mind map essay outline

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How to Create a Mind Map for Essay Writing

Last Updated: December 1, 2023 Fact Checked

Generating Your Map

Organizing your map for writing, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 286,395 times.

If you’re a visual learner or just looking to switch up how you outline your essays, mind maps can be a game-changer. They make coming up with ideas for your essay and organizing them super easy. If you’ve never used a mind map for essay writing before, don’t worry—we break down everything you need to know to get started in the steps below.

Things You Should Know

• Get out a piece of paper and write your topic in the center. This can be a single word or sentence.
• Then, write down any words and ideas that relate to your topic. Circle them and then draw lines or arrows to connect them to the topic.
• Label each bubble idea according to where it fits into your paper. This can be a specific paragraph or a general section, like the introduction.

• Lay out the colored markers or pencils to which you have assigned meaning.
• Orient your paper so that it is in landscape position.
• If you don't have colored pencils or markers, don't worry. You can still make a mind map with just a pen or pencil!

• Circle your topic.

• Each thing you write down may give you another association. Write that down as well. For instance, writing "Impairment vs. disability" might remind you of "wheelchair ramps."
• Try to cluster related thoughts together ("wheelchair ramps"—"access to public life"), but don't worry if it doesn't always happen—you can draw a line between things you wish to connect.
• Look for connections between your unrelated thoughts and jot them into the picture.

• You might also label them "supporting argument," "evidence," "counterargument" etc.

• Include doodles if they occur to you, but again, don't get caught up in making them perfect.
• Depending on your age and essay topic, you might want to focus more on drawing pictures than writing out words.

• While there are plenty of programs available for purpose, you can also use free online mapping tools like Bubble.us, Mind42, or Coggle.

• Add details as you go. For instance, you may write some of the sources you are planning to use to the sections of your essay to which they apply.

• If you do this, you can start by drawing bubbles for the sections and continue by filling in the thoughts and associations.
• You can also organize your revised mind map into bubble for topic sentences that branch into smaller bubbles for supporting arguments and evidence.
• Once you've done this, you practically have a rough draft of your paper.

• Start each paragraph with a sentence that introduces the ideas of that paragraph, and write until you have incorporated all the information for that section.
• If you end up adding things that weren't on your map, look at your map to check that they fit, and consider penciling them in. One of the virtues of the map is that it keeps you on topic.
• Make sure you're not cramming too many points from your mind map into a single paragraph.

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• ↑ https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-mindmapping.pdf
• ↑ https://emedia.rmit.edu.au/learninglab/content/how-create-mind-map
• ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/using-concept-maps/
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.

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Free Mind Map for Essay Templates by GitMind

Making an essay is a common piece of advice offered to you along with your writing assignment. In that case, this post will teach you how to make mind maps as well as how to use pre-made mind maps for essay models. Mind mapping organizes information in a way that mirrors how our brains truly operate, as opposed to standard note-taking or linear text that you’ve been taught or have grown accustomed to. It can also help you avoid the stumbling blocks and overload created by overt analytical thinking. It lets you view more than one notion at a time, which helps to clarify your thoughts.

Free Mind Map for Essay by GitMind

Effective essay writing, essay topic template, paragraph essay organizer, mind map for essay benefits, how to create a mind map for an essay.

A mind map for writing an essay is a written piece in which you convey a certain topic and then back it up with facts, claims, analyses, and explanations. The five-paragraph essay is the most common style of an essay, though an essay can have as many parts as necessary. A 5 essay is comprised of five paragraphs. An essay, on the other hand, is divided into 3 sections: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

According to the mind map essay example, an essay is a written piece in which you convey a certain topic and then back it up with facts, claims, analyses, and explanations. The five-paragraph essay is the most common style of an essay, though an essay can have as many parts as necessary. A 5 essay is comprised of five paragraphs. An essay, on the other hand, is divided into 3 sections: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

Plan essay mind map template with this paragraph organizer. The introduction should begin with a broad statement and end with a thesis statement that zooms in on the themes you will discuss in considerable depth. The proof of your idea should be included in the body paragraphs. Lastly, the conclusions affirm your topic and the key ideas of your work and then zoom out with an assessment or comment on the greater issue.

Mind map for essay may be an excellent method for you to try if you want to attain higher levels of attention and creativity, as well as the improved organization and more succinct communication. The advantages of concept maps are numerous and diverse. In essence, they include: presenting an overview of a vast subject/broad issue and enabling you to portray it in a more compact manner and also creating a more appealing and entertaining structure for your ocular to look at, ruminate over, and remember.

Creating a mind map essay example is always challenging, even if you are a superb writer and are well-versed in the subject. In contrast to other types of writing, you need to cultivate an interesting way of thinking in order to persuade readers of your point of view. In this instance, a program like GitMind might be useful. It will enable you to write essays that need ordered thought. While there are various strategies for arranging the thoughts you want to include in your essay, many people connect using a mind map for essay writing to utilizing a mind map. This program makes it easy to brainstorm, convey your ideas, and clarify your position.

• To get started, go to the GitMind official website. and then press the “Get Started” button.

• Start designing your mind map for writing an essay by clicking the “Create MindMap” button.

• Select your favorite layout and begin entering data into each node.

• When you’re finished, just click the “Save” button to save your changes.

In summary, making a mind map for essay writing is a basic yet very efficient method of brainstorming and outlining your thoughts. A mind map represents your topic by using a primary thought and branches that explain the center notion. Terms and keyphrases, color codes for phrases and branching, and visual materials like doodles or symbols are all used in well-drawn mind maps. On a single page, you may generally summarize all of your essay’s main points.

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How to Use Mind Map In Writing – A Thorough Guide

This guide is brought to you by Zen Mind Map, the simplest mind map maker.

Before we can delve into using a mind map for writing, we must first understand what a mind map is. Apparently, there are many self-published authors who launch successful book releases by a creative writing exercise called mind mapping.

Mind mapping is one of many idea-generating strategies that rely on the association, which then comes out as a diagram with figures, facts, concept maps, phrases, keywords, etc. Overall, it is a powerful writing habit inspiration, especially for first-time authors.

There can never be two similar mind maps, even if you use the same mapping software . However, there are some arbitrary steps that you must follow for this approach:

• Choosing a central idea
• Creating ideas connecting to this subject
• Adding in colors / images to associate with these ideas
• Rearranging the map so that it doesn’t look confusing
• Reviewing and storing the map for a subsequent writing process

How To Use Mind Map For Writing Process?

Using a mind map to find your topic, choose the central idea .

Indeed, the very first thing to do is to decide on the backbone of your essay, which is the subject. The best approach is to pick a topic that allows you to provide new findings/conclusions. 

The ideal topic should interest you, as it makes the process much less unbearable. At this stage, put something like “My Essay” in the center of your piece of paper.

Write Down Areas Of Interest (Potential Topics) 

The next thing to do is surround the center with ideas, which is very easy if you have some mind mapping tools. They can range from suggestions from your professor, subjects discussed in class to anything relevant.

Subsequently, quickly start noting down some areas in which you find interesting - They can be anything, as it does not need to be related to the main topic at this step strictly. Remember to use mind map templates with a clear color scheme.

All you need to do is write down anything that pops up in your mind, preferably instinctively. 

Review Their Relationships/Intersection 

Now you have two sets of branches, one being the relevant ideas and the other being your personal interest. Find areas where these two sets intersect with each other.

This process results in a set of ideas that are both relevant to your goal and your interest. 

Weigh Them Against Each Other With Pros And Cons 

The next step is to weigh every idea in the set, analyzing each idea’s pros and cons. 

