graphic tool that will enhance your essay writing process and improve the clarity and coherence of your ideas.

Organize Your Ideas

Before diving into writing your essay, it’s crucial to organize your ideas to ensure a clear and coherent flow of information. Using graphic organizers can help you visually map out your thoughts and easily see how they connect. Here are some effective ways to organize your ideas:

• Outline: Create a detailed outline with main points, subpoints, and supporting evidence to structure your essay.
• Brainstorming: Brainstorm ideas and jot them down on a mind map to see relationships between different concepts.
• Cluster/Spider Diagrams: Use cluster or spider diagrams to group related ideas together and visualize the structure of your essay.
• Storyboard: Create a storyboard with key events or arguments to plan out the sequence of your essay.

By organizing your ideas using graphic organizers, you can enhance the clarity and coherence of your essay, making it easier for readers to follow your argument.

Mapping Out Your Thoughts

One of the most effective tools for organizing your thoughts and ideas before starting to write an essay is a graphic organizer. By using a graphic organizer, you can visually map out your thoughts, main points, and supporting details. This helps you clarify your ideas and ensure that your essay has a logical structure.

There are various types of graphic organizers you can use, such as mind maps, concept maps, Venn diagrams, and flowcharts. Choose the one that best suits your writing style and the topic of your essay. Once you have selected a graphic organizer, start by jotting down your main idea in the center and then branch out to include your supporting points and details.

Mapping out your thoughts using a graphic organizer will not only help you stay focused and organized but also make the writing process smoother and more efficient. It can serve as a roadmap for your essay, guiding you through each section and ensuring that your ideas flow cohesively.

Develop Strong Arguments

Effective essay writing requires the development of strong arguments to persuade the reader of your perspective. To create compelling arguments, follow these key strategies:

• Research: Conduct thorough research to gather credible evidence and support for your arguments. Use reliable sources to strengthen your points.
• Structure: Organize your arguments logically and coherently. Start with a clear thesis statement and build each argument in a structured manner.
• Counterarguments: Anticipate counterarguments and address them in your essay. This shows that you have considered different viewpoints and strengthens your own position.
• Evidence: Support your arguments with relevant evidence, such as examples, statistics, and expert opinions. This adds credibility and persuasiveness to your essay.
• Clarity: Clearly articulate your arguments and provide explanations to ensure that your points are easily understood by the reader.
• Consistency: Ensure that your arguments are consistent throughout the essay. Avoid contradictions or inconsistencies that may weaken your overall argument.

By developing strong arguments with these key strategies, you can enhance the effectiveness of your essay writing and convey your ideas convincingly to your audience.

Building a Persuasive Case

When writing a persuasive essay, it is crucial to build a compelling case to persuade your audience to agree with your viewpoint. Here are some key steps to help you construct a persuasive case:

• Clear Thesis Statement: Start by clearly stating your position or argument in a concise thesis statement. This statement should clearly convey what you are trying to persuade your readers to believe or do.
• Supporting Evidence: Back up your thesis statement with strong evidence, facts, statistics, examples, and expert opinions. Providing solid evidence can make your case more convincing and credible.
• Logical Organization: Structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner. Develop your arguments in a clear sequence, with each point building upon the previous one to strengthen your case.
• Address Counterarguments: Anticipate potential counterarguments and address them in your essay. Acknowledging opposing viewpoints and refuting them can make your argument more persuasive.
• Emotional Appeal: Use emotional appeals, anecdotes, and narratives to connect with your audience on a personal level. Appeal to the emotions of your readers to make them more likely to empathize with your argument.
• Call to Action: End your essay with a strong call to action that urges your audience to take a specific course of action or consider your perspective. Encouraging your readers to act can motivate them to support your cause.

By following these steps and building a persuasive case in your essay, you can effectively convince your audience to embrace your ideas and opinions.

Enhance Your Writing Flow

One of the key elements in effective essay writing is maintaining a smooth and consistent flow throughout your piece. A well-structured essay should lead the reader from one point to the next seamlessly, with each paragraph naturally transitioning into the next.

To enhance your writing flow, consider using transitional words and phrases such as “furthermore,” “however,” “in addition,” and “conversely” to connect your ideas and guide the reader through your argument. These transitions help establish logical connections between your thoughts and make your writing more coherent.

