Which of the following graphic organizers is best use to identify similarities and differences of two concepts?

Graphic organizers are as commonplace in an elementary classroom as books and desks. There is an endless variety for just about every purpose imaginable. Who doesn’t love a good graphic organizer? I do! I get giddy just walking into my local Staples store! So, of course, anything with the name “organizer” is already a favorite with me. 🙂 Last week I warned about six common mistakes when teaching kids how to compare. The 4th mistake was using weak graphic organizers. Today’s post focuses on fixing that mistake.

Graphic Organizer #1 – Venn Diagram

Good ol’ Venn. If you’ve been teaching longer than a week, you’ve probably used one at some point in your teaching career. The classic Venn diagram is often used for comparing and it’s easy to see why. It’s hard to resist the simplicity of two overlapping circles, especially with younger students. Differences go on the outer areas of the circles and similarities go in the center. One word of caution when using a Venn, though – they work best when focusing on a single characteristic. You might want students to compare just the physical features of two animals, such as alligators and crocodiles. The big complaint I have about this graphic organizer is its lack of space for writing in much information. I get around that by using the Top Hat organizer.

Venn diagram comparing the physical features of crocodiles and alligators.

Graphic Organizer #2 – Top Hat

The Top Hat Organizer is increasingly becoming a favorite with me. It overcomes the space issues I mentioned earlier with the Venn Diagram. In truth, there are several variations on this graphic organizer. There’s a Y organizer, where students write the differences in the upper arms of the Y and the similarities in the lower column. Something similar is called the T-shirt organizer, where differences are written on the upper portion and arms of the shirt; similarities on the lower portion. Whatever you call it or however you design it, the basic pattern is still the same. I think that’s why I like it so much because of all the variations – you can really tailor it to suit your lesson and students.

Notice the column on the right for students to draw conclusions. Image credit – www.ascd.org

Older students are more than capable of creating their own Top Hat in their notebooks. Image credit – www.ascd.org

Graphic Organizer #3 – Description

If you read last week’s post, you know that one common mistake is not clearly identifying important criteria for comparison. The Description Organizer solves that problem. Recently my students were comparing savings and investing in an economics lesson. I provided them with a Description Organizer with the characteristics already spelled out for them. That way they knew exactly what information to search for and could compare “apples to apples” so to speak. As students gain proficiency, you can gradually release more of the responsibility to them. It’s also a great way to move to a greater Depth of Knowledge (DOK) when you ask students to identify which criteria are most important for comparison.

In a description graphic organizer, the criteria are clearly identified.

Another example of comparing two stories with a description organizer. Image credits – www.ascd.org

Graphic Organizer #4 – Matrix

If you want students to compare multiple features, a comparison matrix would do a better job of it. Once again, meaningful criteria should be selected. However, you can easily choose more than one feature to compare with this graphic organizer. You can see an example on the website – Graphic.org. A Comparison Matrix works really well when you want students to compare three or more, such as the three branches of government or states of matter. You can easily create custom matrices in Word using the Table feature. Leave some space at the bottom of the organizer for students to write out their conclusions to add more depth to the exercise.

A comparison matrix example. Notice that students are able to compare more than two animals with this graphic organizer.

A Versatile Tool

Graphic organizers are wonderful tools for use in just about any lesson. I even have a Power Pix on my classroom wall for it. If I could only have one really useful resource to teach with, it would have to be the versatile graphic organizer.

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The art of comparing and contrasting is required in almost all sectors of daily life. Doesn't matter if you are a student or an individual working in a professional environment; you may need to compare and contrast different people or ideas. It is indeed a tough nut to crack. To deal with these challenges, the mathematicians introduced compare and contrast graphic organizers.

Venn diagrams are the most famous graphic organizers. They were introduced for the first time by John Venn in 1880. These compare and contrast diagrams have proved to be pretty useful for learners of all ages. One thing that makes "compare and contrast graphic organizers" stand out is that they are very easy to customize for any content you want.

Are you looking for a credible source to gather information covering what precisely a compare and contrast graphic organizer is, what types it is available in, and how to create it within a few minutes? This is a perfect read for you. Let's get deeper into the discussion.

1. What is the Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer

A compare and contrast graphic organizer helps you utilize your study to compare and contrast two or more ideas, perspectives, events, policies, and people. Depending on your requirements, you can use this organizer in different ways, as listed below.

• Compare and contrast two huge ideas like constitutional democracy and direct democracy.
• Compare and contrast the characteristics of two well-known personalities.
• Compare and contrast the impact of two policies or events.

There are numerous methods for comparing and contrasting the characteristics of objects, individuals, events, and so on. Many different types of graphic organizers make examining these similarities and differences much easier.

• Compare - to evaluate (two or more objects, thoughts, persons, or other things) in order to find similarities and differences. For instance, to compare two literary works.
• Contrast - demonstrate unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc. For instance, compare and contrast the political rights of Romans and Greeks.

