Practical Task
Step
BrainstormingYou will need lots of coloured pens and a sheet of paper (landscape direction and preferably A3 or larger).
Write your central topic in a box in the middle of the page in large coloured capital letters. Or draw an image/symbol that represents that idea for you.
Now 'brainstorm' your ideas, by writing them fast, radiating out on branches from the central box. Let your mind go free and don't censure your ideas as they occur to you. There's plenty of time for that later.
STEP
Sorting by groups of related ideas
Colour code ideas that are related to each other. Discard those that you think are not useful.
STEP
Main branches
From the central topic box, draw a thick line for each of the colours that you have used: these will be your main branches.
On top of each of the main branches, write a key word for each main organising idea. Keep your writing as horizontal as possible.
STEP
Developing sub-branches
From each thick main branch, draw smaller branches for each related idea. You can go on drawing smaller and smaller branches.
When you reach the edge of the paper or you feel you have enough information on one page, you may want to start a new Mind Map: too much information on one page can look very uncomfortable and confusing.
On the other hand, you may want to keep adding to the same topic on a giant Master Mind Map poster, using large drawing paper or a roll of wallpaper lining paper.
STEP
Finishing touches
Arrows to show how ideas relate
Symbols or small pictures to illustrate points and make them memorable
An enclosing line around each cluster of related ideas
Numbers to arrange points in the sequence you wish to present them in
