What is the purpose of graphic organizers in literacy instruction?

The purpose of graphic organizers in literacy instruction is to visually map out information, which enhances comprehension. Graphic organizers serve as tools that help students organize their thoughts and ideas, allowing them to see the relationships and connections between concepts more clearly. When students can represent information visually, they are often better able to understand and retain it, as visual aids can simplify complex information and promote deeper cognitive processing. By structuring information in a way that is easy to grasp, graphic organizers facilitate critical thinking and support learners in making meaning from what they read.

Other options do not align with the primary function of graphic organizers. For instance, memorizing information without understanding does not facilitate genuine learning or comprehension. Providing punctuation rules does not engage students with comprehension strategies or visual learning aids, and replacing traditional reading materials undermines the importance of reading itself, which should be complemented rather than substituted by visual organizers.