MIND MAPS

Graphic Thought Representation

Guide

@isa_verveacademy
 CONTENTS
Welcome to the Mind Maps Guide! Here,
you'll learn one of my favorite, game-changing study
techniques: Mind Maps. Enjoy!❤️
Isa

1. Introduction and Fundamentals

2. How to Find Keywords

3. Key Considerations for Keywords

4. Create Mind Maps

5. Visuals - The Mind's Language

6. How to Use Colors in Mind Maps

7. Cognitive style

8. FAQ - Common Questions and Mistakes

9. Now It’s Your Turn!

 MIND MAPS- INTRODUCTION
AND FOUNDAMENTALS

A mind map is a graphical representation of thought

theorized by the English cognitive scientist Tony Buzan,
based on reflections on note-taking techniques.
It exploits the entire range of cortical skills—linguistic,
imaginative, numerical, logical, rhythmic, colour, and
spatial awareness—in a uniquely effective way.

A Mind Map mirrors how our brain generates thoughts.

That's why when we get used to using them, we
immediately feel a natural benefit.
Their strength lies in reproducing and being able to
visualize the organization of our ideas in a simple and
immediate graphic mode.
There's much talk about Mind Maps, and everyone proposes
them in their own way. Tony Buzan dedicated his life to
study and experimentation. It's reasonable to consider him
the one who theorized a functioning and structured method
based on a series of rules, tested and retested over 50 years
of research, application, and dissemination.

The widespread use of the Tony Buzan method, thanks to

its simplicity, has led to a misunderstanding and
superficiality in considering it a scientific and structured
method. Even I come across people who consider mind
maps little more than a doodle. Naturally, it's not like that.
A Mind Map exactly represents on paper how a concept is
built from its core with all the connections our imagination
develops while thinking.

The structure is designed to facilitate our brain in all its

parts:
the radiant structure typical of elements in nature
including our body (plants, flowers, rivers, respiratory
system, cardiovascular, neural network). This ensures a
clear hierarchy among the elements of the map;
a horizontally and vertically centered figure that very
clearly identifies the theme of the map, unlike the
conceptual one which may have multiple centers;
a wise use of colors to differentiate information at a
glance and facilitate memorization;
the introduction of images to facilitate the recognition
of concepts and the speed of information processing
thanks to the use of the primary language of the mind:
imagination;
a specific selection of keywords that isolate and make
concepts clear. Thus, it eliminates a whole series of
conjunction elements that create background noise in
schematization and make concepts less clear (adverbs,
verbal predicates, conjunctions, articles, specifications,
etc.).
 KEYWORDS- MIND LANGUAGE

⚠️Without keywords there’s no mind map.

Before to get into mind maps you need a foundamental:

KEYWORD
Keywords. How many times have you heard about them?
And why haven’t you used them yet?
Keywords are a turning point in a student’s life, and many
professors try to explain this concept to students. But
often, they are the first ones not to apply it because they
know it as an idea, but not in practice.
From today, I want to convince you to use these blessed
keywords because trust me, it’s worth it, and we need them
for mind maps.
Keywords are words with which you can recall large parts of
text, entire predominant concepts, or even paragraphs.
They are like anchors between our memory and the texts.
Thanks to just one or two words, you can remember what
you had understood; memorizing single words is definitely
faster than memorizing whole sentences.
 HOW TO FIND KEYWORDS IN A
TEXT

Finding keywords in a text is easier than expected. Here’s

how you can do it:
1. Rework the text: To identify keywords, you must
thoroughly understand the content of the text.
2. Identify key concepts: For each paragraph or section of
the text, ask yourself which words remind you of these
concepts. Those are the keywords.