Start The Elimination Process

Start the elimination process once you get the pros and cons of every single concept. Compare the list of advantages and disadvantages carefully, but mostly on the disadvantages. 

Yet, remember that challenges are inevitable, but they should never hinder you from turning in your work.

Eliminate the choices until there is only one.

Using A Mind Map Standard To Compile Research Materials

Make a new branch for each source .

With this approach, the topic will be listed in the center of your map, and the child branches will be the secondary sources. From these branches, create smaller ones consisting of the secondary source’s topic, central idea, and quotes.

This method most benefits projects that do not require you to focus entirely on primary source material. Instead, find other similar types of writing and present the link between them to enforce your point.

Make A Branch For Each Area Of Your Topic

There are some involvements from the secondary sources, but they are not prominent.

Note everything you need onto the map while working through the source’s text. You need to work a lot more, but the payback will absolutely be worth it. 

Using A Mind Map To Layout Your Outline

You will get a well-structured thesis outline out from the mind map. It allows you to generate a coherent structure consisting of examples, quotes, arguments, counter-arguments, etc., without losing grasp.

The visual representations of mind maps mean that you can quickly review your outline whenever you need to. All it takes is one look, and you can track your entire text structure from the thesis statement.

However, there certainly are some specific things that you need to pay attention to for a better creative process:

• Put a link between each topic with a corresponding research map created independently. 
• Next, put in some notes or deadlines at each level, ensuring that the writing project is never behind schedule. 
• Going over the deadline is always the clearest sign of bad writing.
• The last thing to do is export your finished mind map for easier access.

The Rules Of Mind Map For Writing Process

• The subject you want to discuss should always be at the center of the map. 
• Branches should be going out, each representing one single idea relating to the subject.
• The last rule to keep in mind is the use of visuals such as images, icons, and color themes. They will serve as mental triggers, sparking more ideas within your brain to create a positive loop within your brain.

What Are The Benefits Of Mind Map For Writing?

• Newbie authors will have a complete overview of the entire topic and a clear flow of ideas. 
• The second benefit of mind maps is that they let you see how the main topic connects with its supporting pieces. This results in an easier time planning resource materials and when to use them.
• Finally, this approach provides a much more enjoyable and attractive format to supply information to your brain. You will, in turn, remember the information more clearly, improving your writing potential.

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How to Use Mind Maps for an Effective Essay Writing

Edraw content team, do you want to learn more about using mind maps for an effective essay writing.

EdrawMind specializes in diagramming and visualizing. Learn from this article to know everything about How to Use Mind Maps for an Effective Essay Writing !

Being a student, writing an effective essay is a difficult task for you. But you can make it easy if you know how to use mind maps. Creating a mind map for essay writing helps you visualize the idea before writing it.

So, do you want to create mind maps? If yes, read this article explaining how to use mind maps for essays .

1. What Are Mind Maps for Essays

A mind map is a technique for centrally organizing thoughts on a particular concept. This visual thinking tool makes it easier to analyze, remember, understand, summarize, and develop new ideas by managing the data. Let us know by taking a mind map essay example . You want to write about your best friend, including his hobbies, details about his parents, and his likes and dislikes. Mind mapping would be the technique you will use to visualize the content going along in your 'best friend' essay.

Here are some benefits of using a mind map for writing an essay:

• The student can order the segments according to their subtopics.
• The student can refer to the mind map to see if they missed any important topics.
• If a student includes a mind map in an essay, it will help a reader to understand the issues quickly.
• The student makes sure they have all the necessary information before writing the essay by creating a mind map.
• Before an exam, a student can quickly review his mind maps for revision.

2. How to Prepare the Essay Using a Mind Map

Now that you know what a mind map is and how beneficial it is for essay writing. So, let's learn how to prepare an English essay mind map for essay writing .

2.1 Research the essay's topic

Finding a unique concept or a less popular subject is the first step in essay writing. If you choose to write about a topic for your essay that has already been discussed, it may be difficult for your research to take a real stand.

Instead, choosing an essay topic that interests you personally, or at least isn't too difficult for you to discuss, is advised. The process of writing an essay will be less tedious if you select a topic that is personal to you. To research the case of an article, do brainstorming.

To brainstorm, take a piece of paper and write down everything you know about a particular topic. Then, write your ideas by using keywords.

2.2 Planning the essay

One of the critical steps in writing an essay is research. Unfortunately, students often waste a lot of time simply attempting to put all the various pieces of information together. So, creating an essay planning mind map is essential so students can easily organize and collect their data.

Moreover, making notes in a mind map as you read each source (book, article, or essay) helps you retain the information. You could also use a single map where you list all your references and make branches for each page, paragraph, and quote you plan to use in your essay.

To organize the information from the brainstorming, decide on the main categories. Then, tie the additional information to those in the manner described below:

2.3 Outline and write the essay

The third step is to create an outline of your essay before you start writing it. It will help you to organize your arguments, counterarguments, examples, and sources in a logical order. A mind map makes it simple to review the outline and find the data one needs for their essay.

Whenever you find yourself getting off track while writing or when you are unsure of where to go next, you can quickly review this outline. Then, once outlining is done, start writing.

3. Mind Map Templates for Different Essays

There are different kinds of essays in academic writing. You can make a mind map as a student for various essays and then use these procedures to write the essay. Let's see 5 different types of essay outlines explained with mind maps. These essay mind map templates help you to write outstanding essays.

3.1 Argumentative Essay Mind Map

To write an argumentative essay, a student must be analytical. He must research a subject, gather information, come up with points, analyze the evidence gathered, and take a position.

So, use an argumentative essay mind map. By doing so, you will have different segments while outlining the essay's investigative and evaluative stages.

3.2 Comparative Essay Mind Map

Students write this type of essay when they need to highlight the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. Writing this type of essay is a fantastic way to show those topics or concepts frequently misunderstood by one another. It is easy to see the differences and similarities between the two subjects in this essay by using a comparison essay mind map.

3.3 Research Essay Mind Map

A research essay is an essay that offers information on a specific subject that you have looked into and is unrelated to you. By doing research, you can find out more about the subject. The research outline mind map gives students a plan of action, especially at the beginning of the research. It can be applied as a critical thinking technique for problem-solving. Looking at this essay mind map template, you can easily concentrate on and comprehend the target ideas.

3.4 Thesis Statement Essay mind map

A thesis statement is a statement that summarizes the key idea of your essay. Usually, it follows your introduction. Your thesis will be slightly different depending on the type of essay you are writing. But the main point you want to make is always stated in the thesis statement. For this, follow the thesis statement essay mind maps. This essay mind map template is beneficial in deciding the best thesis statement for your essay.

3.5 Interpretive essay mind map

An interpretive essay is a form of writing that recognizes, assesses, and analyzes the author's methods in a specific work. This essay offers an interpretation of a previously published form of writing.

4. Tips for Essay Mind Maps

If you adhere to some tips for  mind maps for essays , writing essays can be enjoyable. So, here are some tips for essay mind maps that you must follow:

• Always place the topic you want to talk about in the middle of the mind map. 

You should save money to cover any unexpected financial needs.

• Use images, icons, and colors whenever you can. These serve as mental triggers and can help in your ability to generate fresh ideas.

Investing is essential for growing money so that you can achieve your goals.

• To write the ideas on to the branches, always use relevant keywords.

Financial security through insurance ensures that you and your family can get through difficult times.

• Draw lines to indicate cross-links between the information in different parts of a mind map.

5. Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed everything that you must know. So, if you want to save time and other resources, use mind map templates for different essays.

You can find these templates on EdrawMind . Unlike other software, this has an excellent user interface with straight forward drag-and-drop features. So what are you waiting for, then? Create a mind map for the essay right away by downloading EdrawMind.

