Brainstorm and explore topics: Brainstorming
What is 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.
Video: The power of brainstorming
Examples of brainstorming
Here's an example of a mindmap, in a more free-flowing, informal method of getting ideas down on paper.
Image source: Figure 5.3.1 from 5.3 Defining the Scope of your Project, Technical Writing Essentials, by Suzan Last, CC BY 4.0
This concept map example shows a more specifically problem-based approach to concept mapping, with the general idea and finding areas of potential focus.
Image source: Figure 5.3.2 from 5.3 Defining the Scope of your Project, Technical Writing Essentials, by Suzan Last, CC BY 4.0
Use a chart for your brainstorming
Click below to download your own "Search Word Brainstorming Chart."
Keep this chart with you to help you search more effectively!
- Brainstorming key wordsUse this chart to help you keep track of all the words you have found, or can think of, related to your topic and your question.
This example below demonstrates a more formal example of brainstorming to go from a:
research question or broad topic --> identifying main concepts --> to narrower, related keywords and topics
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State your research question/topic
- Example: "How do cigarette companies target children with their advertising?"
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Extract main concepts:
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CONCEPT #1 CONCEPT #2 CONCEPT #3 cigarettes children advertising
-
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Brainstorm key words:
-
CONCEPT #1 CONCEPT #2 CONCEPT #3 BRAINSTORM
KEYWORDS
cigarettes
smoking
chew
tobacco
smokeless tobacco
nictone
smoking industry
big tobacco
children
child
adolescents
adolescence
teens
teenagers
students
youth
advertising
ads
advertisements
marketing
commercials
promotions
television spots
product placement
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Keywords can be:
- synonyms
- related terms
- broader ideas
- narrower ideas
- alternate spellings
- specific examples
- abbreviations or acronyms
Contact your librarians
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
- Popplet App for mind-mapping
Attributions
This guide was adapted, with permission, from the "Brainstorm and Explore Topics" libguide developed by Clark College Libraries.
Except where otherwise noted, the content in these guides by Tacoma Community College Library is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. When reusing or adapting this content, include this statement in the new document: This content was originally created by Tacoma Community College Library and shared with a CC BY SA 4.0 license.
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