A Graphic Organizer for Paragraph and Summary Organization
Kathleen Riley
Polk Community College
Winter Haven, Florida

The TREE is an approach to organizing the writing of paragraphs in developmental writing classes.  Developed at Polk Community College in the mid-1980's, it has been invaluable in improving the quality of student writing in developmental writing courses.  Thus, we would like to share this resource with anyone interested in using it.  You are welcome to download and use any of the material found on these pages, and please feel free to email me with your comments, constructive criticism and feedback on the use of this tool.

Below are the major components of the TREE; you may want to read the Teacher and/or Student Introductions first.  In addition, the diagrams require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available from the Adobe website.

The TREE

• Teacher's Introduction to the TREE

• Student's Introduction to the TREE

• What is the TREE?

• The TREE Diagram (filled in)

• The TREE Diagram (blank)

• Shapes and Colors in the Three-TREE Paragraph

• Writing a Three-TREE Paragraph

• Sample Outline with Prompts in Color

• Sample Outline with Prompts (B/W for printing)

• Cautions About the TREE

Sample Three-TREE Paragraphs

• Sample Three-TREE Paragraph in Color

• Sample Three-TREE Paragraph in Color (parts labeled)

• Sample Three-TREE Paragraph (parts in brackets)

• Sample Basic Three-TREE Paragraph with Polished Reasons

• Sample Intermediate Three-TREE Paragraph

Answering an Essay Question Using the TREE

• Sample Passage

• The Sample Passage in Color to Show TREE Elements

• Essay Question and Answer Based on the Sample Passage

• The Essay Question and Answer in Color to Show TREE Elements

Writing a Summary

• Writing a Summary

• Writing a Summary Diagram

For more information on the TREE, contact Kathleen Riley.