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How to Make a Mind Map

What do you want to do with mind maps, i want to create my own mind map on lucidchart., i want to create a mind map from a ready-made model..

Create a mind map to organize your thoughts, generate new ideas, and improve creativity. This guide will show you how to create an incredible mind map that fulfills all your needs.

2 minute read

Want to create your own mind map? Try Lucidchart. It's fast, easy, and totally free.

1. Begin with the main concept

First determine the main purpose of your mind map and write it down. Since mind maps start from the inside and expand outward, your central idea will become the core topic of the diagram. Your main concept could be:

A problem you’re trying to work through

The project you’re brainstorming

A difficult concept that you’re trying to learn

Let’s say you have to write an essay on Benjamin Franklin. In this case, Benjamin Franklin would be the main concept since he is the focus of the essay.

2. Add branches to the main concept

Now that you have determined the main purpose of your mind map, add branches that will outline the most basic subtopics. The branches should help you to begin organizing the information. Don’t worry about including a lot of details, keywords and short phrases will be more than enough.

In the case of our essay on Benjamin Franklin, the main subtopics that you should chart out are the main branches that explain his life. More detail into these initial branches will be included as we continue to add branches.

3. Explore topics with Collaborative AI

Once you identify the main subjects within your topic, you can use Collaborative AI to generate more ideas or expand with questions to help build upon the idea. You can also use AI to summarize your entire mind map, which makes it possible to share key takeaways and move forward with next steps.

4. Add images and colors

Maintain organization within your mind map by using standard colors for the different levels of thoughts within your diagram. If you are using Lucidchart, the colors will be managed for you. Furthermore, using images will help you to both visualize, and memorize the various parts of your mind map. Images can also be used to link shapes instead of the traditional box shape.

In our example with Benjamin Franklin, we have added more branches until we were ready to write the essay. If we were studying for an exam instead of writing an essay, the icons used could be especially helpful to boost memorization.

Create a mind map in Lucidchart

Additional resources.

• All About Mind Maps

Lucidchart is an incredible tool that will make organizing even complex problems very simple. As you continue to create mind maps you will find that Lucidchart is incredibly easy to use for both the beginner, and more advanced users.

• X (Twitter)

The Benefits of Mind Mapping for Writing (And How You Can Get Started Right Away)

Crafting a bestselling novel isn’t for the faint of heart. And not just because of all the writing, editing, and marketing. Trying to keep all those plot points, characters, settings, and other details straight can be a major challenge. And the further in you get, the more difficult it becomes. 

Fortunately, there is a way to streamline your writing process and reign in the complexity of your story’s world. Mind mapping for writing can help you get organized, stay focused, and write faster. And that means you’ll reach the finish line of your story sooner. 

But mind maps aren’t just for writing fiction. They can be used for all types of writing. And you don’t even need a stash of pen and paper. With mind mapping software at your side, you’ll be able to write better blog posts, research papers, and more .

Keep reading to discover how a mind mapping tool could be just the jumpstart your writing process has been needing.

What is mind mapping anyway?

Mind mapping is a technique that can be used to brainstorm ideas, organize your thoughts , or remember something more easily. The basic idea is to create a map of your thoughts by connecting related ideas with lines and arrows. This can help you to see the connections between different ideas and to remember information more effectively. 

Mind maps come in a variety of styles, from timeline mind maps to Venn diagrams . And each kind of graphic organizer offers unique benefits.

How can mapping be useful in writing fiction?

As any novelist knows, writing a book is no easy feat. You don’t just have to come up with a compelling story. You’ve also got to keep track of all the different characters and plot threads. 

Mind mapping can be a helpful tool for keeping everything organized. By creating a mind map, you can visualize the different elements of your story. 

For example, you might brainstorm story ideas for a single book or an entire series. Then, you could create a timeline mind map to give yourself a clear picture of when events take place. You could even include significant events that happened before or after your story. Mind maps can also help you flesh out your characters. They offer a place to describe them physically, psychologically, and in other ways. 

And with mind mapping software , you can even add images and links to show relationships to other characters or places.

How do you create a mind map for a story?

Want to know specifically how to mind map for fiction?

First, you’ll need to think through the kinds of mind maps you’ll need. Will character maps be beneficial? Could you use mind maps describing particular scenes or settings? Would a timeline be helpful? How about a mind map that divides your story into its various beats?

Once you’ve decided which mind maps will be best for your story, choose mind map templates that fit your need. Mindomo has a host of templates specifically for literature and writing. There, you’ll find everything from characterization study maps to story maps and more.

Once you’ve finished your mind maps, they can be used as a guide when writing the actual story. They’ll make it easy to ensure all of the important elements are included.

But a mind mapping tool won’t just help you keep each individual story straight. You can also use them to track your progress, setting yourself milestones for each section of the book. And if you ever get stuck, mind maps can provide a handy way to jump-start your creative juices. After all, they’re the perfect tool for brainstorming.

How can mind mapping be useful in other types of writing?

Maybe you’re not a fiction writer.  That doesn’t mean mind mapping isn’t for you. Mind mapping benefits extend to any type of writing.

Start by brainstorming your ideas and then organize them into categories. Once you have the structure of your post, use your mind map to identify your central topic. You can also use the mind map to come up with good ideas for supporting points. Then, you can add them as child branches on your map.

With a clear outline of your post or article, it will be much easier to write the actual content. And if there’s something you’d like to add or change while writing, simply update your mind map accordingly.

For maximum efficiency, you can also use a digital mind map for outlining and organizing the flow of the post. And you may even be able to create a mind map to illustrate your central topic or a supporting idea. Having all these elements at your fingertips will ensure that your blog posts are well thought out and organized. You can use mind mapping to structure an essay with ease.

With a mind map, you’ll save yourself from wasting valuable time and energy on unnecessary rewrites. Having a clear plan in place before starting your writing makes it much easier to stay organized. That way, you can produce better content faster. 

Use mind maps to structure your paragraphs:

Use mind mapping software like Mindomo to create mind maps

While mind mapping may sound like a complicated process, it can actually be quite simple. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen, and you can get started. However, pen and paper will only take you so far. If you really want to take full advantage of creating a mind map, you’ll need mind mapping software.

Mind mapping software like Mindomo makes it easy to create mind maps. You can start with a blank canvas or use one of the many mind map templates available. The software provides a variety of tools for adding text, images, links, and other information to your mind map. You can also customize the appearance of your mind map, including the color scheme, shape, font, size, and lines. Best of all, mind mapping is a fun and effective way to learn and remember information.

No matter what you’re looking to write, Mindomo has mind map examples and templates you can use to get started. Simply choose a template that fits your needs, add your own central topic, and edit it to your heart’s content.

That’s everything you need to know about creating a mind map for your next project.  From brainstorming ideas to tracking progress and getting organized, mind mapping can be a valuable tool for any type of writer. With the help of mind mapping software like Mindomo, you’ll be able to take your writing to the next level. 

So, what are you waiting for? Start mind mapping today and see how it can help you produce better stories, articles, and papers than ever before.

Keep it smart, simple, and creative! The Mindomo Team

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How to Make Mind Maps: Visualize Your Ideas for Better Brainstorming

It’s inspiring that such massively successful blockbusters started on napkins, but that’s the first step for any good idea, right? Getting ideas out of your head and putting it into the world in some tangible way is how you turn them into reality.

Most people don’t sketch the next great animated movie characters on napkins, but we all need a way to tease out our ideas, think through concepts, and put them into a usable format. That's essential for creativity, in our personal lives and in business. Lists, outlines, and notes can help, but they don’t always lend themselves to radical innovation, learning, or problem-solving.

