Examples of Synoptic Table

A synoptic table It is a diagram that graphically represents the organization at different levels of the most important ideas of a text, a topic, an exhibition or a theory.

In the synoptic tables, the concepts are organized hierarchically, since they start from a central idea, from which main, secondary and complementary ideas emerge.

In addition, these ideas are expressed in a synthetic way and are connected with keys, arrows or lines that show the relationships and contrasts of the contents.

These characteristics allow the information to be easy to understand visually, which in turn makes it possible to better understand a topic or text. Therefore, the synoptic tables are very useful to study or to explain various topics.

• See also: Synopsis

How to make a synoptic chart?

• Read the text or the material. The source has to be analyzed in depth in order to understand it better.
• Identify keywords in the text. Key words should be underlined, highlighted or annotated in order to identify the central theme and the main, secondary and complementary ideas.
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• Establish what the central theme is. The central idea of ​​the text must be determined, since it will serve as the title of the synoptic table.
• Determine the hierarchy of ideas. The ideas are organized according to their relevance and their relationship and taking into account that they must go from the general to the particular.
• Represent the synoptic table. The scheme is made taking into account that the central theme is placed to the left or above everything and that main ideas, secondary ideas, complementary ideas and details are written to the right or to the left. down. In addition, the visual connectors are drawn between the ideas, that is, the keys, the arrows or the lines.

Synoptic table types

There are different types of summary table:

• Synoptic table of keys. In this type of synoptic table, the ideas are organized hierarchically into main, secondary and complementary. This organization is reflected visually, as the concepts are placed from left to right according to their relevance and are connected by braces.
• Diagram synoptic table. In this type of summary table, the ideas are also organized hierarchically, but instead of using braces, lines or arrows are used to show how one concept follows from another. In addition, generally, the central idea is placed above and the others below.
• Network synoptic table. In this type of synoptic table, there is a hierarchy between the ideas, but the spatial arrangement is freer, because the different concepts can be connected to each other.

Synoptic table examples

1. Synoptic table of keys
2. Synoptic table of keys
3. Diagram synoptic table
4. Diagram synoptic table

Interactive test to practice

Follow with:

• How to find keywords in a text?
• Difference between concept map and mind map
• Summary and Synthesis
• conceptual relations
• discontinuous texts
• Summary tabs

References

• What is it and how is a synoptic table made? (s.f.). Tecnológico de Monterrey. Available in: Tecnologico de Monterrey
• Rosals, E. (2011). Synoptic table. Under Registry Operations. Academic Portal of the CCH, UNAM. Available in: academic portal