Additionally, vary your sentence structure and length to create a dynamic rhythm in your writing. Mixing short, punchy sentences with longer, more elaborate ones can keep your reader engaged and prevent your writing from feeling monotonous.

Finally, don’t be afraid to revise and reorganize your essay to ensure a smooth and consistent flow. Take the time to read your work aloud or have someone else review it to identify any awkward or disjointed sections that may disrupt the flow of your writing.

By paying attention to these techniques and practicing them regularly, you can enhance your writing flow and take your essay writing skills to the next level.

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Activities & Lessons

Free Graphic Organizer Templates

Help your students classify ideas and communicate more effectively with these free graphic organizer templates, available for download. They can be used to structure writing projects and help in problem solving, decision making, studying, planning research, and brainstorming.

Printable Graphic Organizers

Select a blank graphic organizer from the following categories depending on your curriculum needs.

Sequence of Events

• Step-by-Step Chart
• Sequence Chart
• Time-Order Chart

Main Topic and Key Details

• Garden Gate
• Describing Wheel
• Cluster/Word Web 1
• Cluster/Word Web 2
• Cluster/Word Web 3  
• Idea Rake  
• Ticktacktoe
• Four-Column Chart
• Inverted Triangle
• Persuasion Map
• Ice Cream Cone

Compare/Contrast

• Venn Diagram

Story Planning

• Story Map 1
• Story Map 2
• Story Map 3
• Planning Chart

Essay Planning

• Introduction Paragraph Outline
• Five-Paragraph Essay Outline

Other Graphic Organizers

• Sense Chart
• Problem/Solution Chart
• ISP Chart (Information, Sources, Page)
• Fact and Opinion
• Five W's Chart
• Goal-Reasons Web
• Observation Chart

Offer a balanced approach to literacy instruction and build a culture of growth with HMH Into Reading .

Fourth-grade teacher Toney Jackson differentiates instruction with rhymes and raps on Teachers in America.

• Activities & Lessons

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Teach Students How to Write Personal Narratives with Graphic Organizers

• August 21, 2022

If you’re teaching students how to write personal narratives by taking them through the writing process, then you are doing what’s best for your writers! You know that great writing takes work–prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing.

For this reason, today’s blog post will focus on using graphic organizers to plan and draft student narratives. If your students have decided on a topic, then keep reading. If they haven’t, then visit post #2, “Find Authentic Topics for a Personal Narrative with These 5 Powerful Strategies,” for engaging activities to help students find unique topics. Also stay tuned for my upcoming posts where I’ll share strategies for revising, editing, and publishing personal narratives.

Now let’s get started!

I’m sharing three graphic organizers with you: Freytag’s Pyramid, Circle of a Moment, and a BME (Beginning, Middle, End) Chart. Read through the post, and decide which is best for your students at this time. (Later you can use another one for short story writing. These organizers will work for both.) 

Whether you choose the pyramid, circle, or chart, remember to model each step for students. Show them what to do one step at a time; then have them do it. You are welcome to use my examples, but if you feel comfortable doing this with your own story, then do that. It would work better because you can model your thinking as you write. Also, stop every so often to allow a few minutes for quick elbow-partner or whole-class readings. This will add inspiration and engagement.

As with every blog post I write, I am providing you with step-by-step instructions, but if you prefer the handouts, you can purchase them at my TPT store .

How to Write Personal Narratives Using Freytag’s Pyramid

If you have advanced learners or you are studying Freytag’s Pyramid, aka plot mountain, then use this organizer to help students plan their narratives. This will allow them to make connections between their reading and writing objectives. Plus, you can hit at least two goals with one lesson!

Plan Your Narratives

Draw a triangle-shaped mountain and label the elements of Freytag’s Pyramid, as seen in the above image, as you project it onto your screen for students to view and copy. Next, walk them through each element.

Remind students that writers introduce characters, describe the setting, and hint at the conflict in the exposition. List the characters who were present in your story, remembering to include yourself since this is a true story about a moment you lived. Next, describe when and where the story took place. Then hint at the conflict by writing what might concern the reader. 