There’s a better way: mind maps.

What Are Mind Maps?

Mind mapping can be a solo or team activity, and they can be used for all types of tasks: learning, thinking through ideas, strategic planning, mapping out processes or organizing overwhelming amounts of information. I’ve even come across mind maps made to plan weddings or organize Thanksgiving dinner.

Why Use Mind Maps Instead of Lists or Outlines?

You don't have to make a mind map—you could just jot a note down on that napkin, or use an outlining app to list the things you're thinking about. So why mind maps?

"Lists always get long, and they assign importance in terms of where the item is on the list," explained MeisterLabs co-founder Michael Hollauf. "If something is further down, it’s inherently less important. If you have topics that are on a similar level, it’s hard to show that in a list. Mind maps can reorganize really easily if you decide something belongs to something else."

In other words, instead of capturing information linearly by default, mind maps can show--and help you discover--connections between different topics, the way your mind works.

List or outlines can be great for small tasks, but Grubb told me fresh ideas are more likely to pop up when creating a mind map because of the free format. "When I’m planning a project, a mind map helps me capture my ideas without having to lay out steps in a linear fashion. I find that a linear list, or even an outline, hems me in and stops me thinking freely."

How to make a mind map

Mind maps are pretty simple to create, and you can build them on a whiteboard, sketch them on a piece of paper, or use a mind mapping app to create them. These basic steps apply in any medium:

1. Start in the Middle With a Central Idea

This can be a word or an image/picture that represents the central topic you’re going to map.

2. Create Branches to Represent Sub-topics

These should be limited to words or short phrases. Keep a good amount of space between your ideas to leave room to add on later.

3. Add Details to Your Mind Map

You can vary colors, word cases, font styles, and even the thickness of your branch lines to separate or group different topics or ideas. Or, you can add photos, notes, and more to add more detail to your map.

4. Make Connections

You can draw lines or arrows between ideas in the map that you want to connect.

Keep expanding for as long as you need to. You might feel done with your map after one sitting, but it could also be something you keep and adjust or add to over time.

Other Mind Mapping Tips

If you’re a beginner

For mind mapping beginners, it can be helpful to have a pro guide your first few maps.

"Look for someone who often uses mind maps and ask their opinion," Grubb told me. "This can help to remove blocks to mastering the technique in the early days."

If you’re not artistically inclined

Don’t worry if you’re not an artist; that’s not the point of a mind map.

You don’t need to make a masterpiece: "They’re thinking tools, not works of art," Grubb says.

If you’re mapping with your team

When mapping with others, it helps to set some ground rules first. "What we do here is we come to some fort of agreement for how the map is going to be used," Brandner says. "We say we’ll ‘add comments here’ or ‘use these icons for this.’"

With technical teams, Grubb opts for mind mapping software on a laptop with the map projected onto a screen. For teams who are new to mind maps, he maps on large sheets of paper or a whiteboard.

"It helps to be in front of the map, talking as I add to it while the ideas bounce back and forth," he says. "I can explain what I’m doing as we go along, and at the end, capture images of the maps on a phone before erasing them."

As the meeting progresses, Grubb gets people more involved: "I look for opportunities to hand over the marker so that everyone has ownership of the mind map."

If you’re working remotely

Mind mapping tools make it easy for distributed teams make maps together.

When to Use Mind Maps

Mind maps are often used in schools, so people tend to associate them mainly with learning and studying. But there are a ton of business applications for mind maps, too.

"Many students are shown how to make mind maps to help with learning but never take the skill on into their business careers," Grubb says. "Those that do find they have a tool that is good for much more than just understanding school work."

Grubb told me he sees businesses using mind maps for ideation, product design, website design, project planning, management, report writing, and planning software testing.

Here are just a few business-focused tasks mind maps can help with:

When Absorbing What You Read

Reading is an important way to grow as a professional, but with busy schedules, it can be hard to digest a book or resource enough to apply it to your work.

When Preparing for a Speech or Presentation

Students turn to mind maps—especially hand-written maps—when studying because they help with memorization.

"That tactile experience works a lot better for memorizing," Brandner says. "That’s what I did in school. Once you have mind map and you’re about to go into the exam, you redraw the mind map by hand to get it into your brain."

You could use a similar process to prepare for a speech or presentation. You’ll feel more confident about the content and might not have to rely on notes as much during the presentation.

When Managing a Project

Some project managers use mind maps to take notes in meetings. Instead of pages of linear notes, you can put the meeting topic in the middle and create branches for each major sub-topic discussed.

Making mind maps can also help prioritize project tasks.

When Trying to Generate New Ideas

Use mind maps to combat writer's’ block, think up new product ideas, or generate possible solutions to a problem you’re facing.

Automate Your Mind Maps

Your mind maps can be put to even more use if you connect your content in them with your favorite apps. With Zapier, an app automation tool, you can send tasks or topics from MindManager Enterprise to many other apps, such as Google Docs, Trello, Asana, and Evernote.

For example:

Send MindManager content to Google Docs

Send MindManager tasks to Trello

Send MindManager topics to Box

Send MindManager tasks to Asana

Send MindManager content to Evernote

Who knows, maybe you are planning to pitch an idea to Pixar for Hollywood’s next loveable robot, clown fish, or furry monster. If so, ditch the napkins, and try a mind map.

And the next time you want to make sense of information, successfully plan a big project, run a meeting, learn something new, streamline the way you work or even plan Thanksgiving, mind maps can work for you, too.

Mind Map Examples and Further reading

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Genevieve Colman

Genevieve Colman is a User Experience Manager who enjoys uncomplicating complex language and finding the perfect GIF for every situation.

• Personal productivity
• MindManager

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Mind Map for Writing: How a Mind Map Help You in Writing an Essay

A mind map helps in writing an essay, which is the fact that others still don't know about. You are probably reading this article because you want to know how a mind map helps a learner in writing, or perhaps you already know that it does, and just want to find out how to make a mind map effectively for you to create a persuasive essay. Whichever your reason is, we assure you that after reading this post, you will understand how a mind map could improve your writing skill, especially in making an essay.

In addition, you will not only have a profound understanding, but we will also show and help you how to plan an essay using a mind map. And so get ready to create essays wisely using a mind map anytime and anywhere, and let’s start it today.

Part 1. How Does a Mind Map Help in Writing?

Part 2. how to outline an essay in a mind map, part 3. bonus: how to create a mind map for essay writing, part 4. questions frequently ask about mind mapping.

To begin with, let us learn what does a mind map means. A mind map is a graphical illustration that depicts the gathered information regarding the subject matter. Furthermore, studies have discovered that the mind mapping in writing an essay , solving a problem, decision making, brainstorming, and organizing research is the most effective method for the students and other learners to increase their analytical and thinking skills.

After all, it is easier for the human brain to retain a piece of information presented photographically than via write-ups. In line with this, as mentioned previously, a mind map is the best aid in writing an essay, for it is the tool that shows the expanded and collaborated information of your topic. Believe it or not, a learner can come up with much more ideas and information by organizing his thoughts first through a mind map before writing them in paragraphs.

Suppose that you are about to write an essay about the iconic Harry Potter. Without using a mind map, how will you organize and develop a better and more precise piece of writing? Imagine your ideas are floating and couldn't decide where to allocate them. We hope you are getting it by now.

Moving forward, let us now learn the proper ways to outline an essay. Well, you know pretty well that the outline will be your guide or your roadmap in writing your essay, so it should be structured wisely. Therefore, let’s see the standard and the tips to consider in creating a mind map for writing an essay .

