Sequential episodic maps are an interesting way of displaying information within a sequence. For example, if a social science teacher was interested in teaching her students about the French Revolution, she can outline its major events chronologically. This method of graphic organization helps students keep events in their proper order, especially for more complex sequences.
Comparative and contrastive maps are a compelling means of highlighting the similarities and differences between two concepts or events. For example, biology students can use a comparative and contrastive map to analyze the differences and similarities between an animal cell and a plant cell.
Cycle maps are a compelling way to outline events that have no definite beginning or end. Cycle maps look similar to a sequential episodic map, except that they always takes the shape of a loop. For example, in an earth sciences class, students can study the life cycle of certain plants and animal or entire ecosystems.
Descriptive and thematic maps are the most flexible type of graphic organizers and the most common. These maps work well for mapping generic information, but they are particularly well-suited for displaying hierarchical relationships. For example, government teachers can use a descriptive or thematic map to outline the hierarchy of the American government or the presidential chain of succession.