In my example, I wrote, “My sister and I were playing in the dryer.” This already hints at the conflict since no child should be playing in a dryer, but I build on that by also noting that my story takes place in a garage in Texas during the summer. (Texas summers are hot; one hundred-degree days almost seem normal.)

Rising Action and Climax

I usually prefer doing things in order, but I’m going to change things up here. To help students understand rising action, move to the climax then return to the rising action. 

For the climax, think of the most exciting part of the story that serves as a turning point where the outcome of the conflict becomes clear, and write it at the top of the mountain. Then, for the rising action, note the actions that develop the conflict and occur before the climax in that section of the pyramid. The goal is to build suspense for readers as you develop the conflict.

In my example, the climax occurs when I knock on the dryer’s window to let my parents know where I am. This is the turning point of my story, where the outcome becomes clear. I don’t die. Actions in the rising action include the events that lead up to that moment, such as me getting locked in the dryer and not wanting to tell my father about it for fear of getting spanked. When you decide on the climax of the story, the actions that lead up to it will be easier to identify.

Falling Action

In the falling action, tension is eased as authors reveal how events unfold as a result of the climax, so note what happens after the climax. 

In my example, I include Mom pulling me out of the dryer and bathing me.

In the resolution, authors tie up loose ends and reveal how everything turns out. Personal narratives often end with a lesson learned, a reflection on the moment, or a prediction of what might happen in the future. For my prewriting here, I wrote, “My dad was in trouble for not watching us” and “Life is a great teacher.” Think of what you learned from this experience, and write it down. 

One more note here. When you think of life lessons, think deeply. If you are attacked by bees in your story, you want a more thoughtful lesson than don’t play with bees . If you do use that, make sure to develop it.

When you begin class with a warm-up, model each of these steps, and allow some time for writers to read what they wrote to the class, this planning session will take a forty-five-minute period. Just so you know. 😉

Draft Your Narratives

When drafting their narratives, students need time to write, so make sure to give them that time. While they’re writing, you can draft your narrative and conference with students about their writings. 

Use your pyramid to guide you as you draft your narrative, filling in the details as you write. 

Also, remember to allow students to read their writings to an elbow partner or the class. They want to share what they wrote, and it does help build classroom community.

How to Write Personal Narratives Using Circle of a Moment

What I like about this graphic organizer is its uniqueness. Students respond well to activities that are different, even when it’s just writing in circles instead of lines. I’ve mainly used it with regular-level students, but it works well for all levels.

Again, model each step for students while projecting your writing onto the screen.

Begin by drawing four circles onto a sheet of paper, one circle inside the other. (A compass will come in handy here.) Make your circles as large as possible so that you have plenty of room to write. Then draw three lines from the inner to the outer circle as seen in the above example.

For your prewriting, start in the middle of the circle and work your way out. 

In the center circle, write the topic of your personal narrative. I used the dryer story for all of these prewritings, so mine says “dryer incident.”

In the next circle, note the people, the setting, and the conflict of your story.

In the third circle, write what happened at the beginning, the middle, and the end. (The exposition and rising action will be the beginning, the climax will be the middle, and the falling action and resolution will be the end.)

Finally, in the outer circle, note a lesson learned, a prediction for the future, and a reflection on the moment.

As with the pyramid organizer, you’ll use this one to guide you as you write your draft. Begin with the second circle where you noted the characters, setting, and conflict. (Setting and character descriptions can be great hooks for narratives, which I’ll discuss more in my next blog post.) 

Next, move to the third circle (with the beginning, middle, and end), and write your story in that order, adding as many details as you can remember.

Finally, move to the last circle. You’ll notice this circle includes three ways to end your narrative, but you don’t need to use all of them. Choose the one you think is best or a combination of two or three, and conclude your story. 

How to Write Personal Narratives Using a BME Chart

If you or your reading teacher are using a beginning, middle, and end strategy for reading instruction, then this is the perfect time to use this chart. Because of its simplicity, this organizer is also good for lower-level students. 

Draw and label a chart, as seen in the above example, with five sections labeled introduction , beginning , middle , end , and conclusion . 

In the introduction, write who was present for the story, where the story takes place, and what might concern the reader.

