Teaching Resource
Fishbone/Herringbone Diagram Graphic Organizer
A blank fishbone and herringbone diagram to use in any subject area.
Use one of these graphic organizers to help students identify and understand multiple causes for a single effect.
The fishbone and herringbone graphic organizers help to visually display the many potential causes for a specific effect or problem. It is particularly useful when working in a group setting.
To complete the organizer, students:
- place the effect or problem in the circle
- place each cause on a separate diagonal line.
Use the drop-down menu to choose between the PDF or the interactive Google slide version.
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Common Core Curriculum alignment
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3
Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.8
Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.5
Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.5
Compare and contrast the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in two or more texts.

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English Language Arts and ReadingReadingText StructuresAuthor's Purpose & CraftTemplatesCause and EffectGraphic Organizers
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