Techniques in

Selecting and
Organizing
Information
Organizing
Technique
BRAINSTORMING

Classical brainstorming is a
group technique to create new
ideas. The group takes a specific
problem and creates as many
ideas as possible in a limited time.
BRAINSTORMING

-coined by Alex Faickney

Osborn (1888-1966) in his
book Your Creative Power,
published in 1948
 Four Basic Rules
• No criticism is allowed during brainstorming.
• Quantity is •important. The more ideas the better.
(Don’t worry about speaking out only “good” ideas.)

• Wildness is good. Crazy ideas are welcome. (Many

times the craziest ideas turn out to be the best
ones.)
• Combining other ideas together will create new ideas.
 Brainstorming Methods
1. Idea List 2. Idea Map
- Writing down the - Visual representation of
main topic and listing ideas and their
ideas connection to one
another.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
- also known as a knowledge map, concept map,
story map (or storymap), cognitive organizer,
advance organizer, or concept diagram

- a communication tool that uses visual symbols

to express knowledge, concepts, thoughts, or
ideas, and the relationships between them.

The main purpose of a graphic organizer is to

provide a visual aid to facilitate learning and
instruction.
 Concept Map

-general organizer that shows a

central idea with its corresponding
characteristics

-excellent for brainstorming,

activating prior knowledge, or
generating synonyms

-used to show hierarchical

relationships with the most
important concepts placed at the
top.
Flow Diagram or
Sequence Chart

-shows a series of steps or

events in the order in which
they take place.

Any concept that has a

distinct order can be
displayed in this type of
organizer.
 Compare/Contrast or Venn
Diagram

-is used to identify the

similarities and differences
between two or more concepts
 Cause-and-Effect Diagram
-highlights the direct relationship
between different events or concepts.

This tool is one of the most beneficial

organizers because of its many
applications in all subject areas.
 OUTLINE

An outline is a plan for--or a summary

of--a writing project or speech.

-a list divided into headings and

subheadings that distinguish main
points from supporting points.
A topic outline lists words or
phrases.

A sentence outline lists

complete sentences.
 A topic outline arranges
your ideas hierarchically
(showing which are main and
which are sub-points), in the
sequence you want, and shows
what you will talk about.
 A sentence outline is like a
mini-thesis statement about
that mini-topic.

It expresses the specific and

complete idea that that section
of the paper will cover as part
of proving the overall thesis.
 Topic Outline
Challenges in Life

I. Family Problems
A. Custodial: Non-custodial Conflicts
B. Extended Family
C. Adolescent's Age
II. Economic Problems
A. Child Support
B. Women's Job Training
C. Lower Standard of Living
D. Possible Relocation
1. Poorer Neighborhood
2. New School
III. Peer Problems
A. Loss of Friends
B. Relationships with Dates
Sentence Outline

Title: WARMING OUR WORLD AND

CHILLING OUR FUTURE
Topic: Global Warming.
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience
about the problem of global warming.
Thesis statement: Today I want to share
what I have learned about global warming
and its causes.
BODY
I. Global warming is a gradual warming of the Earth from human activities (Union)
A. It is characterized by a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
1. Each year five tons of CO2 are pumped into the atmosphere.
2. The carbon dioxide traps heat.
3. 1998 set temperature records.
B. Carbon pollutants also eat a hole in the ozone layer (NOAA).
1. In 1998 this hole set a size record.
2. This allows more ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth.
C. If this problem is not corrected; we may see disastrous results (National Issues
Forums)
1. There could be dramatic climate changes
a. There could be drought in the middle of continents
b. There could be many severe storms
c. There could be rising sea levels that would destroy coastal areas
2. There could be serious health problems
a. There could be an increase in skin cancer
b. There could be an increase in cataracts
c. There could be damaged immune systems
(Transition: Now that you understand what global warming is an why it is important, let’s
examine its major causes.)\
II. The loss of woodlands adds to global warming (Union)
A. One football-field-sized area of forest is lost every second
B. Some loss occurs through cutting trees
C. Burning adds more carbon dioxide form smoke
(Transition: An even greater cause of global warming……)\
III. Industrial emissions accelerate global warming (Union)
A. These account for more than 20 percent of our air pollution
B. Americans are the worst offenders
1. We use 26 percent of the world’s oil
2. We release 26 percent of nitrogen oxides
3. We release 22 percent of carbon dioxide.
C. There is light on the horizon.
1. The rate of emission is slowing (Dept. of Energy)
2. Companies are uniting to arrest climate change (“New
Initiative”)
(Transition: “Finally, we come to the biggest cause of global warming---
ourselves”)\
IV. Personal energy consumption magnifies global warming (Union)
A. Energy consumption is the single largest cause of global warming
1. Fossil fuel use accounts for 90 percent of America’s energy
consumption
2. Transportation-related energy accounts for half of all air
pollution
B. America is on an energy binge (Myerson)
1. We are using more fuel in our homes
a. New homes are much larger
B People have more energy-hungry equipment
2. We are using more fuel for transportation
a. Commutes are longer
b. Vehicle horsepower is increasing
c. People are buying gas-guzzlers
CONCLUSION
Summary statement: In conclusion, if you want to know
why we have global warming, listen for the falling trees,
watch the industrial smokestacks darkening the sky, and
smell the exhaust fumes we are pumping into the air.
Concluding remarks: Gore story on how global warming
can sneak up on us. Addressing the National Academy of
Sciences, the vice president said, “If dropped into a pot of
boiling water, a frog will quickly jump out. But if the same
frog is put into a pot and the water is slowly heated, the frog
will stay put until boiled alive. So it is with pollution…. If we
do not wake up to the slow heating of our environment, we
may jump too late.” The more we know about global
warming, the more likely we are to jump and the less likely
we are to be cooked.