Mind-Mapping Your Way to a Term Paper

Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D.

Have you ever been stuck while writing a term paper? It happens to all of us. You try making lists, you attempt a few "free-writes," and you even try discussing the topic with peers in the discussion board. But, still the thoughts are not flowing, and there is no depth to the topics you’re working on in your body paragraphs.

Try mind-mapping!

Mind-mapping is a graphical approach that engages different parts of your brain to see relationships and to trigger thoughts. By putting a together a mind map, you can easily associate ideas and initiate chains of related thoughts and ideas.

Mind-mapping is effective if you are working alone, and can be dynamic if you're working in a group with other people. For example, if you are using Web-conferencing software such as Adobe Connect or Elluminate, you can collaborate with other people in creating a mind map. Each person can draw on the whiteboard and add his or her ideas or insights.

The technique works for writing, math, creative problem-solving, and in developing creativity. For example, a study conducted with engineering students (Zampetakis & Tsironis, 2007) found that mind-mapping was an effective strategy for explaining in detail all the possible applications of an engineering design or problem, particularly in team assignments.

What is a mind map?

Essentially, a mind map is a diagram on a piece of paper. It is a freeform space where you can put topics and then attach what comes to mind to them. Remember that you can use graphics as well as words. So, for example, if you’re writing about pit bulls, you can put a picture of a pit bull in your map as well as words. As thoughts occur to you, you can put words or images next to them, and draw lines to denote relationships.

How does a mind map work?

Mind maps are extraordinarily effective because they minimize the cognitive overhead required in processing text on a page. Your mind does not have to decode all the words and the concepts. It can go straight to the work of generating ideas, associating words and concepts, and triggering chains of related thoughts.

You are doing semi-structured knowledge modeling, and in doing so, you are enabling your mind to represent structures from various information tools (Volkel & Haller, 2009).

In mind-mapping, you are creating a form that employs the following:

• Spatial layout
• Freeform layout and structure
• Nesting of ideas
• Zooming and telescoping
• Non-related free associations
• Clusters of same-category ideas, concepts, examples
• Blend of abstract and concrete knowledge

Tony Buzan, who has written extensively about mind-mapping, is an advocate because he points out it is an excellent way to use both sides of your brain. His book, Use Both Sides of Your Brain (1991), points out how our brains use different hemispheres to process different types of information, and if you have techniques for harnessing both sides, your thinking processes will be enhanced. Later, Buzan came to be regarded as the originator of a certain approach to mind-mapping that seeks to trigger both sides of the brain. His book, The Mind Map Book, has been widely adopted, and Buzan’s approach has influenced instructional strategies in many parts of the world.

There are many ways to do mind-mapping. The key is to remember that mind maps are spatial, and they are intended to be freeform. You’re trying to engage both sides of your brain, and you should welcome any of the associations that the words, images, or spatial arrangement trigger. Here is a step-by-step approach:

Step 1:   Draw a circle in the middle of the page, then write your topic in the circle. 

Step 2:   Draw a few lines coming out from the circle, and label them with ideas about your topic. 

Step 3:   Analyze the lines. Which ones can you develop further? Draw more lines as you see relationships, and place labels on them. Write details when they seem appropriate. 

Step 4:   Repeat the process until you run out of ideas. If you see a cluster of ideas developing, circle it. Discuss whether or not that would be something you can write about.

After you complete the steps of mind-mapping, you can then focus on a cluster and use that as the basis of a paper, or a body paragraph. The mind map can be utilized in conjunction with your thesis statement, your outline, and your "free-writes" to add information and depth to your argument. You can also use it to critique your argument, your supporting evidence, and the logic used in constructing your case.

In all cases, the mind map is a powerful (and surprisingly fun!) tool to use in your online learning endeavors — alone or with a group.

References 

Buzan, T. (1991). Use Both Sides of Your Brain. New York: Plume Books. 

Buzan, T., and B. Buzan. (1997). The Mind Map Book. London: BBC Books. 

Steyn, T., and A. De Boer. (1998). Mind mapping as a study tool for underprepared students in mathematics and science. South African Journal of Ethnology. 21.3 (Sept 1998): 125-138. 

Volkel, M., and H. Haller. (2009). Conceptual data structures for personal knowledge management. Online Information Review. 33.2: 298-315. 

Zampetakis, L., and L. Tsironis. (2007). Creativity development in engineering education: the case of mind mapping. Journal of Management Development. Vol 26 No 4: 370-380.