Graphic Organizers1

Organizing Autobiographical/Biographical Information

1) Sequence chart: Chart the sequence of events in an individuals life using on of the
sequencing charts below.

Sequencing Chart #1
First,

Next,

Then,

Later,

Finally,

Sequencing Chart #2

Sequencing Chart #3

Note for the Graphic Organizers that Teacher How to Guides are shaded blue. Student Templates are green.
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2) Cause and Effect: Cause and effect charts sort out the difference between the root or
cause of the problem and the branches or effects of that problem.

Effect: What happened because of the cause/root of the problem?

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Cause: What was the root or start of the problem?
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3) Problem and Solution: Figure out the meaning or purpose of a piece by labeling what
the problem is and what the solution is. If there is not a solution in the text offer an idea
of your own.

4) Type of Nonfiction Organizer: Figure out the type of nonfiction a text is by looking at how
the text uses language to give you information. Does it sound like a story? Then it might be
Narrative Nonfiction. Is it all facts? Then it might be Expository Nonfiction. Is it trying to get you
to believe something? Then it might be Persuasive Nonfiction. Use text evidence to support.
Example

Type of Nonfiction
(Narrative, Expository, Persuasive)

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Text Evidence

How To for Week 1 Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizer: Types of Nonfiction
Example

Type of Nonfiction

Text Evidence

(Narrative, Expository, Persuasive)

Website about Mount Everest:

Expository

With a peak elevation of 29,035

feet (8850 meters), the top of
Mount Everest is the world's
highest point above sea level. As
the world's highest mountain,
climbing to the top of Mount
Everest has been a goal of many
mountain climbers for many
decades.

Into Thin Air Excerpt:

Narrative

Factual account of true story (contains

characters and plot, similar to a fictional
story)

Persuasive

Writers opinion and attitude about the

piece is brought forth. He tries to
persuade the reader to believe his
viewpoint about the book, using words
such as good and superior.

Straddling the top of the world,

one foot in Tibet and the other in
Nepal, I cleared the ice from my
oxygen mask, hunched a shoulder
against the wind, and stared
absently at the vast sweep of earth
below.

Editorial Critique of Into Thin Air:

Krakauer is a good writer, and this
book - not his first - shows it. It
won't win any Pulitizer Prizes, but it
is far superior to ones written by
more accomplished climbers, such
as Reinhold Messner.

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Graphic Organizer: Fiction vs. Nonfiction

Example

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Fiction or Nonfiction

Text Evidence

Graphic Organizer: Types of Nonfiction

Example

Type of Nonfiction
(Narrative, Expository, Persuasive)

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Text Evidence

Graphic Organizer: KWL Chart

(What I Know)

(What I Want to Know)

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L
(What I Learned)

How To for Week 2 Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizer: Boxes & Bullets
Central Idea or Visual

Supporting Details from Text

(Bullet)

(Bullet)

(Bullet)

(Box)

Graphic Organizer: Highlight for Meaning

Text to Highlight

Reason for Highlighting

Understanding gained

(Copy highlighted text)

(Why am I highlighting the text?)

(What is the deeper understanding?)

Graphic Organizer: Profiles in Success

Individual(s)

Words /Thoughts
(Quotations can be used)

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Actions
(Quotations can be used)

Beliefs /Feelings
(Quotations can be used)

Graphic Organizer: Boxes & Bullets

Central Idea or Visual

Supporting Details from Text

(Bullet)

(Bullet)

(Box)

(Bullet)

Central Idea or Visual

Supporting Details from Text

(Bullet)

(Bullet)

(Box)

(Bullet)

Central Idea or Visual

Supporting Details from Text

(Bullet)

(Bullet)

(Box)

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(Bullet)

Graphic Organizer: Summarizing

Central Idea: _____________________________________________________________

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Summary: ____________________________________________________________________
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Graphic Organizer: Highlight for Meaning

Text to Highlight

Reason for Highlighting

Understanding gained

(Copy highlighted text)

(Why am I highlighting the text?)

(What is the deeper understanding?)

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Graphic Organizer: Profiles in Success

Individual(s)

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Words/Thoughts

Actions

Beliefs and Feelings

(Quotations can be used)

(Quotations can be used)

(Quotations can be used)

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How To for Week 3 Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizer: Interpreting Visuals and Vocabulary
Visual or Vocabulary

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Interpretation
(What Does It Mean?)

How does it help me

understand the text?

Graphic Organizer: Interpreting Visuals and Vocabulary

Visual or Vocabulary

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Interpretation
(What Does It Mean?)

How does it help me

understand the text?

How To for Week 4 Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizer: Breaking it Down
Paragraph #1 One Sentence Summary:
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Graphic Organizer: Author Argument

Author/Article

Central Idea
(Explicit or Implicit)

Explicit or Implicit: ___________

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Text Evidence

Graphic Organizer: Breaking it Down

Paragraph #__One Sentence Summary:

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Paragraph #__One Sentence Summary:
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Paragraph #__ One Sentence Summary:
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Paragraph #__One Sentence Summary:

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Paragraph #__One Sentence Summary:
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Graphic Organizer: Pulling it Together

Central Idea: _____________________________________________________________

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Summary: ____________________________________________________________________
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Graphic Organizer: Author Argument

Author/Article

Central Idea

Explicit or Implicit: ___________

Explicit or Implicit: ___________

Explicit or Implicit: ___________

Explicit or Implicit: ___________

Explicit or Implicit: ___________

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Text Evidence

How To for Week 5 Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizer: Authors Device, Evidence, and Response
Authors Device
Audience

Evidence

Purpose

Background?

