WEEK 5, SEM 2: USING OUTLINES & OTHER GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS IN PRE-WRITING

Objectives

When you have finished this section, you will be able to

 

§  understand the value of employing outlines and other graphic organizers in pre-writing;

§  apply these strategies in pre-writing;

§  move from pre-writing to writing (by creating a summary);

§  understand the basics of creating an infographic .

Resource List

 

1)      Models of outlines and other graphic organizers:
http://projectwritemsu.wikispaces.com/file/view/graphic+organizers.pdf

 

2)      Graphic organizers: http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

 

(Optional)

a. http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/de/pd/instr/strats/graphicorganizers/index.html

 

b. Youtube has videos that can help you understand what a graphic organizer is, what it’s purpose is, and how you can create your own with PowerPoint titled, “What is a graphic organizer?” and “How to make a graphic organizer.” 

 

3)      Infographics for the writing classroom:
http://learni.st/users/maggiemessitt/boards/3840-infographics-for-the-writing-classroom-the-basics#/users/maggiemessitt/boards/3840-infographics-for-the-writing-classroom-the-basics

and

http://piktochart.com  (Look at the Gallery’s “User Showcase” page for many examples of how information can be displayed as Infographics.)

4)      Tips for writing the expository essay:
http://www.time4writing.com/writing-resources/expository-essay/

 

5)       Clear example of a linear outline for an expository essay:
http://www.aims.edu/student/online-writing-lab/process/outline

 

 

Key Concepts

 

§  Pre-writing

§  Outlining

§  Graphic Organizers

§  Infographics

 

 

Procedure

 

A.    Before Class

 

1.    Survey the websites and pdf files provided on the Resource List above.

 

2.    Please read Resource 4 in detail. You can also take this opportunity to search for

        your own related readings from the Internet or other sources.

 

3.    Answer the questions in Task A

 

4.    Do Task B

 

 

B.    In Class

 

1.    With a partner or in a small group, compare your answers for Task A. Be prepared

        to share your answers with the rest of class.

 

2.    Share the graphic organizer you have prepared and critically reflect on it in a small

        group. Be prepared to discuss in class.

 

3.    Begin Task C, sharing your concerns and your progress with your tutor and with a

        small group. If you can finish by the end of the tutorial, share with your group. If

        not, finish after class.

 

 

C.    After Class

1.     Prepare your graded Reader Response for the next tutorial. It should be between 350 and 400 words and constitutes 15% of your final grade.

 

   

Tasks

 

A.    Discussion

 

1.      What is the value of using graphic organizers in pre-writing?

 

 

2.     Which models, if any, have you used in the past?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.     Compare and contrast graphic organizers and infographics by completing the chart below.

Compare and Contrast	Graphic organizers	Infographics
Purposes (What is the main reason for using one?)
Functions (What does using one accomplish?)
Uses (What is the optimum purpose for using one?)

 

4.     If you had to prepare an outline for an essay that you were writing in class tomorrow, what model would you use? Why?

 

 

B.    Developing a graphic organizer for a short essay

 

Looking at the following essay prompt,  

 

§  review the question and identify the relationships between the different key words in the prompt.

§  ask yourself, “What are the relationships between the key words?”

§  fill in the blanks of the graphic organizer in Table 1 below, including developing a main focus for the thesis. One set of benefits and drawbacks is provided.

 

 

        Essay Prompt: There are advantages and disadvantages of having an 

        international language.  Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of having an      

        international language in the era of rampant globalization. Focus on the

        linguistic (language-related), cultural, economic, political, social, socio-cultural,

        socioeconomic, sociolinguistic, or socio-political dimensions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 1: Graphic Organizer for Essay Prompt

 

Controlling  ideas g   i		Main Topic Focus/Thesis:   The linguistic influence of one common language on societies around the world in this era of fast-paced globalization leads to _________________________ ­­­­­­_____________, _____________________________ and ___________________________among nations.
		Items to be Contrasted			Evaluation
		Benefits	Drawbacks
(Socioeconomic) Issues of equity		One common language enables companies within different countries to trade more easily.	It might disadvantage people in the country whose dominant language is not the common language.

 

 

C.    Using an outline for an article reader response

1.    After looking at various articles in Reading Articles, choose one that you

        would like to summarize (or use the one selected by your tutor) and write a
        response to. Once you have read through it for general comprehension, read
        through it again for detail, pulling out the author’s thesis, the main ideas and the
        supporting ideas.

 

2.    Arrange the ideas that you have extracted from the reading and arrange them using

        any one of the models for a graphic organizer.

 

3.    Finally, using the information you have extracted from the article and organized
       graphically, write a Reader Response (incorporating a Summary) of 350 to 400    

       words. This is the first draft of the Reader Response that will be evaluated. Please

       look at the rubric for the Reader Response (on the website) to make sure that you   

       know the criteria by which your summary will be evaluated.