Essay Standard Outline

1. Introduction - An essay should have an introduction, and we are not just talking about a typical opening, but an attention-grabber one. This means that it should catch your reader's attention as soon as they read it. It is the most crucial part of the essay, aside from the title, for it will be the deciding factor of the readers if they will continue reading or just leave it behind.

2. Body - Of course, your essay needs to have the body. This part should have everything, especially the most important message you want your readers to acquire. Like creating a mind map for letter writing, the body includes your point of view, opinion, justification, and evidence about the subject.

3. Conclusion - This is the end part of your essay. Remember to always close your essay with a remarkable conclusion. It should be as brief as possible but contain the summarized points you tackled in the introduction and the body.

Mind Map v.s. Outline: Understand Pros & Cons with Examples

Edraw content team, confused between mind map vs. outlines.

EdrawMind is a mind mapping tool equipped with 22 structures, 33 well-designed themes, and 700+ designed cliparts. Check out the mind map vs. outline guide to see which one is best for you. Download EdrawMind today and make wonderful mind maps or outlines.

When creating a complex research paper or noting the forthcoming meeting's agenda, it is important that a student or a professional plan it ahead before actually creating the visual representation of it. If one has planned it ahead, the chances of missing out on vital information are fewer, and at the same time, all the information will be correctly organized. There are generally two ways to plan it: mind maps and outlines .

Students often get confused between choosing mind maps and outlines. In this detailed article on mind maps vs. outlines, we will learn the pros and cons of using them, different scenarios as to when to use mind maps over outlines and vice versa, and how you can easily transform an outline into a mind map using the astounding features offered by EdrawMind.

1. What is a Mind Map?

Mind maps are the visual representation of your thoughts in which you are already aware of your central topic or the main idea, sub-topics, and if there is any kind of relationship between different sub-topics. While creating a mind map, you simply map the main topic and then radiate from the center, placing all the sub-topics or sub-phases that need to be included in order to define the main topic correctly.

As you can see here, mind maps are great learning and concept-sharing tools for people who prefer visual illustration of different complex topics.

In order to understand the use of mind maps in real-life, check out some of the advantages and disadvantages of the same. It will help you understand when you can go ahead with it or in which scenarios you will have to move to outlines.

Pros of using a mind map

Mind maps or diagrams are more easily stored in our memory than other kinds of representational formats.

Mind maps can separate the encoding of complex information in memory in visual form.

Mind mapping helps in creating meaningful engagement for learners by actively engaging in the process of generating ideas and brainstorming.

Cons of using a mind map

People who prefer logical thinking might skip using mind maps to understand complex data or information.

In order to properly organize a mind map, you will need to use the right color-coding, different line patterns, and images.

Creating mind maps takes time if you are not using mind mapping tools like EdrawMind.

2. What is an outline?

As the name suggests, the outline is the tool educators, and professionals use to organize written ideas about a topic into a logical order. Unlike mind maps with loosely arranged subtopics, outlines arrange major topics, subtopics, and supporting details more logically.

When working on complex thesis or topics, creating an outline is handy as it helps check off different paragraphs or subheads as the student completes them. In order to understand the use of outlines, check out some of the advantages and disadvantages of the same. These pros and cons lists will help you understand when you can go ahead with it or in which scenarios you will have to move to mind maps.

Pros of using an outline

Outlines will help you organize and construct different topics or ideas sequentially.

When creating an outline, the writer will easily understand how they intend to connect all the supporting information.

An outline can also help the educators effectively brainstorm the ideas and ensure that the paper they are writing is organized, focused, and well-supported from all fronts.

Cons of using an outline

Outlines require you to write extensively even before you start writing your paper. Some educators or professionals would not prefer doing that if the topics are lengthier than expected.

Since outlines only present ideas and there are no graphical representations, many students find them hard to relate with.

If you are creating an outline on a paper, you will find it a lot tedious and too much work if you have to add different subtopics or statements.

3. How to Make a Mind Map?

Now that you have seen the differences between mind maps and outlines let us show you the easiest way to create a mind map for your project. In order to do this, you will need to download and install EdrawMind in your system. Once you have launched the tool, you must log in using your email address, which takes you right to the home screen, where you can access some predefined templates. If you intend to collaborate with your remote team, head to EdrawMind Online and log in using your registered email address.

Step1 Main Idea

On your EdrawMind homepage, you will see several templates that help create high-functioning mind maps. Head to the 'New' section on the left and click on '+. EdrawMind will take you to the main canvas, where you will see a pre-built mind map layout. Update the central idea or the main idea with your thesis or business topic.

Step2 Add Branches & Explore

Once you have added the main idea or topic, you can start adding sub-branches to it. Depending upon the complexities of your central topic, you can further explore the sub-branches or ideas in the best way possible. With EdrawMind, you can create hundreds of subbranches of your main idea without worrying about styling or losing on the formatting. With the in-built traverse mode, you can also easily check on the sub-topics.

Step3 Customize the Idea

EdrawMind lets you easily customize your mind maps by changing the layout, changing the connector's style, updating the theme, modifying the color codes, and more. With this mind mapping software, you can easily import different pictures to enhance the look and feel of your mind map.

Step4 Export & Share

Once you have completed the mind map, you can export it into multiple formats, including JPEG, PNG, PDF, TIFF, SVG, HTML, and other Microsoft formats, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. EdrawMind lets you share your mind map via a direct email or on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Line.

4. How to Make an Outline?

Outlines help the educators or business professionals to structure the ideas coherently so they can easily organize the main points into paragraphs. There are two ways to outline any topic. The first is a traditional method that requires little expertise, and the second is an easy way to use EdrawMind. Let us discuss the traditional way before we move to the EdrawMind method.

• The first step you need to do here is to identify the central topic and note it down.
• Now identify the purpose of working along that topic or argument.
• Once you have gathered the primary information, you should now look for your target audience that would help in defining the tone of the writing.
• Once you have put down all such aspects, you can put all of them down to create your outline.
• First, add the topic or argument's name on the top.
• Now put everything together by paragraph and subheadings.
• Divide your ideas into sections to make your writing look more organized.

Now, there is yet another way that helps in creating easy outlines from mind maps . Check out the following steps to learn more about it.

Open a previously created mind map in EdrawMind that has a main topic and different subtopics.

On the top of the toolbar, you will see 'Outliner'. Once you click on it, you will see how the system automatically converts your mind map into an outline.

Add the relevant information in this outline.

You can further export this outline into multiple formats, like PDF, HTML, Graphics, and Word.

5. Example for Outline & Mind Map: Note-Taking

Note-taking is one of the most important parts of any academic or professional institute. Taking effective notes in any lecture or seminar is essential as it allows a permanent record of key information that one can integrate into their future writings. These notes can also be helpful when it comes to doing exam revisions.

When you start taking notes, you learn that these are transferable skills, as once you have started creating outlines or a mind map for notes regarding your academic needs, you can easily go on to make different notes for social, life, work, business, and other verticals. Most students prefer noting down everything in one go, but as it turns out, note-taking is very important for several reasons, like:

• A good note-taking method helps you record key information.
• With a note-taking strategy, students can retain information for a longer time.
• With the help of note-taking, you would be able to concentrate on the topic effectively.
• Note-taking is considered one of the easiest methods to revise for exam preparations.
• Once you have created a mind map for your notes, it can become your perfect guide to brainstorming and visualizing them in a more creative sense.

You can take notes either by creating mind maps or by outlining all of your thoughts in one place.

If you create a note using a mind map, then:

You will have more creative freedom

Your notes would have different color-codes

You can add different images or pictures to your notes

It would be pleasing to the eyes

If you create a note using the outlining method, then:

You cannot put down images or other creatives.

