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