I can use this Graphic Organizer to analyze text, as

well as media clips, such as commercials.

Graphic Organizer: Tracing an Argument

Tracing an Argument
Context: Explain whats at stake: Why does
it matter?
Why is it important to have a definition of
success and how to achieve it (on a personal
and societal level)?
Avoid: This paper will be about or Im
going to write about
Position Statement: Develop your overall
position on the issue (like a Central Idea)
Avoid: I think or I believe

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My Response

Graphic Organizer: Authors Device, Evidence, and Response

Authors Device
Audience

Purpose

Tone

Style

Perspective

Background

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Evidence

My Response

Graphic Organizer: Fact vs. Opinion

Facts

Opinions
(Underline clue words)

Choose Three (3) Opinions from above and Respond:

Opinion

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Supported by Evidence?
(yes or no)
If yes, describe.

My Response
(Agree or Disagree and Why)

Graphic Organizer: Tracing an Argument

Tracing an Argument
Context: Explain whats at stake: Why does
it matter?
Why is it important to have a definition of
success and how to achieve it (on a personal
and societal level)?
Avoid: This paper will be about or Im
going to write about
Position Statement: Develop your overall
position on the issue (like a Central Idea)
Avoid: I think or I believe
Claims: Defend your position with more
specific reasons.
Evidence: Defend your claims (interviews,
observations, research data, newspaper
reports, etc.)

Claim #1:
Evidence:

Claim #2:
Evidence:

Avoid: Using evidence that is not specific

and relevant to your claims

Claim #3:
Evidence:

Discussion of Counterclaims: Make

reference to other ideas/theories on the
subject.
Avoid: Giving too much or too little credit to
opposition
Thoughtful Conclusion: Show how all of the
information you have gathered about
success has challenged or confirmed your
thinking.
Avoid: So this is what I think or This is
the end of my essay

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Graphic Organizer: Letter to the Author

_________________
Date
Dear ___________________,
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Sincerely,
_________________

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How To for Week 6 Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizer: Comparing Perspectives
Central Idea
Explicit
or Implicit?

Person or
Group

Success is

Success can be
achieved by

Malcolm Gladwell
Outliers

Graphic Organizer: The Argument Essay

The Argument Essay (Outline)
Context: Explain whats at stake: Why does it matter?
Why is it important to have a definition of success and
how to achieve it (on a personal and societal level)?
Avoid: This paper will be about or Im going to
write about
Position Statement: Develop your overall position on
the issue (like a Central Idea).
Avoid: I think or I believe
Claims: Defend your position with more specific
reasons.
Evidence: Defend your claims (interviews,
observations, research data, newspaper reports, etc.).
Discussion of Counterclaims: Make reference to other
ideas/theories on the subject.
Avoid: Giving too much or too little credit to opposition
Thoughtful Conclusion: Show how all of the
information you have gathered about success has
challenged or confirmed your thinking.
Avoid: So this is what I think or This is the end of
my essay

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Claim #1:
Evidence:

Text Evidence

Graphic Organizer: Comparing Perspectives

Central Idea
Explicit
or Implicit?

Person or
Group
Malcolm
Gladwell
Outliers

Lance
Armstrong
Its All About
the Bike
Sean Covey
7 Habits of
Highly Effective
Teens
The Mole
People
Jennifer Toth

Greg
Mortenson
Three Cups of
Tea
Advertisements
(Television,
Magazine, etc.)

Other

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Success is

Success is achieved by

Text Evidence

Graphic Organizer: Comparing Perspectives

Central Idea
Explicit
or Implicit?

Person or
Group

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Success is

Success is achieved by

Text Evidence

Graphic Organizer: Comparing My Perspectives

Author/Argument

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My Response

Graphic Organizer: The Argument Essay

The Argument Essay (Outline)
Context: Explain whats at stake: Why does
it matter?
Why is it important to have a definition of
success and how to achieve it (on a personal
and societal level)?
Avoid: This paper will be about or Im
going to write about
Position Statement: Develop your overall
position on the issue (like a Central Idea).
Avoid: I think or I believe
Claims: Defend your position with more
specific reasons.
Evidence: Defend your claims (interviews,
observations, research data, newspaper
reports, etc.).

Claim #1:
Evidence:

Claim #2:
Evidence:

Avoid: Using evidence that is not specific

and relevant to your claims.

Claim #3:
Evidence:

Discussion of Counterclaims: Make

reference to other ideas/theories on the
subject.
Avoid: Giving too much or too little credit to
opposition.
Thoughtful Conclusion: Show how all of the
information you have gathered about
success has challenged or confirmed your
thinking.
Avoid: So this is what I think... or This is
the end of my essay

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