Even though your notes would look organized, it would be harder for the others to go through them without understanding their core.

It would be easier for you to take notes quickly.

With outlines, you do not need any technical skills to create notes.

As you can see, there is no one-size-fits-all way of taking notes. It all comes to some basic questions, like:

• What do you prefer: creativity or logic?
• How much time do you have?
• Do you need to share the content with someone who has no idea about the topic?

You can create outlines or mind maps when you partake in a note-taking activity. You can choose between a mind map and an outline depending on your preference, time availability, and resources. You can learn about the 5 best note-taking methods with templates that would help you decide which one to go with when you start taking notes for any meetings or education-related purposes.

6. Key Takeaways

Both mind maps and outlines are considered the most effective ways of note-taking or visualizing any idea. Even though an outline cannot properly let you branch out like mind maps, students often use it when they need to take some notes quickly. As you saw in this guide, it outlines different list ideas in a paragraph in writing, whereas mind maps tend to work best for those who prefer creativity over logical reasoning. So, it is up to you which method you choose when you work around organizing your thoughts or ideas.

That being said, you would require a tool that can easily convert your mind map into outlines and vice versa. EdrawMind is not only a mind mapping tool but can also be used to create different outlines. In this mind mapping software , you will find pre-built templates for all the different verticals, like education, business, personal, health, and more. Check out these templates and convert them to outlines if that is what is required from your side. Download EdrawMind today and create some stunning mind maps or organize your outlines in the best way imaginable. If you plan to collaborate remotely, head to EdrawMind Online and check out the amazing online features available for registered users.

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Mind Map vs. Outline – Which is Best for You?

When researching and writing a paper or working on a project, it is vital that you plan before you start writing or start the project. Having a plan will ensure that you get all your information into the paper/project and that all that information will be properly organized. There are numerous ways to plan, with two of the most popular being mind maps and outlines.

While we are going to discuss the merits of both mind maps and outlines in this article, the question is: which is best for you? At a high level, mind maps are best for people who are creative or visual learnings (right-brained) while outlines are more valuable to analytical and methodical-oriented people (left-brained).

It is important to keep in mind that these are general tendencies and are not absolute. Your mileage may vary in terms of which is best for you. I encourage you to try both of them to see which works best for you.

Before we get started with the tutorial, if you are looking to learn more about apps like Notion, Todoist, Evernote, Google Docs, or just how to be more productive (like Keep Productive’s awesome Notion course ), you should really check out SkillShare . Skillshare is an online learning platform with courses on pretty much anything you want to learn. To learn more about Skillshare and its vast library of courses and get 30% off, click the link below:

SkillShare – Online Learning Platform

What is a Mind Map?

Mind Maps kind of resemble trees. They can help you determine what you already know on your topic, what sub-topics you might want to explore , and helps you to hone in on keywords that you can use in your research. You simply map the main topic and then radiate from the center , placing all the things that need to be included in the paper.

This diagram is great because it displays information visually. These are a perfect tool for a brainstorming session.

What is an Outline?

Outlines are a great way to help you organize the order of your paper and its topics. Outlines can help you group thoughts and show the relationship between ideas. Outlines make it super easy to check off paragraphs and subheads as you write them. Outlines are the most commonly used preparation tool for papers used by students, and for a good reason.

Why do I Need to Plan my Paper or Project?

In order to get the point of your essay across to your readers, you need to create an effective paper structure . You want your ideas to be placed together in a logical manner, not all jumbled across several paragraphs. This will be tough to do if you jump straight from research to writing. Everyone works in different ways, but everyone should plan. Every paper you write is going to require different numbers of paragraphs, different numbers of words, and different topics, but all papers can benefit from a well-organized map, outline, or plan .

Planning your essay makes it more likely for you to make a coherent argument and get your main idea across. Planning can take just a few minutes yet make a world of difference for your paper’s authenticity.

How do I make a Mind Map?

The first thing you need to do when making a mind map is to get a separate piece of paper in addition to your research notes to write your map on. Then, write your topic in the middle of the page in all capital letters. Next, write any words or ideas that relate to your main topic. Draw them each in their own bubble, then draw lines to connect them to the main idea and to each other using different colors. You can draw your lines as arrows, branches, or any other shape. You can also draw some empty bubbles to leave open for any ideas that come to you as you write. There are also a ton of mind map templates online that you can use to your advantage, but some people prefer to customize their own by hand.

This method works really well for visual learners . The bubbles, plus the fact that you have room to sketch drawings and ideas, can spark your imagination and make your paper more in-depth.

Here is a great example of simple, yet concise mind map:

For more information on how to create mindmaps, check out the article below:

How to Create a Mindmap on a Mac

Enclosed below is a list of mind-mapping applications you can check out arranged by platform:

How do I make an Outline?

Outlines help you structure your ideas and organize the main points into paragraphs so it will be much easier for you to put them all together and write your essay. The first thing you should do is develop and identify your topic. Then, identify the purpose of your argument and topic. Next, identify your audience so that you can use a proper tone in your writing. Once you have done all these things, you need to put together your thesis statement. The thesis statements express the main focus of a paper and state an arguable claim.

After this, you will put everything together on your outline by paragraph and subheading. Dividing up your ideas up into sections will make your paper more organized and precise . As you write your paper, you can cross boxes off on your outline to make sure all of your research is included properly.

Here is a great example of simple, yet concise outline template:

Some tips for making a useful outline include:

• conducting plenty of research beforehand
• identifying the objective of your essay
• noting the main points
• organizing your ideas
• revising and removing unnecessary paragraphs

You can use a template found online or customize your own outline.

Enclosed below is a table with a list of outlining apps organized by platform:

Why is Research Essential for an Essay?

Back in the day, you would have to pull out books and an encyclopedia to do any research for a paper. With technology in this day in age, you have access to so much information in the palm of your hands (literally!) that you can use to your advantage. You can do all of your research without even getting off the couch, thanks to the internet. Research is necessary for every essay you write, because it backs up your claims , gives your argument a basis, and presents factual information to your readers.

Background information makes your essay more interesting. Instead of just saying, “Cold brew is the best drink at Starbucks,” give me reasons why. Start by talking about the history of Starbucks and cold brew, give me nutritional information, and facts as to why it tastes best. Having more information to back up your point of view makes it more likely that I will come to agree with your argument. This also makes your essay more creative and in-depth.

Research papers help you identify problems and innovate in the real world. The goal is to solve a problem or make a change. An essay with no research does not leave a lot of room for innovation. Research is essential to mankind; it helps us continue to grow as a society. Putting in the time to research your topic will allow you to make better arguments and a more well-rounded paper.

Disadvantages of Mind Maps

Mind mapping won’t work for everyone. Mind mapping can be difficult for people who are logical in the way they think . If you know that you have a very strong left brain, perhaps you should try using an outline instead. Also, if you know that you get out of hand and write a lot while planning, your mind map may become too big to understand properly. You also really need to use color-coding, different line patterns, and images in order to properly organize (which is great for right-brained people). It will also take some time and practice to understand how to make an effective mind map.

Mind mapping comes easy for some, and for others, there is a steep learning curve; it all depends on how your brain learns and works. Mind maps will unleash creativity if you are right-brained or a visual learner.

Disadvantages of Outlines:

For some, outlines simply do not fit with their writing style. Outlining can be lengthier and too much writing for some . If you are left-brained, outlines are more likely to work for you. Outlines usually do not include color coding, images, or lines. It’s simply a layout of what you are going to write step by step. Some (right-brainers) claim that outlines hinder their creativity. If you know that you are one of these people, then you should probably try a mind map instead. Some also think that writing an outline is just flat out boring . Outlines are kind of like writing a mini-essay, so this is understandable.