In the beginning, middle, and end sections, write about the events that happen first, second, third, etc., and note how your story ends.

Finally, in the conclusion, write a lesson you learned from this experience and reflect on the moment. How do you feel about that moment today? Think about it and write it down.

Using your chart as a guide, start drafting your narrative, bringing in all of the details you can remember. Start with the introduction. Move to the beginning, middle, and end sections. When you’ve finished with those steps, conclude with a lesson and/or a reflection on the moment. 

Remember to provide students with plenty of time for writing and a few minutes for sharing. 

Close Your Lesson

Close any of these lessons with an exit slip where students note a question they have or explain how to write a personal narrative. You can begin your next period together by reading a few of these to students while answering questions, offering praise, and clarifying misconceptions.

You should now have some unique drafts! Prepare to move on to the next steps to make them even better!

If you’d like any of these handouts, visit Graphic Organizers for Personal Narratives  at my TPT store .

Tips for Students Writing Personal Narratives

Tips for Teaching Personal Narrative Writing

• Make sure students have decided on a topic before beginning these activities. (See blog #2, “Find Authentic Topics for a Personal Narrative with These 5 Strategies,” for engaging activities.)
• Read examples of good personal narratives so students will know what they’re expected to write.
• Have students keep their prewriting and drafts in a writer’s notebook so that they can find them.
• Use the organizers that work best for your students. If you’re studying plot development, use Freytag’s Pyramid. If you’re using a beginning-middle-end strategy for summarizing, then use the BME Chart. (I’ve also used these for differentiating with the pyramid for higher-level students, the circle for regular-level, and the chart for lower-level.)
• When using the organizers, model each step for students.
• Allow students plenty of time for drafting their narratives.
• Remind students to write in first person (using the pronoun I ).
• Since personal narratives are stories about past events, they should be written in the past tense.
• Allow students to read portions of their organizers and their drafts to an elbow partner or the entire class.
• Close the lesson with exit slips where students ask questions or summarize what they’ve learned. 

Related Links

Blog Post #5: Writing a Hook to Reel in Your Readers Immediately

This post explains how you can teach students to revise their introductions for personal narratives or any essay.

Find Authentic Topics for a Personal Narrative with These 5 Powerful Strategies

This blog post discusses activities to help students decide on topics for their personal narratives.

How to Write a Personal Narrative

This post gives tips for writing a personal narrative with everything from topics to writing. 

How to Write a Personal Narrative: Steps and Examples  

For personal narrative writing guidelines, visit this link.

Teachers & Writers Magazine / This IBelieve: Personal Narratives by High School Students  

This site includes personal narratives written by high school students. (You want students to read what they’re expected to write.)

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I think all teachers would agree that teaching writing is a grueling process.  Narrative writing, in particular, is tough because it involves many different components.  Whether students are writing a personal narrative or a fictional narrative, it is critical that they learn to correctly construct their writing in a way that highlights their storyline.  Flowing through the elements of plot, character, and dialogue can quickly become overwhelming. In order to ease the feelings of overwhelm, I like to utilize graphic organizers throughout the entire writing process.  That way, students get a visual representation for each component of their narrative. Each organizer and the specific order of implementation is detailed below.

Narrative Concept Map

It might be obvious, but starting the teaching process by defining the term “narrative” is critical.  Of course, students know what stories are, but the word narrative might be new to them. The concept map provides a space to record the definition, add synonyms, construct an original sentence, and develop concrete examples.  If done well, students will start the writing process with a strong understanding of the expectations for narrative writing.

Theme Concept Map

The next graphic organizer is focused on the concept of theme .  In order for students to start thinking about possible themes ahead of time, I like to complete it with students before they start writing.  If students are clear on their theme, their stories tend to have more depth and meaning. The theme organizer is similar to the narrative organizer outlined above.  Students write the definition, provide a synonym or two, write an original sentence, then generate theme examples from familiar stories they have read in the past.

Plot Terms Concept Map

It is hard to write a narrative without a basic understanding of plot.  The ability to differentiate and understand the elements of plot is necessary for crafting an effective story.  Using a concept map to define each term will help students when it comes time to construct each part of their story.  Each element of the plot serves a specific purpose, which will hopefully be clear to students after they have completed the concept map for each term.