2. Types of Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer

Graphic organizers come in a variety of types. The suitable one depends on the task at hand. Some common formats include Tree, Cloud/Cluster, Flow Chart, Sequence Chart, Maps, Graphs, T Chart, Story Maps, Venn diagrams, and many more. Let's explore some commonly used types of compare and contrast graphic organizers.

• Venn Diagrams

A Venn Diagram is a graphic organizer composed of two or three circles that overlap. Venn diagrams play a key role when you need to compare and contrast two or more concepts. These diagrams are generally used to compare similar ideas to determine what makes them similar and different from each other. The Venn diagram shown below displays the comparison and contrast of three different concepts. John Venn, an English mathematician, invented these in 1880.

• T Chart

The best thing about the use of A T Charts is that you can create them within a few minutes, and it efficiently compares and contrasts two ideas. To create a T Chart, all you need is to draw one vertical and one horizontal line. The horizontal line intersects the vertical line from the top (this is how it becomes t-shaped) and divides it into two equal parts, as shown below.

• Graphs

The graphs are perfect for comparing and contrasting graphic organizers when you need to visualize and evaluate the numerical data of two or more concepts or ideas. They are equally good to use for non-numerical problems. The below picture shows how graphs look alike.

• Tree Diagrams

Tree diagrams break or divide the main concepts into multiple mini ideas to better understand the whole scenario. It supports a hierarchical organization. Both tree diagrams and flowcharts are pretty similar to each other. These diagrams show how every step or phase of the project or idea is connected to each other. The below picture shows a tree diagram. The box placed at the top is the main idea, and other boxes show the broken parts of the main idea.

3. Benefits of Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer

Teachers and students use graphic organizers for a variety of reasons. Graphic organizers are useful teaching tools that make studying more interesting and productive by demonstrating relationships, visualizing and simplifying concepts, and organizing knowledge. A few of its benefits are stated below.

• Indicate Relationship

Graphic organizers help students imagine the relationships between various parts by using colorful shapes, icons, and connectors. Venn diagrams, for example, help students see and understand the similarities and differences between objects.

• Clarify Concepts

Graphic organizers may also simplify complex concepts by visualizing them, as an image is worth a thousand words. Ideas that can be seen are easier to comprehend, particularly for the learning process.

• Analyze the data

It is difficult for the brain to interpret and process a vast volume of information. The details can be logically organized using the graphic organizer. For instance, charts can help remember the difference between two objects, places, persons, etc.

4. How to Make a Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer in EdrawMax

Worried about creating a compare and contrast graphic organizer tailored to your needs? EdrawMax is here to reduce your headache. Give it a try, and you will be amazed to see the features it offers.

Step1 Download, Install and Launch EdrawMax

Start with downloading and installing EdrawMax on your PC or laptop. It will take a few minutes only. Launch the software and hit the "Sign In" button as soon as you install it. If this is the first time you are installing this tool, click on the "Create Account" to create a new EdrawMax account. Now, provide the desired information and press the "Create Account" button. If you already have an account, you can simply log in to EdrawMax by putting your registered email and password.

Step2 Choose a Built-In Template

The availability of editable templates makes it easy for you to deal with complex problems. To find the desired templates, all you need is to click on the "Templates". You will find it in the left menu bar, as shown below. Now, type "compare and contrast graphic organizer" in the search bar, and you will see a couple of templates over there. Select the one that suits your needs the best and go ahead.

Step3 Making Graphic Organizer from Scratch

Don't you feel comfortable with using the built-in templates? No worries! EdrawMax provides you with an opportunity to create your compare and contrast graphic organizers from scratch. Tap on the "New" option from the left menu and press the button "Blank Drawing", as shown below. Once done, you will see a new window on your system's screen. There, you can draw any type of graphic organizer like a Venn diagram, T Chart, Graphs, Maps, etc.

Step4 Select the Symbols

A wide variety of symbols and basic drawing shapes are available to make graphic organizers. Let's use the "circle" symbol and draw a Venn diagram. Tap on the "Symbol" menu from the top and click on the "circle". Now, draw three circles in a way that they slightly overlap each other, as displayed below. Once you are done with making your graphic organizer and want to change its position on your screen slightly, hit the "Select" option, click on the graphic organizer, and move it to any position you want.

Step5 Customize Your Graphic Organizer

Customization makes the whole idea easy to understand. EdrawMax offers different components to create a graphic organizer. Adding labels, engaging colors, and specific instructions to your drawing adds extra value to it. The below picture presents a Venn diagram that shows similarities and differences between three concepts (displayed with the three circles). The overlapped region shows similarities, whereas the remaining part of the circles displays key differences.

Step6 Export the Final Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer

Is your compare and contrast graphic organizer designed? Great! Now, you can export it to any format you want. The most commonly used file formats available in EdrawMax are; Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, HTML, Graphics, SVG, and PDF. Go to the top menu and click on the "File" option. Now, tap on "Export & Send" and choose any file format to export the final drawing.

