When hierarchical information needs to be organized to show superordinate and subordinate information, network trees are best.
Step 1: Draw or place one large oval above a row of two smaller ovals. The one large oval represents more important information.
Step 2: Draw three smaller ovals beneath the two.
Step 3: Connect all of the ovals in a top-down manner.
A problem and solution map can be used to organize cause and effect problems and solutions.
Step 1: Draw a vertical row of two boxes on the left side of the paper and two arrows pointing to a larger box in the center.
Step 2: Label the box on the left "influence" and the box in the center "cause".
Step 3: Draw an arrow from the center box to a diamond on the right.
Step 4: Label the diamond "effect".
Step 5: Draw an arrow from the bottom of the center box to a rectangle beneath it.
Step 6: Label the rectangle, "solution".
Each of the two boxes are labeled "Influence." The center box is labeled "Cause." An arrow points from the center box to a diamond on the right. The diamond is labeled "Effect." An arrow points from the bottom of the center box to a rectangle beneath it. The rectangle is labeled "Solution."
Compare and contrast matrices.
Matrices help compare different concepts' attributes.
Step 1: Draw a table with three columns and three rows creating nine cells.
Step 2: In the column on the left, label the cells in each row "attribute 1," "attribute 2," and "attribute 3."
Step 3: Fill each cell with the most pertinent attribute starting with "attribute 1".
Continuum scales can be used to organize information along a linear dimension, moving from left to right in scale, representing time, amount, or degree.
Step 1: Draw a straight horizontal line.
Step 2: Draw a short vertical line at each end of the continuum representing an beginning and endpoint, or a low and high point.
Step 3: Label each endpoint either "beginning," "end," "high," or "low," or whatever attribute that can be represented in a continuum.
Step 4: Fill the continuum with data points moving from left to right.
Cycle maps organize cyclical or circular information with no beginning or endpoints.
Step 1: Draw four squares, and like hours in a clock, make points at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 hour marks. Or imagine the squares representing compass directions, and place them accordingly in due north, south, east and west points.
Step 2: Connect each of the boxes with arrows in a clockwise manner.
Step 3: Label the boxes, adding information inside that sequentially relates to the next box in a clockwise manner.