Literary Devices Concept Map

I like to spend a bit more time teaching students about the different literary devices they might want to include in their narratives.  Typically, I focus on one device at a time, possibly even creating a separate lesson plan for each one. The graphic organizer is nice because students can refer back to it when writing their narratives.  I like to require students to use three examples of literary devices in their story, which makes this graphic organizer a great point of reference later on in the writing process.

Character Traits Bubble Map

Brainstorming character traits is always fun because it gives students a chance to think about their favorite fictional characters and the specific traits those characters possess.  Filling up the bubble map also gives students a great deal of inspiration to work with when it’s time for them to start constructing characters of their own.

Character Maps

The character maps provide students with space to dive deeper into character creation.  It forces them to think about each character’s physical description, actions, feelings, and thoughts.  Without the character maps, students run the risk of creating flat characters. Taking the time to create deep and meaningful characters is an integral part of crafting a narrative.

Transition Words Bubble Map

Teaching students to incorporate different transition words into their narratives is so important.  Transition words are extremely helpful for the reader to be able to follow along and keep pace with the narrative.  Without them, the story might feel jumpy and disconnected. Providing the reader with transition words, helps them understand how the ideas flow together.  Like the literacy devices map described above, the transition words bubble map works well as a reference tool when students begin writing their narratives.

Types of Characters Double Bubble Map

Comparing and contrasting character types will give students a stronger foundation for developing their own characters.  It is important for students to know the difference between static characters and dynamic characters, not only for writing purposes, but for reading comprehension as well.  Your students might be creating both types of characters, but not know the terms used to define each type. The double bubble map helps to reinforce this concept.

Types of Conflict Double Bubble Map

Delving into the different types of conflict is also something I like to do before students start writing their narratives.  Conflict is a major component of all narratives, so I want to make sure students are extremely clear on the type of conflict they are presenting in their own story.  We take the time to compare and contrast both conflict types and look at examples of each. In my experience, external conflicts are more popular with fictional narratives, and internal conflicts are more popular with personal narratives.  That being said, both work well in either scenario.

Tone vs. Mood Double Bubble Map

Possibly the most difficult literary concept for students to understand is the difference between tone and mood.  I like to dedicate time for a stand-alone lesson on creating and utilizing tone and mood.  Overall, my goal is for students to have a general understanding of tone and mood, so they can successfully apply both to their own stories.

Sensory Words Tree Map

I love teaching imagery! The sensory words tree map encourages imagination and gives students a chance to get creative with their writing.  We start the tree map together as a class, and students finish on their own. I like to teaching students to use sensory details by describing their favorite meal.  Food is something that usually appeals to all five senses. When it’s time for students to add imagery to their own stories, they just need to think back to how they described their favorite meal.  They can also look back to their completed tree map for additional ideas.

Figurative Language Tree Map

Figurative language is a concept that is weaved throughout the entire school year.  I use the tree map to focus on the most common types of figurative language, and the devices that students are most likely going to add to their stories.  We work together to define and add an example for each type of figurative language. The tree map works well as a quick review and as a place for students to refer back to when they are looking to add figurative language to their narrative.

Point of View Tree Map

Understanding the differences in point of view is an important part of narrative writing.  If students are writing a personal narrative, they will most likely be writing in first person.  On the other hand, if students are writing a fictional narrative, they will most likely be writing in third person.  While understanding the differences in point of view can be tricky, most students will naturally gravitate to the correct use of point of view for their particular story.

Click here to download all fifteen Narrative Graphic Organizers from Literacy in Focus on TpT. 

Narrative Flow Map

The narrative flow map presents a different way of diagraming the plot.  It is essential that students work through each element of their story before they start writing.  Otherwise, the narrative may contain unnecessary elements or skip over critical components that are needed for a cohesive storyline.  The narrative flow map is a way for students to ensure that their story is complete and contains all necessary elements.

Plot Diagram

Most students will be familiar with a plot diagram.  Like the narrative flow map, the plot diagram ensures that students add all the necessary story elements to their narratives.  The plot diagram also serves as a great storytelling visual. Students can see how their story begins with the exposition, takes the reader up with the rising action, peaks at the climax, brings the reader back down with the falling action, and ties up all loose ends with the resolution.

