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Graphic Organizers and Writing
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS AND STUDENTS’ WRITING
The Effect of Graphic Organizers on Students’ Writing
Tracey Sharrock
Action Research
July, 2008
Kennesaw State University
Dr. David Martin
Graphic Organizers and Writing
2
The Effect of Graphic Organizers on Students’ Writing
Abstract
The purpose of this action research project was to study the effects of graphic organizers, specifically a concept map, on students’ writing. Our school believes that writing is the key to success, so writing instruction is a priority. I was particularly interested in investigating students’ writing through graphic organizers with personal narrative writing prompts given in the classroom. Graphic organizers can help writers keep to the topic by having their ideas in front of them as they are writing. They also help the writer to keep things in the correct sequential order.
Graphic organizers are credited to be tools that can guide students through the four stages of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and publishing and sharing. This study investigated whether there would be any significant difference in scores between students’ writing with the use of graphic organizers and students’ writing without the use of graphic organizers. One third-grade class was involved in the 6-week study, and was given two personal narrative writing assignments. The two writing assignments were each graded using a writing rubric provided by the Georgia Department of Education. Results indicated that the students using the graphic organizers showed an improvement in their creative writing. Good Abstract!
Introduction
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of graphic organizers on students’ writing. Learning to write can be a rewarding, yet often wearisome experience for young learners. Each year, I observe many of my third grade students feeling frustrated and anxious about beginning to write. What can educators do to ease this process and
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS AND STUDENTS’ WRITING
The Effect of Graphic Organizers on Students’ Writing
Tracey Sharrock
Action Research
July, 2008
Kennesaw State University
Dr. David Martin
Graphic Organizers and Writing
2
The Effect of Graphic Organizers on Students’ Writing
Abstract
The purpose of this action research project was to study the effects of graphic organizers, specifically a concept map, on students’ writing. Our school believes that writing is the key to success, so writing instruction is a priority. I was particularly interested in investigating students’ writing through graphic organizers with personal narrative writing prompts given in the classroom. Graphic organizers can help writers keep to the topic by having their ideas in front of them as they are writing. They also help the writer to keep things in the correct sequential order.
Graphic organizers are credited to be tools that can guide students through the four stages of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and publishing and sharing. This study investigated whether there would be any significant difference in scores between students’ writing with the use of graphic organizers and students’ writing without the use of graphic organizers. One third-grade class was involved in the 6-week study, and was given two personal narrative writing assignments. The two writing assignments were each graded using a writing rubric provided by the Georgia Department of Education. Results indicated that the students using the graphic organizers showed an improvement in their creative writing. Good Abstract!
Introduction
The objective of this study was to examine the effect of graphic organizers on students’ writing. Learning to write can be a rewarding, yet often wearisome experience for young learners. Each year, I observe many of my third grade students feeling frustrated and anxious about beginning to write. What can educators do to ease this process and
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