Concept Mapping

Once you select a general topic you are interested in researching, it is a good idea to take time to brainstorm any and all aspects or ideas related to your broader topic. Concept mapping is a technique that will help you create a visual image or diagram of your topic and how it connects with other ideas or concepts. Write down any and all related issues that you think are related to your topic. The concept map helps you focus your thinking, prompting you to start asking questions about your topic.

Description:

Using the topic that you have selected for your research, write your proposed topic into the Main Topic oval on the Concept Map on the next page of this assignment. Click Here to see a .pdf example of a completed Concept Map.

Thinking freely, without any expectation of the result, use Inspiration8, a new interactive diagramming and outlining software program in IMC Lab A, to start creating a concept map of your topic, similar to the example above. Write down any and all related words, concepts, people, places or things, even remotely related to your topic idea, in the appropriate areas on the worksheet.

The next part of your concept map is to select one or more of the related topics from your brainstorming map that you would be interested in pursuing as an area of inquiry on your topic. You might need to do some very preliminary research to get some background information about your topic. A general or subject encyclopedia is usually a good source for this type of information.

The purpose of the second part of the Concept Map assignment is to help you narrow your topic. Drawing on your own knowledge and the results of your preliminary research, the Concept Map – Refocusing (see 2nd page of the concept map example) exercise asks you to think about specific Causes, Solutions, Effects and/or Benefits related to your main topic, as well as any people, places or things directly associated with or related to your topic. By considering one of these particular aspects related to your topic, it will help you narrow the focus of your research and formulate an effective research question. Click here to print out a blank Concept Map Worksheet, or create your own using the Inspiration8 software program.