How to Create a Flow Chart From Text
Sometimes information printed in textbooks can be confusing and hard to understand. Creating a visual representation, or flow chart, is an ideal way to organize text visually so that concepts are easier to understand. Text can be defined, simplified and then broken down into easily digestible phrases that are plugged into separate flow chart boxes. Text in finished flow charts can be used to study for an exam or can be presented to classmates during a presentation. Creating a flow chart online is relatively easy and allows you to quickly alter the appearance of flow chart symbols, font and size so that your text is clear and easy to understand.
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Instructions
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Navigate to a free online flow chart site, such as Gliffy, Flowchart, Mindmeister or DrawAnywhere, links to several of which can be found in the "Resources" section of this article. Sign up for the site if required.
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Open a new flow chart template on your chosen site and then choose the flow chart shapes and arrows that you will need to use.
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Edit your text to simplify the language if sentences are long and wordy. Flow charts are much easier to understand when they are written in plain language. Limit sentences and phrases to no more than five or 10 easy to understand words. Try creating your flow chart one step at a time by ask yourself, "What happens next?" Put each step in a box and an arrow between boxes.
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Lay out the text so the statements to be entered into each flowchart symbol are clearly separated and in order. There should be a clear beginning and end. This will make it easier to accurately type the text into the appropriate fields without accidentally confusing information or adding the wrong text to one of the flow chart boxes.
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Type the text into the flow chart symbols. Adjust the size of the flow chart shapes to accommodate your text, if necessary. There should be a clear border around your text to make the text more easily readable.
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Alter the size and font of your text so that it is easy to read. You might try using a font that is easy to read, such as Comic Sans or bold Times New Roman. While a font size of 14 might be appropriate for a flow chart on a handout, you might need to expand the text font to a size 24 or 28 if you are using your flowchart during a presentation where it will need to be read from a distance.
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Review the text and layout of your flow chart. Print it, then read it to make sure that the text makes sense to you and flows well. Make any changes to the original online, then print a final copy for use in studying or presentations.
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