Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram: Overview

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A fishbone template is an essay planning tool. Whereas the burger diagram encourages students to think in terms of introduction, three main sections and a conclusion, the fishbone approach involves selecting four main factors, then providing three key pieces of detail about each.

Sample Lesson Plan using the Template

This is really a very straightforward template, which would be ideal as a homework / extension activity prior to a written essay test in examination conditions. Students could be asked to produce and print off a fishbone diagram for the key question under consideration, which they could then use for reference purposes during the test.

Other Ideas for the Template

  • Each student could save their completed template to the school network so that they can be compared and contrasted. Which fishbones are the most similar? Which one is the most original? Which one appears to have broken the topic down most appropriately?

Samples

CPD Fishbone: Types of Learning Styles

CPD: Gender Differences in Education

Economics: What are the various types of externalities?

English Fishbone: Protagonist Analysis

English Literature Fishbone: Hamlet

Geography Fishbone: Impact of farming on ecosystems

History Fishbone: King John

History Fishbone: The Defence of the Realm Act

History Fishbone: What caused the Boston Tea Party?

History: How did the Nazis Rule Germany?

History: Why did the Medieval Church have so much power?

How to Create a Fishbone Diagram

Excellent Screencast from the Edtechroundup site

ICT: Impact of ICT on Quality of Student Learning

Physics Fishbone: Forces

Physics Fishbone: Forces

Sample Files

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