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Concept Maps Ask a librarian for assistance

Concept mapping is an alternative way to brainstorm your topic, allowing you to think about it visually and group main topics to groups of ideas, or subtopics. Viewing your topic visually can help you organize and see relationships among concepts and subtopics. Some people prefer this approach over a more linear outline method.

As you progress in your research, your concept map may change and grow, depending on new information you uncover. Click here to download a worksheet on concept maps.

The important thing in drawing a concept map is to think freely, without worrying about making it perfect or exact. Be flexible and creative! You can fine-tune it later.

 

Adapted from Teaching Information Literacy: 35 Practical, Standards-based Exercises for College Students, by Joanna M. Burkhardt, Mary C. MacDonald, and Andrée J. Rathemacher. American Library Association, 2003.

Other Uses for Concept Maps
In addition to brainstorming a research topic, concept maps can be used as study aids. For example you can use a concept map to:

  • Summarize and outline a chapter in a textbook
  • Diagram class notes
  • Diagram a process or procedure

Return to Focusing a Topic.

 

 

 

Additional Web Sites on Concept Maps

Concept Mapping
U. of West Florida

 

 
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