Mind maps: A tool to represent ideas

Challenge and Selection

As a student of political science, most of the events we read about, or the theories we use are  interconnected with each other. With ideas flowing from one idea to the next and making a  collage of thoughts, sometimes also clogging the flow of ideas. It constantly worried me as to  how would I deal with this as most of what I study is theory and with everything written on one  sheet- lines and lines of text, neither did I wish to indulge in a conversation with what was in  front of me, nor did I feel like reading it all.

This is where mind maps come in as an extraordinarily strong tool for me to curate my ideas.  They make thinking and having clarity a much easier process. With ideas flowing beautifully,  but also staying connected and giving me a picture of the larger idea, mind maps are a saviour.

Application

The process starts with reading and understanding things. Reading from different sources, listing  it down while making flow charts that link ideas. It starts with the existing material in hand and  then expands to different sources and different opinions that help me articulate my ideas and  thoughts with broad ideas and categories that exist.

There is the one central topic, let’s say Karl Marx and his ideology. It would start with having  Marx in the centre and then spreading it to different things, such as understanding his ideology,  whom it would impact, why did he think of this which could come under one heading-  Understanding his idea. Since my work is also related to linking what he though with the current  day scenario, there would be one part that would talk about Relevance of Marxism in the 21st  century, along with other ideas as to why do I think it is relevant and what kind of ideas can I  draw from what I am reading, and the major criticisms his work has faced. There would also be  another portion talking about the Neo-Marxists too. Hence, encompassing the entire concept  around Karl Marx and his work and ideology.

Comparing this to just written content, even in truly short points, it would become difficult and  very word to read. And when you open your notebook, it would majorly be words and words and  hence, one would not be interested in reading everything presented on that sheet of paper. This is  where the mind map became an extremely interesting tool to read and understand things with.

Not only does this process make it easier for me to revisit my thoughts later but also, while  writing an essay, it gives me strong points to ponder upon and makes sure that I do not end up  digressing from the topic that I am writing about.

Insight

Mind maps are an interactive tool which help us receive a lot of clarity about an idea. Not only  do they help us work on our thoughts but even while we present it to other people, it makes it  easier for them to understand my flow of thoughts too.

Approach

I would like to work on this method by using a visualization tool, but mind-maps are also a  visual representation tool too. Mind maps are a beautiful way to make sure that you don’t go off  track while you are narrating a story too and all these three methods would be an amazing way to  work on.

