Idea+Maps


 * Summary** **and Rationale **

The purpose of an Idea-Map is to clue readers in to the organization of an expository text (Lenski et al., 2011: 152). Idea-Maps are a form of graphic organizers in that they display and categorize information in a visual form. They can be used for a variety of texts and purposes, including "description, sequence, compare-contrast, cause-effect, and problem-solution patterns" (Lenski et al., 2011: 152).

//Directions//
 * 1) **Introduce** the concept of Idea-Maps in the context of a pre-selected passage you will be using for a class reading.
 * 2) **Model** the Idea-Map using one of the patterns appropriate for your content area and the structure of the passage. For example, one could use the Sequence Map to discuss the motivations behind the forced removal of American Indians in early 19th-century America as described in the textbook, //History Alive! Pursuing American Ideals//. The instructor can either model the first few steps, with the intention of the students completing the rest, or model one selection and ask students to map the sequence of events/ideas in another selection.
 * 3) Students should then **practice** using Idea-Maps by completing the sequence on their own. Students will need to refine and revisit these maps after sharing their ideas with the class or a partner.


 * Example**

In this example, students will complete the sequence of events leading up to the forced removal of American Indian tribes in the early through mid 19th century in America. For the example below, the underlined text represents the teacher's model and the text in italics represents the ideas to be filled in by the students. Students will be asked to think about all the individual steps that encouraged settlers to move westward and the government to forcibly remove American Indians from their land. I will emphasize the topic that highlights some important considerations: demographic change, political change, and technological change.


 * Sequence Idea-Map**


 * Topic: Demographic, political, and technological changes led to the forced removal of American Indians during the 19th century in America.**

(1) __Population growth decreased the amount of available arable land in the eastern part of the United States.__

(2) __Settlers began pushing westward to find new farmland.__

(3) //The United States government acquired new land from Spain (Florida), France (Louisiana), and Mexico (Southwest) through purchase, conquest, and political pressure.//

(4) //The newly acquired western lands were explored by Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s.//

(5) //More and more white Americans moved westward in search for farmland.//

(6) //Technological change (particularly railroads) made it continually easier for settlers to move westward.//

(7) //Conflict arose between settling Americans and the American Indians who had already been pushed westward for hundreds of years.//

(8) //The United States government and its military forcefully removed American Indians from their land all across the country.//