Graphic Organizer Complete Guide

Edraw Content Team

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Graphic organizer is a visual chart that displays links between facts, ideas, or singular traits within a write-up. It improves reading comprehension by expressing logics graphically. In simple words, it is a tool for comparing story attributes. For that reason, it helps brainstorm solutions for the problems within the storyline. Besides that, it doesn't come in a single type. You may have heard about it by the name of knowledge maps, concept maps, bubble charts, or cognitive organizers.

Every organizer type has a specific function. Collectively, these can help classify, compare, enlist, sequence, highlight, and summarize your thoughts. You'll get a descriptive analysis of their uses and features further in the article. As for creating a graphic organizer, several programs are on market for the task. The well-known free program EdrawMax can be an optimum choice for you. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating an organizer.

graphic organizer

1. What is a Graphic Organizer

Being exposed to its general overview and background, you may ask what is a Graphic Organizer? Graphic organizer is a visual and pictorial representation of the links between facts, concepts, and/or ideas in a learning assignment. Knowledge maps, concept maps, story maps, cognitive organisers, advance organisers, and concept diagrams are other names for graphic organizers.

Let's be honest, long essays and complicated stories are always boring for everyone. Plus, in today's busy world, no one has that much free time to re-read the lines again and again to understand the main concept. A graphic map jumps here as the solution. It saves time and gives value to the readers. According to the graphic organizer definition, they can easily extract the required knowledge in less time with less effort.

What is a Graphic Organizer:

Long story short, A graphic organizer visually represents ideas, concepts, and relationships between various components. Its mapped visualization organizes the write-up, connects its details, and portrays it in a simple manner for the readers.

2. Types of Graphic Organizers

All readers are not the same, and neither are the write-ups. For a student, there are academic essays, stories, and biographies that require specific organizers. We know that the collective graphic organizer definition is the same. However, one interface template of an organizer is not suitable for every write-up. Therefore, experts came up with multiple visualization diagrams that target different write-ups and their components individually. Some of types of graphic organizers are as follows:

Venn Diagrams:

Venn diagrams use two circles to compare two different components of a write-up. You can use it with an essay to compare its two basic notions. On top of that, you can use it with a story to compare the characters inside it. However, the general purpose of the organizer will remain the same. It explicitly depicts the differences and similarities between two content items. The visualization diagram includes two big circles that overlap each other. The things that are similar in both occupy the area that overlaps. In contrast, the differences reside in the area that is individually separated.

Double Bubble Map:

The double bubble map also helps the students to compare two items. However, it offers a much broader approach. You can contrast between places, people, and events. Unlike Venn Diagrams, these do not use overlapped circles for all the association details. Instead, this type uses tiny circle bubbles with individual traits. Plus, an extra visual shape connects the similar information in both items.

KWL Chart:

This type of organizer-KWL Chart helps the students to track their learning behavior in an organized way. Typically it includes separate containers with different information. These sections include the known facts and the data that students want to know. Its significant use is in academic fields where it proves efficient in groups. Plus, individual students or the whole class can perform this task collectively for better understanding.

Sequence Chart:

The sequence chart includes organized components of content. The organizer's purpose is to use a visual aid to create a flow between different scattered details of the essay or story. Moreover, you can use these for business ideas to organize events or steps in a sequence. The series chart has a subtype that focuses on the cyclic sequence.

Cycle Diagram:

This diagram includes the steps that sequence themselves in a circular flow. The last step or element of the cycle diagram directly relates to the first one. This diagram focuses on the flow instead of listing steps or organizing events.

Storyboard:

This organizer uses static panels and simple visuals to organize and portray the storyline. It contains more pictures and visual artwork rather than words. Therefore, the organizer is more engaging and appealing to the readers.

Concept Map:

A concept map develops relationships between concepts. It is an educational graphical organizer that uses academic write-ups for concept connection diagrams. Plus, it uses different shapes such as boxes or circles to list information and ideas. Moreover, the organizer uses arrow shapes labeled with phrases to connect these concepts.

Types of Graphic Organizer:

Venn Diagrams
Double Bubble Map
KWL Chart
Sequence Chart
Cycle Diagram
Storyboard
Concept Map

3. Importance of Graphic Organizer

Graphic organizers are a set of appealing visuals that exhibit a complex write-up in the simplest way. The basic purpose of the graphical organizer stays the same. However, you can use it to extract more benefits from the written content. As the graphic organizer definition states, these diagrams use simple navigation shapes that organize the poorly sequenced content. Moreover, these shapes make the written content more appealing and increase reader engagement. The visual diagrams enhance the reading comprehension of students. Therefore, it helps academically and professionally, which makes it pretty important.

Not only the readers but the writers also find it befitting. It makes their written content more audience-oriented which helps it to serve its purpose. Plus, organizers help to direct the audience towards a central point that is the main reason to write content. Graphic organizers increase the students' ability to look for supporting details and textual evidence inside the write-up. It helps them to find the answers from a given context. Moreover, filling out these organizer forms can help them outline the essay or story they are about to write.

4. How to Use Graphic Organizer

A graphical organizer stays of no use to you until you learn how to utilize it accordingly. Not every organizer will give you the exact output. Some compare the items and give you their details, while others focus on the central concept and try to prove it with evidence. For that reason, before you deal with an organizer, ensure you know why you are using it and what contents it has. General guidelines for using a graphic organizer are as follows.

Look at the interface and judge what type of organizer it is.
Typically, organizers include a brief description of the content inside the boxes. Read it and follow those descriptive instructions. For instance, in a character analysis graphical organizer, there are traits and short descriptions about them. You must find the individual detail and write them inside the given box.
Some organizers have a brief explanation at the top that summarizes the aim and reason for the visualizations. Read those before jumping in to have an accessible data approach.

Moreover, some organizers have specific instructions for usage. We'll discuss some of them here:

KWL Chart Usage Steps:

Brainstorm the ideas and write down what you already know about them.
Write down what you would love to know more about the ideas.
Brainstorm the ideas and write down what you already know about them.

Concept Map Usage Steps::

Identify the central idea.
Look for the supporting details and facts and connect them.
Conclude an imaginary statement at the end that describes the notion.

5. How to Create a Graphic Organizer in EdrawMax

With the word visual artwork, an exaggerated and effort-taking design software comes up in most people's minds. However, things aren't the same as before. With graphical organizer makers in the market like EdrawMax, the workload is now minimum.

EdrawMax has different versions for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Whatever method you use, there are 4 simple steps to follow in order to make graphic organizer without wasting hours.

Step1 Open EdrawMax and Login

If you are well aware of EdrawMax, you will probably have an account there. In that case, open the EdrawMax and login into it. However, If you are entirely new to the setup, you don't have to worry about excessive package downloads. Just head over to the search engine and type "EdrawMax". Open the Official link and click on the "Download It Now" button.