Key Considerations for Keywords

1. Personal Relevance: Keywords must serve you and no
one else. They should be the first word that comes to
mind that encompasses the concept.
2. Subjectivity: Keywords are subjective and vary from
person to person. What works for one might not work for
another.
3. Ease of Identification: Initially, finding keywords may
seem complicated, but with practice, it will become
second nature.
 IDENTIFICATION

1. Circle, Don’t Underline: Circling keywords makes them

more evident when reviewing the text.
2. Start with a Manageable Quantity: Avoid the temptation
to mark too many keywords. Focus on what is essential.
At first, it may be difficult to believe that just one word
can remind you of everything, but proving it to yourself
is the only way. Don't fall back into underlining
sentences.
3. Skim and Refine: Once you’ve marked potential
keywords, refine them by eliminating synonyms and
redundant words.
4. Create a Legend for Details: Details (like dates,
formulas, and names) are not keywords. Keywords are
only for concepts. For details, use consistent symbols to
mark them in the text. We will use them later.
5. Initial Selection: Circle the keywords for the concepts.
6. Highlight Details: Use different colors or shapes to
highlight details like dates, names, etc.
These are the basics. I understand how difficult it can be to
let go of traditional note-taking methods and rely solely on
keywords—I was in the same position. However, if there's
one thing that has truly transformed everything for me, it's
the power of keywords. I strongly encourage you to give
keywords a chance, knowing that you'll improve with
practice. For a more detailed guide on how to get the right
kkeywords, go to https://subscribepage.io/Verveacademy
Trust me, you will fall in love with this method.
 HOW TO CREATE A MIND
MAP:

The ideal is to start with something simple.

Take a blank sheet in landscape orientation. The sheet
should be blank because squares and lines can add an
element of confusion to the map.

Nucleo
Choose a topic you are studying and place a title in the
center of the sheet, along with an image that strongly
suggests the theme. The image doesn't have to be well-
drawn, even a doodle is fine. The important thing is that
it's a shape that originates from your mind and that gives
your memory the suggestion of that idea.
 Branches
Start the main branches from the center, identifying the
subtopics that allow you to develop the subject. For
example, in a map to decide the purchase of a new house,
subcategories could be location, type of building, needs it
must meet (garden, garage, terrace, proximity to schools,
etc.), cost, ways to find it, etc.

Branches should be curved, as they are more natural and

easier to memorize and visualize
The first branch starts at 1 o'clock and then branches
out clockwise. Note that once you reach the left side of
the map, the branches continue in a clockwise direction,
starting from the bottom and moving upwards.
The maximum number of main branches is 9, as it's the
maximum number that fits into our visual memory. (I've
rarely needed more) In case you need more, create a
second map.
From each main branch, you can then generate new
branches that detail them further. For example, for the
building, you might want to identify materials and
finishes or the energy class, and so on.
Insert the keywords: place the words you've taken from
the text on the map, just as they are, without adverbs or
conjugations.
Keywords should be written above the branches; don't
use branches as arrows.
On the main branches, put the keyword for the subtopic,
develop a series of external branches for the other
keywords, and add details outward.
You can include the legend of symbols for dates, names,
etc., on the map; it will make the visualization of
information clearer and more immediate.
Below, I highlighted the hourly order of the branches to
make it clearer.

You start writing at 1 o'clock, proceeding clockwise (blue

arrows), even when you reach the left side of the sheet. You
begin writing the words on the branches from top to bottom
on the right side of the sheet, and from bottom to top on
the left side.
At first glance, especially the left side, may seem strange,
but it will soon become a natural movement.
Don't worry if your first mind map isn't so tidy; the first
mind map is a bit confusing for everyone. But gradually,
you'll start feeling comfortable with the spaces and format.
The important thing is to follow the basic rules and order.
Mind maps can be made on any topic; they are an effective
method for capturing the structure of our thoughts.
Every physical and mental activity produces information
that constitutes a map of mental images, which fill our
heads at every moment of the day.
To this natural whirlwind of thoughts is added the
continuous bombardment of information to which we are
constantly subjected: emails, documents, videos,
notifications, meetings, conversations, books, and articles.
Through maps, you can reorder the whirlwind of thoughts
and information in a clear and effective way.
Let's take a simple example: a map about mind maps.
As you can see, this map is very simple because there isn't
much information, but maps can branch out much more
depending on the topic you are studying.
 VISUALS

As you can see, maps are also full of drawings.

This is because images are the primary language of our
mind; everything we memorize is translated and
remembered through images.
The small images you see on the map are called visuals and
are mandatory additions in the following points on the
maps:
1. at the center of the map
2. on the main branches
3. in lists
4. externally on words we can't remember.
aps can branch out much more depending on the topic you
are studying.

Now let's see how to build this visual images.