Teaching students how to write a narrative doesn’t have to be difficult! You can pick and choose your favorite graphic organizers to use, or, if you have time, you can use all fifteen!  If you are interested in downloading all fifteen graphic organizers, click here to visit Literacy in Focus on TpT , and make them yours today!  All of the narrative organizers are printable and digital, making it easy for you to implement with or without technology!

“Very straightforward and easy to incorporate into my narrative writing unit. The digital copies were great for students who need technology to help with writing.” -Andrew M

Students love to share stories about themselves! As a teacher, you know the rewarding experience of helping students turn that storytelling excitement into engaging, well-written personal narratives. Narrative writing is also an effective way for students to explore important traits of descriptive writing to really make their stories come alive.

When it comes to personal narratives, the ability to clearly organize thoughts and ideas prior to writing is critical. Graphic organizers are the perfect tools to help students reflect on important experiences from their lives and develop their ideas. These organizers ask students to dig deep within themselves to uncover key details and explore the emotions and ideas that will guide their stories from beginning to end.

If your students are ready to write and share stories inspired by their own experiences, these 5 graphic organizers will help them develop personal narratives that will engage and captivate any reader:

1. Personal Narrative Pond: Graphic Organizer & Mini-Lesson

This  frog-themed graphic organizer  teaches students in grades 2–4 about the writing process and how to take a broad concept and narrow it down to a specific, and more compelling, idea.

2. Writing Graphic Organizer: Nifty Narrative

This  graphic organizer  encourages writers in grades 3–5 to revisit the feelings and sensory experiences of a special memory and use them to write a detail-rich personal narrative that will engage and captivate readers.

3. Memoir: Leveled Graphic Organizers

Designed for students in grades 4–8, this set of  graphic organizers  includes lesson tips and model writing samples to help students write about a meaningful personal experience.

4. Point of View (Narrative Writing): Leveled Graphic Organizers

Explore point of view with this  lesson and organizers . The memoir-writing organizer From the Inside Out supports students in grades 4–8 with adding details and proper pacing to their narratives.

5. Practice Using Lively Language

Lively vocabulary helps engage readers with vivid imagery and interesting details. After reading model texts, invite students in grades 3–5 to use this  graphic organizer  to help them create engaging personal narratives filled with powerful language.

To explore more graphic organizers and gain access to thousands of printable and downloadable teacher resources that will help your students write engaging personal narratives, log in or subscribe to  Scholastic Teachables  today!

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12 Graphic Organizer Examples for Teachers and Students

Every teacher wants their students to fully understand the concepts taught in class. However, you may encounter topics that are difficult to teach and understand. It is necessary to employ an innovative approach in order to assist students in comprehending a challenging subject.

Graphic organizers are powerful tools that make complex concepts easier to teach and understand. They also help students develop visual literacy skills . Teachers find graphic organizers helpful for explaining difficult concepts, and students find them engaging. Graphic organizers are also great for presenting research data if, for example, the teacher wants to share a case study with students.

Now, what if you could quickly find and customize graphic organizers without spending hours brainstorming from scratch?Because there is a sea of engaging templates to choose from, you can create compelling visuals with just a few clicks. These graphics can be used for a number of different purposes, including teaching. With Piktochart, you can access and customize engaging graphic organizer templates in minutes – no design skills required. Simply create a free account to get started.

In this article, we will look at the 12 graphic organizer examples that greatly assist teachers and help students retain information for a longer period of time. 

What is a Graphic Organizer?

Graphic organizers are tools that help visually organize information and complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand and memorize. Graphic organizers effectively organize and visualize information by creating links between concepts or facts. By visually illustrating the relationships between concepts, graphic organizers make it easier to analyze and internalize information. 

We know that every mind works differently. Presenting information in a systematic, visual format enables students to follow along at their own pace and grasp relationships more easily than via verbal explanation alone. They can also be an invaluable tool for visual learners.

12 Graphic Organizer Examples for Different Learning Objectives

There are countless types of graphic organizers out there, as information can be organized and visualized in many different ways. We’ll focus on 12 of the most helpful types of graphic organizers for teachers and students, organized by the primary purpose each one serves.

