Training for Young Writers
© Copyright 2008. Melanie Eve Miller 1
The Writer’s Use of Graphic Organizers By Melanie Eve Miller I employ the use of various graphic organizers in my career as a writer. Over the years, I have learned which are most useful to me, and I have compiled a graphic organizer overview document to illustrate eight organizers and their components. Within this document are attachments linking to individual examples of useful, printable graphic organizers for writers.
Among many other features, graphic organizers help writers:
o Organize thinking
o Make connections between details
o Enhance the construction of relationships
o Effectively communicate ideas to others
As I approach the publication date of my book, I am scheduling visits to local schools where I will discuss my novel with the students. Additionally, I will be talking with select groups of young writers who may aspire to write as a career. Graphic organizers will make an excellent topic of discussion.
This document is easily distributable, both by print and electronically. I can print and distribute copies of the main overview, and I can also attach the document to an e-mail for teachers to use as an instruction tool by accessing the attached documents.
The graphic organizer overview includes the following types of graphic organizers:
Idea Diagram Cause/Effect
Character Interaction Character Study
Story Map Problem/Solution
Storyboard Continuum:
• Timeline
• Chain of Events
• Family Tree
• Historical Events
The Writer's Use of Graphic Organizers
Character Interaction
Goals Character 1
Goals Character 2
Continuum
Timeline
DateEventEvent
DateEventEvent
DateEventEvent
Family TreeChild
FatherPaternal GrandfatherPaternal Grandmother
MotherMaternal GrandfatherMaternal Grandmother
Historical Events
What happened? Detail
Where did it happen? Detail
When did it happen? Detail
How did it happen? Detail
Why did it happen? Detail
Who was involved in the event? Detail
Chain of Events
First Event
Second Event
Final Event
Story Map Story
Setting
Characters
Problem
Actions
1
2
3
Outcome
Problem/Solution
Problem
WhoWhatWhy
Attempts to Solve the Problem
12
Results
12
Final Outcome
Cause/Effect
Cause 1 Cause 2 Cause 3 Cause 4
Storyboard
Storyboard
PlotIntro/Exposition
Rising ActionClimax
Character Map
Character Name
Feelings Description Personality Traits Behavior
Idea Diagram
Topic
Main Idea 1
Details
Main Idea 2
Details
Conclusion
Main Idea 3
Details
Interaction
Action Reaction
Reaction ActionOutcome
Resolution/Denouement
Falling Action
Effect
The Writer's Use of Graphic Organizers.mmap - 10/28/08 - Melanie Eve Miller
Training for Young Writers
© Copyright 2008. Melanie Eve Miller 3
Applications used to create these documents:
Mindjet Pro 7: http://www.mindjet.com
OmniGraffle Professional 4: http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnigraffle/
Microsoft Word http://office.microsoft.com/
Adobe Acrobat http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Child
Father Mother
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Paternal Great-Grandfather
Paternal Great-Grandmother
Basic Family Tree
Paternal Great-Grandfather
Paternal Great-Grandmother
Maternal Great-Grandfather
Maternal Great-Grandmother
Maternal Great-Grandfather
Maternal Great-Grandmother
Event
Event
Event
Event
Event
Event
Event
Event
Event
Date Date Date Date Date Date Date Date Date
Timeline Graphic Organizer
Story
Setting:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Action:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Characters:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Characters:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Characters:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Story Map
Storyboard
Problem/Solution
Final Outcome
Problem
Attempted Solutions
Results
1. Who
2. What
3. Why
1.______________________2.______________________3.______________________
1.______________________2.______________________3.______________________
Problem/Solution
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
Graphic Organizer for Plot
Introduction: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Main Idea 1 Main Idea 2 Main Idea 3 Main Idea 4
Details Details Details Details
Details Details Details Details
DetailsDetailsDetailsDetails
Conclusion: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Topic:_____________________________
Idea Diagram
Event Map
What happened? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When did it
happen? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Where did it happen?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Why did it happen?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How did it happen?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Who was involved?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Historical Event Map
Character Map
Character
Feelings Description
Behavior Personality Traits
Character 1 Character 2
Character 1 Character 2
Goals Goals
Interaction
Action
Outcomes Outcomes
Reaction
Action Reaction 1
Reaction2
Character Interaction
First Event
Second Event
Final Event
Beginning
End
Chain of Events
Effects:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Cause and Effect
Cause #1 Cause #2
Cause #3 Cause #4