USES:


 Mind Maps are useful for:

  
 Brainstorming   – individually, and as a group.
 Summarizing information, and note taking.
     
 Consolidating information from different research sources.

 Thinking through complex problems.

Presenting information in a format that shows the overall structure of your subject.

Studying and memorizing information.

Drawing Basic Mind Maps


To draw a Mind Map, follow these steps:

1. Write the title of the subject you're exploring in the center of the page, and draw a circle around it. This is shown by the circle marked in figure 1, below.

(Our simple example shows someone brainstorming actions needed to deliver a successful presentation.)

Figure 1

2. As you come across major subdivisions or subheadings of the topic (or important facts that relate to the subject) draw lines out from this circle. Label these lines with these subdivisions or subheadings.
 (See figure 2, below.)

Figure 2

3. As you "burrow" into the subject and uncover another level of information (further subheadings, or individual facts) belonging to the subheadings, draw these as lines linked to the subheading lines. These are shown in figure 3.
Figure 3


4. Then, for individual facts or ideas, draw lines out from the appropriate heading line and label them. These are shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4

5. As you come across new information, link it in to the Mind Map appropriately.
A complete Mind Map may have main topic lines radiating in all directions from the center. Sub-topics and facts will branch off these, like branches and twigs from the trunk of a tree. You don't need to worry about the structure you produce, as this will evolve of its own accord.

TIP:

While drawing Mind Maps by hand is appropriate in many cases, software tools and apps like Coggle, Bubbl.us, Mindmeister, MindGenius, iMindMap, and xMindMap can improve the process by helping you to produce high quality Mind Maps, which you can then easily edit or redraft. (Click here for a full list of Mind Map software.)