Tips & Considerations

While creating a compare and contrast graphic organizer in EdrawMax, don't forget to conduct detailed research to understand what the topic demands and what is better to include. Try inserting pictures to make the drawing more appealing. You can introduce a color coding scheme to improve the overall learning experience. Utilize different components like pen, shape formatting, and connectors.

Basically, it is simple to create a graphic organizer in EdrawMax, just grab a template and keep customizing, drag and drop professinal symbols to make your plan better. If you are still confusing about how to create a graphic organizer in EdrawMax, just check this graphic organizer guide, or check the video below. Or you can find more tutorial videos from our Youtube.

5. Free Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer Examples & Templates

There are 7 examples of graphic organizer that you can refer or use immediately. Just click the image to download EdrawMax , and download the templates accordingly. Then double click to open the templates and customize as your prefer. Or open the templates from EdrawMax Online, and duplicate the templates. Click this graphic organizer examples to get more inspirations.

Example 1: Venn Chart

Above is an example of a Venn diagram template available at EdrawMax. A Venn diagram is a diagram that uses circles to depict relationships between objects or finite groups of objects. You can make use of this template to compare and contrast the similarities and differences of two or more objects, ideas, concepts, products, places, etc.

Example 2: Compare and Contrast Worksheet

This compare and contrast worksheet is simple but very useful. You can print it out and let students fill in the blank areas when you teach them to differentiate two concepts or items. If you want to change the number of text boxes in the "different" part, you can download the EDDX file of the template and edit it in EdrawMax.

Example 3: Compare and Contrast with Topics

This cute comparison and contrast diagram template is great to be used in PPT presentations and worksheets. It will make students' homework interesting and enjoyable. Come and click the picture to download the PDF or EDDX file.

Example 4: Compare and Contrast Chart for Students

This compare and contrast chart is designed to help your students with better analyzing of the similarities and differences between two concepts. Download it now and save tons of time from creating similar graphic organizers.

Example 5: Comparing and Contrasting Rain & Snow

The graphic organizer has made it super easy for researchers and scientists to compare and contrast complex topics like snow and rain conveniently. The figure below presents a detailed analysis of the differences and similarities between snow and rain and helps students creatively understand the overall scenario. As far as the learning process is concerned, the colorful visuals and graphics make it more appealing and engaging.

Example 6: Compare and Contrast Two Ideas (Fiction vs. Nonfiction)

The T Chart below compares and contrasts the two big ideas, i.e., fiction and nonfiction. The different traits are listed in tabular form to better understand how these two concepts are different and similar to each other. The traits compared in the table are; how literature is made, what is its purpose, what is it used for, and what it offers.

Example 7: Compare and Contrast Students' Ideas

This example is all about understanding the similarities and differences between two different student ideas. A double bubble map is drawn to understand the whole concept easily. This map is used for a variety of purposes, e.g., comparing and contrasting two or more artifacts, places, persons, ideas, and events.

6. Free Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer Software

Are you on the hunt for a versatile tool to create graphic organizers according to your requirements? Worried about the pricing factor? Look no further! EdrawMax is a trusted software that helps you create engaging graphic organizers for free. The best part of using this diagramming tool is that you can make editable graphic organizers and mold them for any content or idea. The world's top-rated brands have recognized EdrawMax and have been using this tool for many years.

EdrawMax promotes independent learning with the help of engaging visuals and graphics. It helps you solve complex problems by visualizing your target goals. If you run a team of professionals, you can use this diagramming tool to make a timeline and assign work to every member of the team. Some great features of EdrawMax are:

• A huge number of customizable templates
• Complete diagramming power
• Customized shapes and fonts
• File backup and encryption
• Supports popular file formats (e.g., graphics, PDF, Excel, HTML, Word, PowerPoint, SVG) to export the final drawing

The most appealing factor associated with EdrawMax is that it is trusted by more than 25 million users around the globe.

Create over 280 types of diagrams

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Professional inbuilt resources and templates

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Enterprise-level data security

EdrawMax Online

Create over 280 types of diagrams online

Access diagrams anywhere, anytime

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7. Final Thoughts

Do you often need to compare and contrast two or more concepts, policies, or people? Find it difficult to do this all manually? Looking for a helping hand to assist you in this regard? This is where a compare and contrast graphic organizer comes in. It is available in different types, e.g., graphs, maps, tree diagrams, flow charts, Venn diagrams, and the list goes on.

Every type of compare and contrast graphic organizer has its unique functions, and you can choose any of them keeping in mind your requirements. Do you want to create a graphic organizer on your own? Look no further than EdrawMax. It is a reliable and trusted software that not only helps you make a compare and contrast graphic organizer, but you can also create any other drawing you want.

Check this complete guide to know everything about graphic organizer, like graphic organizer types, and how to make a graphic organizer.