Which Works Best for Me?

Whichever planning method works for you is okay. It is also fine if neither method works for you . Although it is suggested that you plan for your essay, that is not going to work for everyone. All of us are unique, and we all have different ways of learning and working, especially when it comes to writing essays.

It’s all about finding a planning method that works for you . What works for me very well may not work for you, but it absolutely could.

Personally, as an engineer and a definite left-brainer, I use outlines religiously. When I was in school, I used an outline every single time I wrote an essay. For me, writing an outline was like writing a mini version of my essay. It was super easy for me to transfer my ideas on my outline over to my paper. I loved being able to organize my research directly onto my outline, then move those ideas over to my essay.

Again though, that is my preferred method, it may not be yours. It doesn’t matter how you plan your essays, as long as you are doing so in an organized and logical manner. If you are more creative and artistic, you may find yourself relying on mind maps for writing essays. Either way, having a plan leaves you more time to write a draft, so you can make any changes you need to before the due date. Again, neither method is superior over the other; it is all about which is best for YOU.

Applying these Planning Tools to an In-Class Essay

Sometimes, teachers require you to write an essay in class during exam time. This can put a lot of pressure on you because you are on a time crunch and need to write a well thought out argument within that small amount of time. This is where essay planning comes in even handier .

Planning your at-home essay is a great tool to produce a well-written work, but planning can quite literally save your grade during an in-class essay writing session. In these types of situations, it is super easy to get caught up in the moment and go blank . Producing a mind map or an outline before you begin writing your in-class essay will make your life so much easier . You can either make your plan before class if your teacher allows you to do so, or you can draw one up before you begin writing. This is where they only taking a few minutes to make comes in super handy.

Once your mind map or outline is created, all you really need to do is transfer that information over into essay form. Once you have created your plan, you’ve already done the hard part. A time crunch with no plan is a recipe for jumbled ideas and scattered arguments . Taking just a couple minutes of your time to sketch up an outline can make a world of difference.

In Conclusion:

Some of you may have never even heard of a mind map before reading this. Whether you use them religiously or have never planned an essay before, I encourage you to try either a mind map or outline next time you write an essay or paper. They can be way more beneficial than you think, you have to try them for yourself to truly see their results.

Mind maps include bubbles, lines, arrows, colors, and drawings to help you plan your essay. Mind maps tend to work best for creative individuals, with dominant right brains.

Outlines list ideas and facts by paragraph in writing. Drawings are rarely used in outlines. Outlines tend to work best for people with dominant left brains because they are more analytical.

There is no right answer when it comes to whether outlines are better than mind maps or vice versa. That answer comes down to you as an individual and which works best for you personally . It doesn’t matter which method you use, as long as they are helping you to plan an effective, organized, and well-rounded essay backed by research and factual evidence.

Planning methods can come in super handy when writing an in-class essay. They help do away with the anxiety that comes with writing in a time crunch — knowing exactly where you are going to write what information can take a lot of pressure off of you in this situation. Just because you are on a time crunch does not mean your paper needs to be unorganized, jumbled, and full of word vomit.

We are taught essay planning at a young age for a reason. You need to learn to be able to write a well-balanced essay, because it is a tool that you will carry with you throughout your educational career and beyond , out in real life.

If you want to reach your goals as a student, the fact is that you are going to have to write some essays in your time at school. Even if you aren’t the one kid in class who gets pumped to make their essay outline, just remember that it is there to help you and make your life easier. Writing up an essay plan only takes a few minutes but can make a huge difference . Your grades will thank you for taking five extra minutes to come up with a plan. It doesn’t matter how you plan your essay, as long as you do so. Mind Map vs. Outline has no right answer, but Essay Planning vs. No Essay Planning does. The answer is when in doubt, plan it out.

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Jimmy McTiernan is the owner/author of The Productive Engineer, a website dedicated to helping people master productivity applications. Jimmy also is the creator of The Productive Engineer YouTube channel.

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30+ Creative Mind Map Examples for Students

Harry Foster

Published on Jul 13, 2023, updated on May 17, 2024

What is a mind map?

A mind map is a graphic representation of thoughts and thought processes that are organized around a central theme or topic. It is a visual thinking tool mainly used to connect ideas, show the relationship between parts, and expand on concepts in a non-linear and creative way. Hence, it serves as a versatile framework for brainstorming, planning, problem-solving, and knowledge organization.

By its visual representation, a mind map becomes one of the best ways to structure any kind of material, for people tend to remember information easier when it is visually presented.

Note Taking Mind Map

Mind maps are a much more effective note-taking tool than traditional note-taking methods. Instead of transcribing what your teacher says, mind maps compel you to actively think about what you hear and take down essential keywords and meaningful images. Here’s a note-taking mind map example that gives you a basic introduction to the Speech Act Theory.

Weekly Plan Mind Map

This is a general structure for a Weekly Plan Mind Map. You can customize it further based on your specific needs, preferences, and the level of detail you want to include.

Exam Revision

This exam preparation mind map is an excellent resource for students. Mind maps for exam preparation can provide immediate benefits for learning and recollection while studying, it is best to cultivate a mind mapping habit throughout the year. This will allow students to focus on their daily classes and assignments while also feeling prepared and confident for exams.

Brainstorming for Research Projects

This brainstorming mind map example should give you an idea of where to start when conducting a research project brainstorming mind map. You can adapt it further based on your specific research topic, methodology, and requirements. The goal is to visually organize your thoughts and ideas, ensuring a comprehensive and well-planned research project.

Book Summary

This is an example of using mind maps to organize the basic information of the book Little Prince . This book summary mind map example should give you an idea of where to start when you carry out to read a new book.

Essay Writing Outline

This outline is a general framework for writing an essay. You can adapt and modify it according to the specific requirements of your essay and the points you want to address. You will find mind mapping enables you to explore the plots and contents.

Science Research

This scientific research mind map template describes the basic scientific research knowledge in an intuitive way. Using a mind map like this can improve the productivity of science students and teachers.

Language Learning

Mind-mapping is also an effective method in language learning, for it can visualize the connections of various complicated terms, making things easier to remember. Below is an example of categorizing the parts of speech in English learning.

Category Mind Map

One of the key features of a mind map is its ability to visually represent and organize information into categories or branches. Therefore, it is effective in creating taxonomies or classification systems. Below is a 7-continent mind map, which gives a brief introduction to the land area, population, and features of each continent.

History Timeline

Mind maps can be a great tool to map out the timeline of a historical event or the history of a country or an organization. The following example is a mind map that lists out the timeline of the UN history.

Subject Concepts

A mind map is highly useful in understanding complex concepts in a subject area. Its hierarchical structure enables you to organize and categorize these layers effectively. You can arrange information from general to specific, creating a logical flow of ideas and facilitating a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Biography Mind Map

By using a mind map to create a biography, you can effectively organize information, visually represent connections, and present a comprehensive and engaging account of the person's life. The flexibility and visual nature of mind maps make them particularly useful for capturing and presenting the complexity and richness of a biography. The following example of the biography of Benjamin Franklin should give you an idea of where to start.

Course Syllabus

You can create a mind map like the following example to prepare yourself ahead of a course. Such a mind map will help you understand what you need to learn, how you’ll learn it, and how to be sure you’ve learned it.

School Events Planning

If you’re in charge of organizing a school event, it may be helpful if you check out this mind map example. The three main branches of the mind map are goals and objectives, strategy, and team formation. In other words, you can highlight what the event is about or aims to achieve, how you plan to achieve it, and the team you’ll be working with.

