Synoptic Table (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what a synoptic table is, its characteristics, types and examples. Also, understand how it is done, what it is for and its advantages.

A synoptic table begins with an initial idea from which others arise.

What is a synoptic table?

A synoptic table It is a graphic representation of ideas or concepts. You can make a synoptic table on a specific topic that you want to analyze in a limited way, using key words connected by lines or braces. Graphically, it is like a tree: it begins with an initial word from which others emerge.

A synoptic table is normally implemented as a strategy to organize knowledge in a simple and clear way. It is based on a particular theme and its various relationships.

Synoptic tables are very useful for analyzing a topic or theory, since they contrast and relate variables by finding similarities and differences between them.

Characteristics of a synoptic table

The synoptic tables:

They are called that, since their name comes from the term synopsiswhich refers to a type of brief and general summary on a certain topic or topic.
They are graphic representations that use geometric figures in their design.
They start from a general theme, from which the subtopics emerge.
They can be of different types, which vary according to their design: some have the information horizontally and others, vertically.
They usually present information in a hierarchical manner: the concepts go from the general to the particular.
They can be done by hand or using digital tools.
They are used in the academic field to study a certain topic.
They are used to highlight the main ideas of a text, prepare an oral presentation or graph the hierarchical structure of a company.

Structure of a synoptic table

Every synoptic table consists of:

A general or central theme. It is one or several words that refer to a topic or a general concept about which information is going to be provided.
Ideas or subtopics. They are the different concepts or elements that describe the general theme and can be:
- Main ideas. They emerge from the general or central theme.
- secondary ideas. They emerge from the main ideas.
- Accessory ideas. They emerge from the secondary ones and usually refer to examples, details or descriptions.
Keys or lines. They are graphic marks that link the general theme and ideas, and that visually show the hierarchy of concepts.

What is a synoptic table for?

Synoptic tables are one of the most useful tools when studying or analyzing a topic. They are used to reveal the most important content of a text or a topic and allow the information to be organized and arranged by establishing links or relationships between the main concepts. This type of diagram makes it possible to easily visualize concepts in order to understand and memorize them simply and quickly.

There are different types of synoptic tables, most tend to order the information according to their hierarchy or relevance. Starting from a general or central theme, subtopics branch out, which facilitates the assimilation and study of key ideas and their links. These diagrams are used to address and study complex topics or topics that include a wide variety of concepts and relationships.

They can be useful when preparing an oral presentation, a presentation or a conference, putting a brainstorm on paper, assimilating concepts, organizing projects, summarizing texts and teaching theories, so They are widely used in business, institutional, academic, school and informative fields..

Types and examples of synoptic tables

There are three types of synoptic tables that vary in their design and the way in which the information is presented:

1. Summary table of keys

It is the most used type. The concepts are arranged from left to right based on a general or central theme from which the main, secondary and accessory ideas successively emerge using keys.

2. Diagram synoptic table

The information is arranged from top to bottom and the concepts are hierarchical. The main, secondary and accessory ideas are displayed downwards according to their importance and are connected by lines.

3. Network synoptic table

The information is arranged in a hierarchical manner: from a general or central idea, other ideas emerge through lines in different directions. For example:

Source: https://humanidades.com/revolucion-mexicana/

How to make a synoptic table?

To make a synoptic table, you can follow a series of steps:

Read and interpret the material. You must read the material from which you are going to work, to know the topic in general terms.
Identify the most important ideas. You can underline these ideas and write down the concepts in list form.
Write the topical sentence. A concept must be determined, in one or two words, that describes the general or central theme of the writing. This will be the title of the box and the main concept that will be placed on the left or above.
Determine which are the main, secondary and accessory ideas. From the list that was prepared before, the concepts and ideas must be classified hierarchically, that is, from the most general and inclusive to the most particular and specific.
Include ideas in the box. Starting from the topical sentence, the rest of the information is prioritized and progresses from left to right or from top to bottom, from the most general concepts to the most particular ones. Additionally, it is necessary to connect the ideas with keys or arrows.

Advantages of the overview table

The advantages of a synoptic table are:

It allows you to organize complex information in a simple way, so that it is easier to understand.
Highlights the most relevant concepts and ideas from texts and different topics.
It serves as a support to summarize texts or topics.
It allows you to see the hierarchical connection of ideas.
It facilitates the study and memorization of different topics due to its visual layout.

Differences between synoptic table and concept map

Synoptic tables and concept maps present some similarities, for example, in both the information is organized visually and hierarchically and the most important concepts and ideas are highlighted, to summarize or understand a topic in a simple way.

However, they differ because In a synoptic table, concepts or ideas are only linked by lines or keys. Instead, in a concept map, linking words are written on the lines to form propositions, that is, statements that provide descriptions or meanings of the concepts.

References

Guerra Reyes, F. (2019). Main graphic organizers used by university teachers: a constructivist strategy. Research and postgraduate, 34(2), 99-118.
Rosales, E. (2011). Synoptic table. In Registration Operations. Academic Portal of the CCH, UNAM. https://portalacademico.cch.unam.mx/
Terán Viteri, F. and Loayza, GA (2015). The use of graphic organizers in the teaching-learning process. Atlante Magazine: Education and Development Notebooks, 20(1), 2-14.