Printable Graphic Organizer: 3-Column Organizer

Multi-Column Graphic Organizers

The multi-column graphic organizer helps writers to arrange

information into a logical format that can be used for note taking,

essay preparation, or creative writing. When you need to group

information into categories, the multi-column graphic organizer

can make the writing process more manageable.

The multi-column graphic organizer serves many different

purposes. Students can use it to take notes on a class lecture or

organize data and details for any project. Writers use it as an

organizational tool for preparing an essay, because it allows

them to break up research and information by topics.

What is a graphic organizer?

A graphic organizer is a visual tool that writers use when

planning a piece of writing. There are many styles of graphic

organizers such as: outline, 5Ws, Venn diagram, 3 column notes,

visual cluster, inverted triangle, KWL (know, want to know, learn),

plot diagram, and there are many more.

Different graphic organizers tend to appeal to different writers.

For example, some writers use only the traditional outline for all

of their planning needs, while others will switch between

organizers depending on the writing style.

How can writers use graphic organizers?

Writers use graphic organizers in the planning stage of the

writing process, which follows the brainstorming stage. Take the

valuable information from the brainstorming and add it to the

graphic organizer. This process allows writers to keep their

important information which can be used in writing the first

draft.