Personal Finance

A personal finance mind map is one of the best mind map examples for you as a student if you want to improve your money management. You can identify and rank payments you need to make and specify how much you should save. This mind map features an exciting design with clever color play. While it consists of only three finance activities, you can design yours to include more.

Personal Growth Plan

This personal growth plan for college students is a starting point, and you can tailor it according to your specific aspirations and circumstances. The goal is to focus on different areas of personal development and set actionable steps to enhance your college experience and personal growth journey. Regularly review and update your plan as you progress through college, keeping in mind your evolving goals and priorities.

Career Plan

Below is a general structure of a career plan mind map for college students. You can customize it further based on your specific career aspirations and interests. Feel free to add or modify branches and sub-branches to capture all relevant aspects of your desired career path. The goal is to have a visual representation of the different components that contribute to your career growth and success.

Complex Math Problems

Depending on the specific problem you're working on, you can customize the mind map by adding sub-branches that relate to the problem's unique characteristics. The goal is to have a visual representation of the problem-solving process, enabling you to analyze the problem, identify key concepts, select an appropriate strategy, and systematically solve the problem while verifying the solution.

Extracurricular Activities & Events

Below is an example of using a mind map to plan and organize extracurricular activities and events. Adapt the mind map to suit your specific activities and events, adding or modifying sub-branches as necessary. The goal is to have a visual representation of the planning process, enabling you to effectively manage event logistics, resources, communication, participant engagement, and post-event evaluation.

Memorization Mind Map

Mind maps are effective tools for memorizing all kinds of information. In the following example, the mind map serves as a visual guide and reminder of various approaches to vocabulary memorization. Experiment with different techniques and adapt the mind map as you discover what works best for you.

Laboratory Report

Below is an example of a lab report mind map. Science, for example, a biology lecture, would be a more fun subject to address if students could showcase their creativity with a mind map. It enables them to visualize and retrieve the hypothesis, procedure, and result of an experiment quickly. 

Class Presentation

A great tip for college students is to use mind maps instead of slideshows for class presentations. Mind maps are just as good as slideshows at reminding you what you want to talk about and when, but they’re far better at keeping the attention on what you’re saying. Unlike text-heavy slides, mind maps contain only small amounts of information, so people have to listen rather than read to follow what you’re presenting.

Reading Materials

Take notes from the books and other materials you read in a mind map, and always write down your source in the notes section so you can quickly find it again if you have to. The map format lets you structure your findings and provides you with a good outline to use when it’s time to start writing.

Team Projects

Whether playing as a team leader or not, use of mind mapping examples to plan projects is advisable. Division of action items and track of project processes will be much clearer. It is also a quick and effective way of communicating and discussing by sharing a mind map with other teammates.

Time Management

Students can practice life-essential time management techniques by scheduling an easy-to-track timetable through a mind map. For example, a creative and colorful weekly time management plan can likely boost their engagement and motivation to do a detailed activity punctually.

Creating School Yearbook

It will be pure fun to tell school life stories with mind maps. Customize it further based on your school's specific requirements and design preferences. It assists in brainstorming ideas, coordinating content and design elements, and ensuring a cohesive and well-executed yearbook.

Theories Comprehension

Digesting an advanced theory or a complex article full of information and figures is difficult. Concept maps will facilitate students to break it into manageable chunks. They can also memorize knowledge maps better by illustrating practical examples relatable to the theory.

Semester Planning

Come into a new semester with more confidence by mind-mapping college learning strategies! Requisite courses, lectures, and relevant materials can be easily visible just in one template. Students can also include other crucial information such as a subject's broad goal, exam dates, subject credits, etc.

Meeting Record

Meetings have been a part of school life. Students always have to conduct a meetings for their school groups, unions, or other organizations. Mind mapping is an effective tool that you can use either to plan your meeting and put your agenda into perspective or to make conference records.

Process Mind Map

Most topics, especially in science classes, involve lots of processes. Take, for instance, when you’re experimenting. You have to complete one process after the other. Mind maps can be a great way to map out each process so that you don’t have to flip or scroll through textbook pages.

Interview Preparation

If you want to make a good first impression during an interview, try the mind mapping technique. Note down everything you need, from answering potential questions like “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” to the last detail you need to know about the company. Here’s a mind map example that has almost all the aspects you need to consider when you are preparing for an interview.

Knowledge Memorization

As mentioned before, mind maps are effective tools for memorizing all kinds of information, including the terms and concepts during our learning process. The following example maps out the eight planets in the solar system, with two distinct categories presented -- the Jovian planets and the Terrestrial planets. This example maps out the contrasting characteristics and properties directly, making it easier for students to compare their differences and grasp and remember the key information.

FAQs About Mind Maps

What are the benefits of mind maps for students.

Creating need-based mind maps is of great help to students, aiding their learning process and academic success. The basic idea is to make information as memorable as possible. Here are some key benefits of using mind maps for students:

The radial structure allows condensed ideas to branch out radially from the central concept. Thus, students can rapidly grasp all information and visualize their connections simultaneously.

The mind mapping method makes use of mental triggers (such as pictures, colors, and connections). The fundamental of this technique derives from super memory mastering rules, which helps the brain memorize things more easily.

The combination of keywords and visual tools makes full use of both hemispheres, leading to greater productivity. Creating mind maps makes students self-learners, and it enhances their critical thinking while inspiring their creativity.

Mind mapping has proven to be a powerful note-taking method . It allows students to generate and revise complex lessons better than traditional note-taking.

To sum up, by harnessing the power of mind maps, students can streamline their learning process, enhance their understanding, and improve their overall academic performance.

How to create a mind map?

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create a simple mind map:

Step 1: Start with a central idea

Begin by identifying the central idea or topic you want to explore. Write it down in the center of your paper or digital canvas.

Step 2: Add sub-topics

Next, add branches that will outline the most basic subtopics. One branch should represent the main category of ideas related to the fundamental subject.

Step 3: Make in-depth information.

Extend the main branches with smaller branches, known as sub-branches. These represent more specific details or sub-categories related to the main branches.

Step 4: Make it more fun.

To make your mind map visually engaging and memorable, use colors to differentiate branches and sub-branches. You can also incorporate icons, symbols, or images to represent concepts or make connections between ideas.

What are the 3 different types of mind maps?

Mind maps are mainly used in the early stage of a project or program to analyze the subject or solve problems. According to different purposes, mind maps can be classified into 3 types:

Library mind maps --information organizing

Presentation mind maps -- presenting ideas and projects

Tunnel timeline mind maps -- organizing or making a project plan

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• YouTube Summary

AI Mind Map Generator

AI Mind Map Generator allows you to easily convert text into intuitive mind maps, boosting your learning and work efficiency.

Why AI Mind Map Generator?

Manually creating mind maps is inefficient.

Creating mind maps manually is time-consuming and laborious, impacting efficiency.

Unstructured Knowledge Organization

Organizing knowledge points by hand can be disorganized and inconvenient for review.

Struggling with Complex Topic Understanding

Understanding and structuring complex topics is difficult, affecting learning outcomes.

Solutions of AI Mind Map Generator

Try the ai mind map generator today and free your hands to boost efficiency, frequently asked questions, what is the ai mind map generator, how do i use the ai mind map generator, are the generated mind maps editable, can the ai understand professional terminology and domain-specific knowledge, how much text can be inputted at once, reviews by users.

Saves me so much time compared to manual drawing, and the generated mind maps are high quality.

Finally, an efficient way to structure complex topics - a true blessing for bookworms like me.

Using AI for generate mindmaps has never been so simple and practical, I'm now completely hooked!