Thinking Maps
How many Thinking Maps are there?
8
How many steps in the writing process?
6 steps
What's another word for informational essay?
Expository essay
What's another word for argumentative essay?
Opinion or persuasive
What's another word for narrative?
Story
Name 1 benefit of using Thinking Maps.
K-12
Used across all subjects
Improves information retention
Encourages academic vocabulary
8 consistent visual patterns for thinking
In which step do you use a Thinking Map?
What is the purpose of an informational essay?
To present facts on a topic
To inform the reader about a particular topic
In this type of essay, what are students being asked to do?
Make a claim and provide evidence for it.
What Map do students use for this type of writing?
A Narrative Tree Map.
Are Thinking Maps only used in ELA?
No, they are used across all subjects.
Where do students record their evidence (quotes)?
On the Thinking Map in the second step.
What Thinking Map is used for this type of essay in the second step of the writing process?
Tree Map
What Map is used in the second step of the writing process for an argumentative essay?
Partial Flow Map
Do students follow the same writing process for narratives that they follow for essays?
No. They do not need an outline. Their Narrative Tree Map includes their outline.
Should you provide a template of a Thinking Map for students?
The true answer is no, however, it depends on what the goal of your lesson is.
What is the most important sentence of the whole essay?
The thesis statement.
How many branches should students include on their Tree Map?
It depends on the prompt, most of the time, it will be 3 branches for 3 body paragraphs.
How many reasons should students include on the Partial Flow Map?
At least 3 for 3 body paragraphs.
What are some of the creative elements that students need to include in their narratives?
Figurative Language
Sensory details
Dialogue
What's another way Rebecca loves to use Thinking Maps?
I love to use them to teach the reading skill: identifying text structure
What are the 3 types of writing students are asked to do on the state test?
Informational, Opinion, Narrative
What do students include under each branch?
Quotes/evidence from the sources. (at least 2 quotes per branch)
Where do students record their quotes on the Partial Flow Map?
Next to their reasons. At least 2 quotes per reason.
How does Rebecca usually begin teaching narrative writing each school year?
Picture writing prompts