scheme

Knowledge

2022

We explain what a scheme is, what it is for and what types exist.In addition, how it is made and its relationship with a concept map.

Schemas allow us to organize ideas and concepts.

What is an outline?

An outline is a graphic representation that is used to express the main concepts of a topic in order to understand or study them. It is usually done after reading and underlining the main ideas of a text, and it is a simple and clear way to analyze and organize concepts through words and graphic resources.

The scheme is a tool for studying and organizing the information extremely useful, since it gives aview of the topic to be studied through a synthesis and allows the reader to visually memorize the main ideas.

See also:Mind map

Characteristics of a scheme

  • It presents information clearly and directly, following a criterion so that it can be interpreted simply and quickly.
  • It includes the fundamental concepts of a topic and its main relationships. You should not take into account details or information that is not relevant.
  • Present the information visually appealing to be absorbed by the reader effectively.
  • Conceptual. Graph the main ideas of a theme.
  • Study method. It is an effective tool in understanding and studying a subject.

How do you make an outline?

There are certain steps that are useful to outline the content of a text:

  • Read comprehensively the writing. In this first step all the sources available from which the information for the schema will be obtained.
  • Underline the main ideas. The ideas of the text that allow understanding the subject of study are highlighted, secondary, tertiary or all ideas can also be underlined fact or concept deemed necessary.
  • Choose keywords. From the main ideas, the concepts (or short sentences) most representative of the subject are obtained. Details should be omitted, since one of the fundamental characteristics of the scheme is that it is synthetic and brief.
  • Determine what type of schema to use. Although there are pre-formatted diagrams, this tool allows each person to adapt it to their preference and according to the subject of study. It is advisable to make your own scheme (and not made by someone else) because the process of summarizing and organizing the information is beneficial for understanding and memorizing the subject.
  • Relate the ideas. It is recommended to take note of the ideas and the order in which they will be related or classified and then put them in the diagram.
  • Graph the schematic. It is important to be clear about the order of the information and the content to be included, in some cases, more than one scheme can be made to graph the different branches or subtopics within a broad or complex subject. Capitalization is often helpful to emphasize the fundamental and lowercase concepts for the elements present in them. Certain graphic resources such as boxes, lines, arrows, keys, letters or bars can be included in the diagram to facilitate its assembly and understanding.

Scheme types

There are different types of schemes that vary in their design, size or the form in which the information is arranged. It is important to know them to choose the scheme that best suits the type and quantity of material with which you are working.

Among the most prominent are:

  • Key diagram or synoptic table

Use braces or brackets to organize the information from left to right in a hierarchical way, going from the general to the particular. It starts from the main concept and in keys it encloses the secondary and tertiary ideas: the greater the number of keys, the greater the specification of the information. This is useful when the theme has many subdivisions.

  • Arrows scheme
Source: susanabria.over-blog.es/

Use arrows to organize information from left to right or sideways, so you can include a large number of concepts and information. Part of a main concept from which arrows come out that enclose secondary and tertiary ideas: the greater the distance from the main concept, the more specific the information.

  • Branched scheme
Source: Mariapinto.es

It uses a main concept from which all other ideas descend from the general to the particular. It is used to represent classifications or subtopics.

  • Flowchart
Source: Ingenioempresa.com

It is used to graph the steps or activities within a process from geometric figures, which represent concepts connected to each other by arrows that mark the direction of the process.

Scheme and Concept Map

A concept map establishes a network between concepts based on their relationships.

A concept map is a diagram that connects, through lines, concepts that it encloses in geometric figures (nodules). On these lines link words are used that facilitate the understanding of the ideas.

It is a synthetic and simple scheme in which the main concepts of a subject are reflected, establishing a network based on the relationships that exist between them. It differs from other diagrams because the relationship between concepts prevails and it has a structured format, since it does not use varied graphic resources like the rest of the diagrams.

This type of diagram was created in 1972 by Joseph Novak and its fundamental elements are:

  • Concepts. They are enclosed in figures called nodules.
  • Lines. They join the different nodules.
  • Connecting words. They are located on the lines and establish what is the relationship that unites the concepts.
  • Set of concepts. That form a statement that contains an idea.

The concept map is one of the most used study tools due to its design that generates a great visual impact that allows the reader to know the relationships between concepts quickly and clearly.

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