Planning to Write

Planning your writing is just as important as the written product itself. Good planning includes the identification of your "purpose", "written format" "sequence of events or details", "related concepts and other background information" and outlines any "important topic information". Writing is not a skill that comes naturally. It must be taught and learned. Many people might begin writing with goals and ideas in mind but suddenly start to drift off subject if they are not guided by an appropriate organizer or brainstorming session.

Before you begin your writing, you may want to ask yourself:

• What is the purpose of my writing? To tell a story? To explain something? To describe something? To find something out? To address an opinion? What is my topic? What details would I like to include in my writing?
• Who is my target audience? What do they know? What would I like them to know? How might I gain their attention?

Planning your writing is one of the best ways to ensure that you are expressing your ideas effectively. Below is a sample graphic organizer that may be used in the planning process which may be used for individual or classroom use.

Planning Chart

Why Graphic Organizers?

Graphic organizers for tasks involving written expression, can reduce the cognitive demands  of that task by providing a framework for students to follow as a guide. A graphic organizer may support a student as a visual representation for some of the most significant information in the text. They can be used as visual tools that help to alleviate the anxiety often experienced by students with learning disabilities associated with reading and/or writing difficulties. Research suggests that using various types of graphic organizers during instruction, results in enhanced reading comprehension for students with learning disabilities when the appropriate organizer is selected (Singleton & Filce, 2015, p. 111-112).

There is an increasing demand being placed on students for the application of cognition related skills necessary in demonstrating knowledge and competency of the secondary academic curriculum. Students who also have learning difficulties, struggle with many of these complex cognitive tasks. Graphic organizers act as an external support to encourage the learning process (internal support) that is necessary for the attainment of various concepts such as comprehending and analyzing text, comparing points of views and making evaluations. This is also true for the expression of ideas and concepts during  written assignments.

Some commonly used examples of graphic organizers that help to aid students in written expression include, K-W-L charts, Venn Diagrams, T-Charts, Flow Charts and Cause and Effect Charts as well as Sequence Charts.

Related Links:

Graphic Organizer Software Programs
Graphic Organizer Software Program - Younger Children
Printable Graphic Organizers for Personal Classroom Use


References:

Singleton S.M. & Filce H.G. (2015). Graphic Organizers for Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities. TEACHING Exceptional Children. 48(02). 110-117. Doi: 10.1177/0040059915605799