by Jacquelyn Shannon

There are so many ways to make order out of the chaos in your mind! Here are some of the best ways if outlining just isn’t cutting it.

MIND MAPPING

WHAT IT IS
Mind mapping involves visually diagramming your ideas and how they relate to each other. This can help in seeing the big picture and identifying connections between concepts.

BEST FOR
Visual thinkers: If you grasp information better when you see it in a visual format.
Big-picture thinkers: If you need to see how all the pieces fit together.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Start with a central idea or topic in the center of the page.
2. Locate subtopics and related ideas around the central idea, like you are drawing a map.
3. Use lines, arrows, colors, symbols and drawings to connect and highlight relationships.

CLUSTERING

WHAT IT IS
Clustering involves grouping related ideas or examples into clusters to form a structure.

BEST FOR
Associative thinkers: When you want to make connections between different ideas.
Visual thinkers: When you want to see relationships and groupings visually.
Complex projects: Use for projects with multiple interconnected pieces, examples, case studies, or other types of evidence.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Write down your main idea in the center.
2. Surround it with related ideas, grouping similar concepts and examples together.
3. Draw circles around (lasso lines) around or between related clusters to show connections.

MIND WEBS (SPIDER DIAGRAMMING)

WHAT IT IS
Mind webs are a type of mind-mapping, brainstorming diagram with a central idea and branches for related topics. It is often called spider diagramming because it looks like a spiderweb.

BEST FOR
Brainstorming: If you need to create and organize a lot of ideas quickly.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Place the central idea in the middle.
2. Draw lines or branches for each main category or theme.
3. Add sub-branches for related ideas and details.

THE STORYBOARD TECHNIQUE

WHAT IT IS
Story boarding is a technique borrowed from film making that involves creating a visual sequence of events or ideas.

BEST FOR
Narrative thinkers: If you think in terms of stories and sequences.
Visual organizers: If you benefit from seeing ideas laid out in a linear and visual format.
Creative writers: If you’re working on scripts, stories, or any narrative-based writing.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Break down your story or argument into key scenes, moments, or points.
2. Draw each scene on a separate card or sticky note.
3. Arrange and rearrange the scenes to explore different structures.

INDEX CARDS

WHAT IT IS
Using index cards helps in organizing ideas by allowing you to physically manipulate and rearrange pieces of your project.

BEST FOR
Kinesthetic learners: If you think best through movement and physical activity.
Spatial learners: If you think best spatially, putting ideas in different places in a room.
Experimenters: If you like to try out different forms and structures.
Big Projects: If you’re organizing large projects or research papers.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Write each idea or point on a separate index card. Play with using color-coded index cards for different levels, sub-ideas, or sections.
2. Arrange the cards on a flat surface (like the floor or a large table) to create the overall structure.
3. Shuffle and reorganize cards to explore different orders and sequences.

CUBING

WHAT IT IS
Cubing is a technique that involves looking at a topic from six different perspectives, like the sides of a cube.

BEST FOR
Multidimensional thinkers: If you’d like to explore a topic from multiple angles.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Describe it: What does it look like?
2. Compare it: What is it similar to or different from?
3. Associate it: What does it make you think of?
4. Analyze it: What are its components?
5. Apply it: How is it used?
6. Argue for or against it: What are its pros and cons?

FISHBONE DIAGRAMS

WHAT IT IS
Fishbone diagrams help in identifying the causes of a particular problem or event.

BEST FOR
Problem solving: If you’re analyzing the root causes of issues and making a cause-and-effect argument.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Draw a horizontal line with the main problem or topic at the head.
2. Draw branches off the main line representing different categories of causes.
3. Add more detailed causes along each branch.

LADDERING (aka THE FAMILY TREE)

WHAT IT IS
Laddering involves breaking down a broad topic into narrower, more specific subtopics.

BEST FOR
Detail-oriented thinkers: If you want to break down complex topics in a clear, hierarchical structure. Can help if you tend to feel overwhelmed by ‘clutter’.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Start with the broadest topic at the top of a page.
2. Write down increasingly specific subtopics underneath in a ladder-like or family tree style format.
3. Use this hierarchy to structure your research and writing. This can be used much like an outline, down to each sentence in a paragraph.

DIALOGUE OR ROLE PLAYING

WHAT IT IS
Writing a dialogue between characters to explore different viewpoints or arguments.

BEST FOR
Conversational thinkers: If you tend to understand concepts better through talking it out.
Creative thinkers: If you enjoy exploring ideas through characters.
Empathetic thinkers: If you want to understand multiple viewpoints.

HOW TO USE IT
1. Create characters representing different aspects of your topic or perspectives related to your topic.
2. Write a conversation where they discuss and debate the topic.
3. You may also write from each perspective, as though they were addressing an audience or camera directly, expressing their views and arguments.