Declarative information may be organized into appropriate patterns. Let me share some of the selected graphic organizers (Marzano et al., 1997, pp. 62-65) here:
- Descriptive patterns
- Time sequence patterns
- Process/cause-effect patterns
- Problem-solution patterns
- Generalization/principle patterns
- Concept patterns
1. Descriptive Patterns
Whenever you need to help students organize characteristics specific about a person, place, thing, or event, this type of graphic organizer comes in handy. Example—Information on Noah’s Ark—Type of wood, how tall, how long, etc. Graphically this pattern looks as follows:
Descriptive Pattern
2. Time Sequence Pattern
Remember instances when you had to order events or processes in a sequence? This graphic organizer comes handy for such information. For example—events that happened during Jesus’ judgment before crucifixion, can be arranged in a chronological order. The organizer looks like this:
3. Process/Cause-Effect Patterns
Information that calls for causal association leading to a specific result or steps leading to a particular product can be organized in this pattern. Example—Causes leading to pollution and eventually depletion of ozone layer that damages God’s creation. The graphic organizer may look like this:
4. Problem-Solution Patterns
What is one way we can graphically represent a problem such as Time Management Problem and its solutions? Here is one suggestion—the problem-solution pattern. See the diagram below:
5. Generalization/Principle Patterns
When we have to organize information in a deductive to inductive pattern, i.e., from a definition to examples, this pattern comes useful. For example—for the concept of stewardship, one can give examples such as money, time, talents, environment, etc. The graphic pattern for this is shown below:
6. Concept Patterns
To organize general categories or classes of persons, places, things, or events with the defining characteristics and specific examples of the concept, this graphic organizer can be used. For examples, the concept can be Parables of Jesus. Various characteristics with examples can be identified such as, Characteristic: Kingdom of heaven (examples, sower, pearl, mustard seed, etc.), and another Characteristic: Loss and Redemption (examples, lost coin, lost sheep, prodigal son). Of course, more than two sets may also be used. The organizer looks like this.
Besides the above mentioned organizational patterns, myriad other examples exist. The fish-bone, the prediction tree, etc. are examples. You may figure out other graphic representations of your own. The point is, these graphic organizers often help represent the gist of a large content and thus assist students organize information clearly.
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