Graphic Organizers for Brainstorming and Organizing Ideas

Some graphic organizers are specifically great for organizing ideas for brainstorming. Here are three examples. 

Mind maps are graphic organizers that organize information in a structured and visually attractive fashion. When a mind map is finished, you will get a structure that looks like a spider web. An example of the graphic organizer is the following mind map on Piktochart . It shows the values of a company, with different values branching out from the central idea, that is, company values . 

We all know that information retention can become quite difficult, especially when a number of different subtopics link to one main topic. A student could use a mind map to break down the taxonomy of living things, with ‘Organisms’ in the center, ‘Kingdoms’ branching out one level, ‘Phyla’ branching out from each ‘Kingdom’ and so on.  

Concept Map

Concept maps are another type of graphic organizer that excels at representing hierarchical information. They use boxes or circles to represent different concepts, with lines or arrows labeled to illustrate the relationships between them.

Concept maps have many uses in educational settings. They help in the sequential understanding of different concepts for students. For example, if a teacher has to break down a country’s government structure, he or she will most likely use a concept map to show the branches and subbranches of different government institutions systematically. 

Cluster Diagram

Cluster or cloud diagrams help brainstorm different ideas around a main concept. This type of graphic organizer is called a cluster because the topic or ideas related to the main idea form a cluster around it. For example, a cluster diagram can assist students determine how much they know about a topic and what areas need further research.

 This type of graphic organizer is very useful when generating ideas for a project or planning its different phases. Cluster diagrams break down a complex subject into smaller parts, both for individuals and for groups, for example, during defining scope of a project in its early stage.  

Graphic Organizers for Comparing and Contrasting

 The next type of graphic organizer helps you to compare two or more concepts. You can use this organizer to compare and contrast ideas, people, events, and policies. For instance, say you’re teaching a unit on different forms of government. You could use a compare and contrast graphic organizer to help students parse out key similarities and differences between a democracy and a dictatorship. This type of graphic organizer will be your go-to option. 

It is important to know that when you use this type of graphic organizer to compare two concepts, you are covering both the similarities and differences between those concepts. However, with contrast, only the differences are mentioned. Some examples of this category of graphic organizers are given below.

Venn Diagram

A Venn Diagram usually comprises two to three overlapping circles. The commonalities between the concepts are written in the shared or overlapping area, whereas all the distinct or unique features are mentioned in the part of the circle that does not overlap with any other circle. 

For example, you could have your students draw Venn diagram for the fruits and vegetables that red or orange. The common area between the two circles will contain vegetables like tomatoes that come in both these categories. The Venn diagram below shows the comparison of mitosis and meiosis. 

Another brilliant graphic organizer for comparing and contrasting is the “T Chart.” A T-chart is simply a table with two columns, usually comparing two items or ideas, or sorting data into categories. This type of graphic organizer is super quick to create and easy to understand, especially for students. T charts can also be used to categorize and jot down pros and cons.

The T chart is a popular option for both teachers and students because its layout is straightforward, and it offers a wide array of functions. For example, if the students are planning to go on a field trip but are not able to choose a location, then T charts can help a great deal. 

Teachers can ask the students to make a T chart of potential places and list the advantages and disadvantages of each of the locations in their respective columns. Also, a T chart is a great graphic organizer to show upsides and downsides of a topic.

Graphic Organizers for Sequencing and Cause-Effect

Next on the list are graphic organizers, which show the sequence or timeline of events. Sequence and timeline graphic organizers are particularly useful for teachers when presenting events in chronological order is important. Some of the graphic organizers that help students visualize the relationships between steps in a process or links in a chain of events are as follows.

A timeline graphic organizer shows a sequence of events in chronological order. History subjects make great use of timelines . Because major historical events can be shown in a proper sequence using a timeline. Along with dates, timelines give the flexibility to mention locations as well. For example, a timeline of the American Revolution could chart major turning points like the Boston Tea Party, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the Battle of Yorktown.

Timelines can also be used to show how a certain phenomenon has progressed over time, such as a business’s growth. The Piktochart timeline template below charts key events in the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Notice how the combination of images and concise text makes the chronology engaging and easy to follow. 

