10 Concept Mapping

Creating a concept map is a way of organizing your brainstorming around key concepts.

This video from the University of Guelph offers a brief and helpful overview of concept mapping:[1]

 

Ready to get started with a concept map? This KPU learning aid can also help guide you through the process.

 

Let’s use our example where an instructor has given us the assignment: Write a 1,500 word persuasive essay that responds to the question: “Are transit services effective for Kwantlen University students?” Include your own perspective in your analysis and draw on two primary and two academic sources.

Transit bus with KPU on its destination sign sits next to a transit stop. Text reads "Are transit services effective for Kwantlen University students?"

 

We’ll follow the seven steps of concept mapping outlined in the video above and I’ll include some examples.

 

If you have your own assignment that you are currently working on, use the steps below to make your own concept map for your assignment.

Step One:

  • Identify the main topic
  • Brainstorm everything you know about the topic
  • Use relevant content from course, lectures, textbooks, and course material

Sticky notes can be a great way of jotting down ideas – you can move the notes around as you begin to identify similarities and differences. You can also ask questions and include reminders of work that that you need to do. See the example below of some sticky notes I might use to start my assignment:

 

Sticky notes with ideas for transit assignment. Reasons include: Buses too crowded when I have to get to class; What are public transit options? Bus? Campus shuttle?; No SkyTrain service to campus - would this be more effective; Some students can study/read on the bus - but I can't; U-Pass is good for students - saves money; Takes way too long to go from Surrey to Richmond campus - especially for night classes.

 

 

I’ll add more sticky notes with key questions that relate back to the assignment – I’ll need to find primary and academic sources:

 

Sticky notes added to existing ideas: Where can I find information on ridership? Translink website? Primary source; Are there journal articles about Lower Mainland transit? Academic source; How much money is saved? How much is carpooling?

 

 

I can use these questions as I begin my research process and identify the primary and academic sources I need to support the argument that I will make.

To find out more about the research process, ask a librarian, or check out the KPU Library’s Research Help guide.

This video, included in KPU Library’s Research Help page, provides a good overview of working with an assignment to make sure that you develop a response that is specific and well-supported:

 

 

Step Two:

  • Organize information into main points 

After noting down what I know about my topic and identifying key questions that I’ll need to research everything, I can focus on a few things that will be important to describe and analyze in my essay. I’ve made a list of some that I can use:

 

image

 

Based on what I’ve done so far, I’m setting up a descriptive comparison of transit options for KPU students, but will emphasize that current transit options are not effective. I want to look for further connections between ideas and see how I can shape my argument.

 

Step Three:

  • Start creating map
  • Begin with main points
  • Branch out to supporting details

 

Black and white photograph of workspace showing laptop, with a hand typing, and mobile phone. Text reads "Try it Now! Work on the Activity Below"

 

Give it a try! Based on your experience of public transit and the ideas that I’ve outlined so far, how might you start to create a concept map? You can use a piece of paper, or concept mapping software, to make note of ideas and start to connect them.

 

Step Four:

  • Review map and look for more connections
  • Use arrows, symbols, and colours, to show relationships between ideas

I start to build layers of connections and relationships in my map:

 

Concept map centered around idea that students need quick, cost-effective, safe transportation to get to class, work, and home. Connections to: what would be effective; describe current transit options; why it is not effective; current options not effective because. Connections to current options not effective because: need flexible options; takes too long; not reliable - stressful.

 

Step Five:

  • Include details

This is where I can provide more information about each point – below, I’ve taken one of the points and added to it:

 

Expanded notes on small topic of not reliable - stressful: Primary source - Translink schedule and on-time records; My perspective - students want to complete courses but lack of transit options limits campuses, difficult to plan courses because buses are not on schedule; Academic source - Seamus (2019) students who carpool may be able to complete courses sooner.

 

Step Six:

  • Analyze and improve map by asking questions
  • How do ideas fit together?
  • Have all necessary connections been made?

This is where I can step back and review my map and keep the purpose of my assignment in mind. This is also a good time to follow up on questions that I might have – I can talk through my ideas with a classmate or visit my instructor as I continue to develop and refine my ideas.

Step Seven:

  • Update concept map as you learn more
  • Ask key questions about connections between ideas

I’ll keep my map with me as I meet with my instructor to discuss my ideas and when I visit the library to locate any academic resources that I might need; this way, I can keep everything together.


  1. How to Create a Concept Map” by University of Guelph Library CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Academic Writing Basics Copyright © 2019 by Megan Robertson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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