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Brainstorm and Explore Topics: Brainstorming

A guide to brainstorming and exploring topics designed and created by Clark Librarians

Brainstorming

Brainstorming can help you develop an idea for a topic or thesis and identify questions and keywords. 

 

Brainstorming, mindmaps and concepts maps are terms that are often used interchangeably. They all refer to a quick, simple technique for generating and focusing ideas and making connections between concepts. 

When brainstorming, don't worry about grammar, spelling, or formatting initially. Just jot down ideas until you can't think of anymore, then go back and make connections between the ideas. If an idea appeals to you, make it the center idea on a new piece of paper and brainstorm more details.

Example of Brainstorming 1

Here's an example of a mindmap. The student used colors to organize her ideas: red is the idea she started with, green are broader concepts, black are subtopics.  She put a red star on the topic she decided to focus on.

example of brainstorming for global warming

Example of Brainstorming

This shows a more formal example of brainstorming to go from a broad topic (global warming) to more narrower topics (like environment and political), to even more narrow topics (like rising sea levels and roles of government).

Topic Narrower Topic Even Narrower
Global Warming Environment - rising sea levels
- destruction of rain forests
- air pollution
  Political - Kyoto Protocol
- roles of government
  Human Element - impact on world health
- reducing use of fossil fuel
  Economic - agriculture
- role of corporations
  Geographical - developing countries
- Antarctic region

Try It Yourself!

Start with a single idea:

The broad subject I'm thinking about is...

Then simply write all the ideas and concepts you can think of related to the central idea.

Apps for Brainstorming

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