This type of graphic organizer shows the steps of a process and how all the steps combine in a sequence to make the process happen. Flowcharts systematically and clearly document and communicate how a process works and what steps are involved in it, from start to finish. When a process is mapped using a flowchart , potential areas or steps of improvement can be identified. 

Cause and Effect Diagram

As the name suggests, a cause-and-effect diagram groups those causes of a problem that either have already happened or might happen. Relationships between different contributing factors can also be shown using a cause-and-effect diagram.

Often referred to as an Ishikawa diagram, or a fishbone diagram, a cause-and-effect visual is one of the basic tools of quality . While often associated with root cause analysis in business and manufacturing, cause-and-effect diagrams are equally powerful for getting to the bottom of issues in the classroom. By mapping out all the potential contributing factors to a problem, students can start to identify patterns and actionable solution.

Source: Noria Corporation

Graphic Organizers for Main Idea and Supporting Details

This category of graphic organizers shows a main idea and its supporting ideas. It defines and visualizes a core concept and all its supporting details. It is a great tool that helps students develop an outline of a topic for better understanding. Some of the examples are given below.

Main Idea Web

This type of graphic organizer starts with a main idea and branches out into related sub-ideas. The key point behind web graphic organizers is sometimes referred to as a light bulb. It is predominantly  used to brainstorm ideas for writing purposes. For example, if a student wrote a report on photosynthesis, they could put “photosynthesis” in the center, then branch out to related subtopics like ‘chloroplasts’, ‘light-dependent reactions’, etc.

Herringbone Diagram

A herringbone diagram is used when processes are involved. This type of web organizer helps you break down variations in a process or causes that lead up to an effect. A herringbone diagram is particularly important for avoiding an event before it happens.

Graphic Organizers for Writing and Note-taking

Another group of graphic organizers we’ll explore focuses on writing and note-taking. Writing, especially essays, proves challenging for many students as they struggle with arranging ideas. Here are a couple of graphic organizers for writing, which can be of great help to you.

Essay writing is an important skill that students use throughout their lives. An essay map graphic organizer is a brilliant tool for students, as it helps them to chalk out the outline in a systematic manner without missing any detail. Once a student is done with his or her essay map, writing becomes a walk in the park.

Cornell Map

This graphic organizer is a popular technique for note-taking. Particularly during lectures and textbook reading, the Cornell Map template comes in handy as it helps students to jot down all the important ideas and information systematically. It usually has a cue column, a note-taking column, and a summary section. 

When students are taking notes, the key ideas, important dates, formulas and other such details would go into the “note-taking” column. They will add questions, cues, and headings in the “cue” column. Whereas, the “summary” section will include a summary of the notes as one or two key learning outcomes. This helps students identify important details when they revise their notes later on.  

Tips for Using Graphic Organizers Effectively

It is important for teachers to use graphic organizers in a manner that maximizes the chances of effective learning. Some of the tips to make sure a graphic organizer effective are given below.

• Simple is Always Better —Your graphic organizers must always be simple. This will help students learn quickly. For example, avoid complete sentences unless absolutely necessary.
• Offer a Variety of Graphic Organizers – Expose your students to different types of graphic organizers day-to-day. This will bring out the best in them in terms of creativity.
• Use the to Assess Student Learning – Give the students a task along with a graphic organizer focused on the skill in focus. Use their graphic organizers to assess their standing in the class. 
• Use them Frequently —Using graphic organizers frequently helps students internalize what is being taught. The more often students use these tools to engage with content, the more adept they’ll become at using them independently. 

A graphic organizer is a tool for teachers to explain complex problems to their students. Similarly, graphic organizers help students visualize the information being taught in class. 

There are different graphic organizers, each suited to a specific purpose or thinking process. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, comparing and contrasting, sequencing events, mapping out an essay, or taking structured notes, there’s a graphic organizer that can help.Teachers can encourage their students to generate ideas by using graphic organizers in their lessons. Students can use graphic organizers to enhance their writing skills.

Piktochart is a one-stop solution that lets you create your own graphic organizer within seconds. It has both one-pager templates and multi-pager templates to cater to all kinds of requirements. Sign up on Piktochart now and make learning fun!

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