Graphic Organizers for Comprehension

School Improvement

Improving Reading, Writing, Thinking, and Content Achievement

Reading/Thinking Skills	Prompts	Graphic Organizers	Summary Templates

1. Identify and infer main ideas. 2. Summarize events and main points using supportive details	• The main point of the article is . . . • Summarize what you read. • The main theme of the story is . . .	• Spider Map • Network Tree • Cluster • Bubble-Map	• MEL-Con • Main Idea/Details Summary Form • Main Idea/Details Summary Paragraph

3. Locate and interpret important and subtly stated details.	• List the facts regarding . • Describe the facts . • Describe the characteristics of the object’s properties.	• Spider Map • Network Tree • Cluster • Bubble-Map	• Main Idea/Details Summary Form • Main Idea/Details Summary Paragraph

4. Order sequences of events.	• Trace the development of . • Sequence the events leading up to . . . • What do you do first when you . . . Next . . . . • List the steps involved in . • What steps did _________ take to solve reach her goal	• Series/Chain of Events • Cycle Map • Flow Map • Storyboard • Continuum Scale/ Time Line	• Sequence Summary Form • Sequence Summary Paragraph • Chronological Summary Form • Chronological Summary Paragraph

5. Identify major and subtle comparative relationships between people and ideas.	• List similarities and differences . . . • Compare and contrast the following • What are the significant similarities or differences between _____________ and ______________? • Which two are most similar or most different? • How are the two characters similar?	• Venn Diagram • Comparison/ Contrast Matrix	• MEL-Con • Comparison/Contrast Summary Form • Comparison/Contrast Summary Paragraph

6. Identify implied, subtle, or complex cause-effect relationships.	• List the causes of . . . • What were the effects of . . . ? • How does ____________ affect _____________? • What led up to . . .?	• Multi-Flow Map • Fishbone • Human Interaction Outline	• MEL-Con • Cause-Effect Summary Form • Cause-Effect Summary Paragraph • Problem-Solution Summary Form • Problem-Solution Summary Paragraph

7. Determine the appropriate meanings of words, phrases, or statements from figurative or technical contexts.	• Define the following term . . . • Define what is meant by . . . • Define ___________ from the context clues. • Provide an example and non-example of _______. • What does the word mean?	• Three-Column Chart • Concept Definition Map	• Definition Summary Form • Definition Summary Paragraph

8. Make complex or subtle generalizations about people, ideas, and situations by synthesizing information from different portions of the text.	• Can you say that most . . . ? Why or why not? • Based upon the events, what can you conclude about . . .? • You may predict that . . .	• Tree Map • Layer Hierarchy • Brace Map • Problem/ Solution Outline	• MEL-Con • Conclusion/Generalization Summary Form • Conclusion/Generalization Summary Paragraph

9. Understand the overall approach taken by an author or narrator, including point of view.	• The point of view of the author was . . . • How does the author use __________ technique to . . .? get her/his point across? • How do you think the author feels about . . . ?	• Brace Map • Problem/ Solution Outline	• MEL-Con • Character Trait Summary Form • Character Trait Summary Paragraph

10. Understand how one part of a passage functions in relation to the whole passage or another part when the relationship is subtle or complex.	• How does the author’s use of ____ affect __________?	• Spider Map • Network Tree • Cluster • Bubble-Map	• MEL-Con

Bobb Darnell, Ed.D, bobb.darnell@d214.org 2/1/05