Let's focus on the invention process—that crucial early stage where you generate and explore ideas. I’ve found that while traditional mind maps often rely on simple word associations, they can be much more powerful when we tie them to our lived experiences and mental images. By visualizing specific moments instead of just jotting down abstract terms, you create more resonance for both yourself and your readers.
Here is a video: https://youtu.be/UsS-Scys0TU
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| Try mind-mapping using images and imagistic descriptions of experiences rather than word associations. |
Key Learning Points
Move Beyond Words: I encourage you not to just list categories like "Success." Instead, try to visualize a specific image or memory you associate with that word.
Harness Lived Experience: Please use your actual experiences to build your evidence. This makes your writing authentic and helps your narrative "flow."
Create Emotional Resonance: When you write from a place of sensory detail and personal truth, you'll find it connects more deeply with your audience.
Categorize and Connect: I like to use mind mapping to help see relationships between different ideas, then drill down into the actual experiences within those categories.
Reflection Questions
When you think of a broad topic for your paper, what is the very first mental image—not just a word—that comes to mind?
How does describing a lived experience from your own life change how you provide evidence compared to using a general fact?
If you feel "stuck," how might my method of mapping with images help you find a new direction?
