What Are Graphic Organizers?

Graphic organizers are visual tools to help sort, classify and order information.

Graphic Organizer Uses & Types

Graphic organizer type	Uses
Character cards	List & organize character information
Story maps	Outline the main story elements
Mind maps	Connect story elements to a central/main idea
Venn diagrams	Compare & contrast elements
Plot diagrams	Illustrate the flow of a story
Timelines	Order story events chronologically
Flowcharts	Illustrate sequence of events or steps to follow

This list contains only some of the most commonly used graphic organizers.

The following are graphic organizers with additional information on their content and downloadable templates.

Character cards are used to gather information on the characters.

They are also known as character profiles.

Information generally found in character cards:

Character card example

Treasure Island (Stevenson, 1883)

Story maps are used to outline and connect story elements or events.

Information generally found in story maps:

General story maps (cover full story)
Story outline	→ Beginning
	→ Middle
	→ End
Character list
Setting elements
Specific story maps (cover part of a story)
Problem(s) encountered
Solution(s) found
Story events/Character actions
Characters involved
Setting elements
Relevant details

Story map example

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Carroll, 1865)

A mind map contains a central element/idea connected to several other related elements/ideas.

Mind maps contain as many elements as required.

Mind map example

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Dahl, 1964)

Venn diagrams are used to visually compare elements.

Venn diagram features

Sets of elements to compare
(overlapping circles)

Features/characteristics to compare
(set labels/headers)

Elements to compare
(words or pictures)

Element with different characteristics
(non-overlapping areas)

Element with common characteristics
(overlapping areas)

Venn diagram example

The Hobbit (Tolkien, 1937)

Plot diagrams are used to illustrate the flow of a story.

Plot diagram elements

Exposition
Introduction of	Main character(s)
	Story setting
	Initial situation
Inciting incident
Event or problem getting the story moving
Rising action
Actions and events leading to the climax
Climax
Peak of excitement, final showdown
Falling action
Story wrap-up
Resolution
Story ending