Circle Map Thinking Process: Defining in Context Key Question: How are you defining this thing or idea?

Key Words and Phrases: List, define, tell everything you know, brainstorm, identify, relate prior knowledge, describe, explore the meaning Design: the topic is in the middle, smaller circle. Everything you know about the topic is in the larger circle. A box, that may be included, around the entire map is a Frame of Reference that is used to answer the question How did I learn this? (The frame of reference can be used around any of the maps Common Uses: Brainstorm for writing, used as a starting point during the prewriting stage, defining words, identifying audience and authors point of view Writing Mode: Point of View Essay Bubble Map Thinking Process: Describing Qualities; Characterization Key Question: How are you describing this thing? What adjectives best describe it? Key Words and Phrases: Describe, use vivid language, describe feelings, observe using the five senses Design: The topic being described is in the center bubble. The outer bubbles contain adjectives and adjective phrases describing the topic. Common Uses: Describing things, identifying qualities, character traits, attributes and/or properties of things. The Bubble Map is a tool for enriching students abilities to identify qualities and use descriptive words. Writing Mode: Descriptive Writing Double Bubble Map Thinking Process: Comparing and Contrasting Key Question: What are the similar and different qualities of these things? Key Words and Phrases: Compare/contrast, discuss similarities and differences, prioritize essential characteristics, distinguish between, differentiate Design: In the center circles are the words for the two things being compared and contrasted. In the middle bubbles, use terms to show similarities. In the outside bubbles, describe the differences. If there are too many similarities or differences, students should prioritize and keep only the most important. Common Uses: A tool for comparing and contrasting two things. Writing Mode: Comparison Essay Tree Map Thinking Process: Classifying Key Question: What are the main ideas, supporting ideas, and details in information? Key Words and Phrases: Classify, sort, group, categorize, give sufficient and related details Design: The category name is on the top line, subcategories on the second level, details under each subcategory Writing Mode: Persuasive Essay

Brace Map Thinking Process: Part to whole relationship Key Question: What are the parts and subparts of this whole physical object? Key Words and Phrases: Part of, take apart, show structure Design: On the line to the left, the name of the whole object is written. On the lines within the first brace, list the major parts. The subparts are listed in the next set of braces. Common Uses: Used to analyze physical objects. Can be used with anatomy, boundaries in geography, parts of tangible objects. It is for parts only, for types of things, a Tree Map should be used. Writing Mode: Technical Writing Flow Map Thinking Process: Sequencing Key Question: What happened? What is the sequence of events? What are the sub-stages? Key Words and Phrases: Sequence, put in order, order, recount, retell, what happens next, cycles, patterns, describe processes, describe change, solve multi-step problems Design: Each stage of the event is in the larger rectangles. The substages are in smaller rectangles below the larger ones. Not all Flow Maps will have sub-stages. Common Uses: Can be used to plot a story, show historical events in sequence, sequence paragraphs for writing, steps in problem solving in math, identifying stage of a life Writing Mode: Narrative Writing Multi Flow Map Thinking Process: Cause and Effect; ProblemSolution Key Question: What are the causes and effects of this event? What might happen next? Key Words and Phrases: Causes and effects, discuss consequences, what would happen if, predict, describe change, identify motives, discuss strategies Design: The event is in the center rectangle. On the left side, causes of the event. On the right side, effects of the event. Common Uses: Used to show and analyze cause and effect relationships. It can also be used with only part of the map showing, such as predicting outcomes. Writing Mode: Prediction; Cause and Effect Essay Bridge Map Thinking Process: Sequencing Key Question: What is the analogy being used? Key Words and Phrases: Identify the relationship, guess the rule, interpret symbols Design: On the far left line, write the relating factor. On the top and bottom of the bridge, write in the first pair of things that have this relationship. On the right side of the bridge, write the second pair with the same relationship. The line of the bridge represents the relating factor between the pair of things. Common Uses: Identifies similarities between relationships. The relating factor answers How are they related? The Bridge Map should be able to be read as a complete sentence. Writing Mode: Reasoning by Analogy