Likewise, all concept maps denote their ideas or concepts within boxes or circles that are known as nodes, and the lines that connect these nodes are called arcs.

While making concept maps is a straightforward affair, it’s absolutely normal to be overwhelmed if you’re just starting out. However, you can never go wrong with concept maps as long as you have these tricks under your sleeve.

1. Use Short Concepts

When you start brainstorming for a concept map, you’ll come up with numerous ideas. However, you have to use a word to outline each idea that you have. Don’t make the mistake of writing full sentences for describing each concept.

However, using just one word might become too confusing to track your thoughts later on. Hence, you can use a number of words and string them together to make sense. For example, if you’re creating a concept map on winning, you can start with “What is winning?” to get you going.

The focus should be on simple phrases, and you can delineate a subject for each concept, and just put a verb next to it. To carry forth with our previous example, “winning needs”, “winning has”, or “winning leads to” can help you branch out your concept map in different ideas while keeping it short, succinct, and to the point.

2. Concentrate on a Single Focus Question

When you’re making a concept map, you have to resist the impulse to get sidetracked into various tangents. Zone in on a single focus question to avoid confusion for yourself. Though a concept map is meant to help you brainstorm all your ideas, deviating into too many questions could be detrimental to the one you are currently making.

You might get so sidetracked that you get diverted from finding the answers to the question you had started off your quest with. Hence, focusing on a single question can help you channelize your thoughts in one direction and not get lost or confused in the process.

3. Proceed in a Logical Order

There are too many concept maps that are available out there, and if you’re just starting out—chances are you’ll get overwhelmed. Start with the basic structures. Opt for concept maps like a spider map, a hierarchy map, a flow chart, or a system map.

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All of these are pretty straightforward, and they let you ideate and share your thoughts in an organized manner. Write down your focus question or primary topic at the center, and branch out your ancillary ideas from there.

Once you do that and then proceed to subtopics, you’ll be able to keep track of your thoughts and get the most out of your brainstorming session.

This is especially useful a hack, if you’re new to the world of concept maps. As a beginner or even a professional, you might not know where to begin or how to follow through. That’s where a related template comes in.

It will give you a structure to fall back upon, and pick up the leads from there. Moreover, using a related template saves a lot of time at the start and lets you focus on brainstorming your ideas.

When you have to spend no time or energy on figuring out the form or the shape of the concept map, and you already have a template that works for your needs, you can get more work done in less time.

5. Form a Propositional Structure

Concept maps are more than jotting down the concepts or ideas you have in mind.

The main aim is to create a free-flowing and interlinked list of ideas that mean something more. To put it in technical terms, a concept map makes a number of propositions about an idea or topic of discussion.

Now, how do you make a proposition out of concepts? You take two or more concepts and string them together with linking phrases to create a meaningful sentence or proposition.

6. Use Linking Phrases

While the boxes have the concepts you outline, the lines branching out of those concept boxes have linking phrases. By now, you know linking phrases help you associate two or more concepts together.

However, you need to be mindful that the linking phrases you use remain concise and absolutely to the point. The reason we say that is because you don’t want your concept map to become a disorganized list of sorts.

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Hence, use linking phrases that describe the relationships between two or more concepts. You can use precise linking phrases like “includes”, “causes”, or “requires” to form the associations you need.

7. Color Code Your Concept Maps

Color coding your concepts helps you distinguish different domains and thought processes easily. Not only does it make it easier to read the concept map when you’re referring to it later on, but also helps in recalling information quickly.

Color coding increases the visual impact of your concept maps while letting you organize your thoughts better. Generally speaking, they enhance your creativity and fuel cognitive processes.

When you use color codes and labels, you make it easier for yourself to depict numerous levels of information in the same mind map in an organized way.

Concept Maps Help You Strategize Well

While concept maps are designed to boost your productivity and improve your brainstorming sessions, they are extremely useful in helping you come up with ideas and strategies. However, you can only strategize well when you know your way around concept maps.

The best practices can serve as pointers to help you get started in the world of concept maps and make the best out of them.

Tip for the wise: Before you start drawing out your concept map, start with a list of ideas you’d like to represent. That way, you’ll never lose focus.