Analyzing and Prioritizing Information in Lists
Making a list is a pretty simple task, but when a student is required to order and prioritize the list, higher-level skills of analysis and evaluation are put to use. With the use of ordered lists, students visually construct information on paper or with a computer. These lists promote collaboration and discussion among students while they compare their lists and reasoning in a visual diagram.

The Visual Ranking Tool helps students analyze and evaluate criteria for the decisions they make in forming a list. By ranking lists, students must identify and refine criteria as they assign rank to a list. While using this graphic organizer, students can manipulate and order information and visually represent content being learned. These lists can be used to spark debates, create proposals, or to understand the quality of a character in a story. 

Example:
This example list comes from the Visual Ranking Unit Plan, National Energy Plan.

In this list students are asked to rank energy policy proposals from best to worst. Once debates and discussions have occurred, students create an energy strategy for America in a short report.




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