The Writing Process: Flow Chart Maps

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Timelines: Flow Chart Maps

Use visual brainstorming to develop and organize your ideas.

In 1765, Joseph Priestly created the now commonplace timeline. Priestly's timeline depicted the lifespan of 2000 inventors whom he considered the "most distinguished in the annals of fame."

In technical documents as well as magazine articles, timeline flow charts are exceedingly popular. Readers love chronological timelines, which graphically chart the emergence of an idea or concept. For example, you could draw a timeline of writing technologies or a timeline for the use of visuals inside texts.

Typically, timelines move from left to right or from top to bottom to denote the passage of time, as illustrated below.

When Are Timeline/Flow Chart Maps Useful?

Because they highlight the passage of time, timelines and flowcharts offer a visual representation of how ideas, people, inventions, or processes evolve. Readers can glance at your timeline while reading your story, whether it's about an inventor or the emergence of a new technology.

Written by Joe Moxley

Parent Category: The Writing Process

Category: Organizing

Published: UNKNOWN

Content available at https://writingcommons.org/timelines-flow-chart-maps

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial – No-Derivs 3.0 — Unported License

How to Use Writing Commons

Welcome to Writing Commons, the open-education home for writers. Writing Commons helps students improve their writing, critical thinking, and information literacy. Founded in 2008 by Joseph M. Moxley, Writing Commons is a viable alternative to expensive writing textbooks. Faculty may assign Writing Commons for their composition, business, STEM/Technical Writing, and creative writing courses.