 VISUALS
You can create two types of visuals: for sound or for
meaning.
Visuals for meaning are simply concrete images linked to
the meaning of the word. For example, a visual for meaning
could be a small wooden table with eyes if you need to
remember "Table" (concrete).
Visuals for sound, on the other hand, are a bit more
complex: they are images whose name sounds vaguely
similar to the sound of the original word. An example could
be a karateka for the word "characteristics" because it
sounds similar. Characteristics are not a concrete word, but
you can visualize them with a concrete, fun, and similar
image.
Abstract Images
For concrete words, finding images is simple, but how can
you create visuals for abstract words?
It's not much more difficult; here are two ways:
the first is as we saw before, creating a visualization for
sound. If a concrete word sounds similar to or reminds you
of an abstract word, it can be used as visualization. (e.g.,
"characteristics" -> "karateka").
The second way involves breaking the word into two or
more parts and finding an image for each segment:
Example: Let's take the word "emotion." We can divide it
into "emo" and "tion." For "emo," we could visualize a
person dressed in an emo style or someone expressing
intense emotions. For "tion," we could visualize a large
uncle (which sounds similar to "tion"). So, by combining
these visuals, we could imagine an emo person sitting on
our uncle's shoulders to remember the word "emotion."

Don't dwell too much on the visuals; usually, the first

image that comes to mind is the one you'll remember best;
you just need to make it a bit more bizarre than usual. Be
creative in creating visuals. In the section on
memorization, you'll have a clearer understanding of their
purpose and better grasp their function.
Visuals should be drawn alongside the words on the map,
but you don't need to be an artist; the images can be
stylized, they just need to be functional for you. Personally,
I'm a master at creating terrible figures that resemble
doodles, but they've always worked.
 COLORS IN MIND MAPS
The use of colors in maps is very helpful for memorization:
Colors can be used to recreate the legend of your details on
the map. For example, I highlight each date on the map in
yellow (remember that the colors you use on the book
should be the same on the map to avoid confusing your
brain). Another use is to color branches related to the same
topic to make the distinction more evident (as in the
previous maps).

COGNITIVE STYLE

Another consideration about maps concerns analytical and

global cognitive styles. Some people are naturally more
attentive to details, analytical people, while others prefer
to have an overview, global people. It depends on our
cognitive styles, and it's natural that it's like this. We are
all different, and our minds have preferred learning
channels. More analytical people tend to create more
detailed maps, while more global people tend to create
more general maps, omitting details. There's no right or
wrong version, and you'll notice if you feel more analytical
or global.
The only thing to watch out for are the extremes of these
two cognitive styles. A map that is too detailed risks being
more a representation of the fear of forgetting rather than
the preferred cognitive style, so be careful not to make this
mistake. On the contrary, a too global map might omit too
many details, resulting in inefficiency. Find your balance; it
won't be difficult.

Mind maps are incredible tools for reviewing topics

comprehensively and quickly before exams. In fact, in
them, you can insert entire subjects or even books on a
single sheet. Often, a useful technique for exams is to study
through maps of various chapters, books, etc., and then
also create a general map that includes all the more
detailed maps. This way, you'll have all the topics under
control at a glance, in a single, very global map, making
revision before the exam easy. If you realize you need to
delve into a particular topic, you can easily review the more
specific and detailed maps.
 FAQ - COMMON MISTAKES
AND QUESTIONS I USUALLY
GETIND MAPS
Creating mind maps is very easy, once you get it right.
But we’re so used to do notes that changing our way of
thinking can be hard.
So I wanted to include some frequently asked questions and
common mistakes, so you can get them right immediately.

common mistakes

Using branches like arrows

The branches of mind maps are not for indicating
concepts or linking them. Using them to connect words
is completely ineffective! The branches should support
the keywords – the keywords should be written on the
branches, as if the branch were the "line" of a notebook.
Our brains can better read the meaning of the map if the
branches support the words.

Making straight branches

Many tend to make straight branches, like arrows, but in
mind maps, the branches should be curved. This is
because the mind remembers curved shapes better; they
are more natural.
Writing paragraphs
Notes are not written on mind maps. Only keywords are
written. I know you've heard "keywords, keywords"
many times, but have you ever really learned how to take
them? Keywords, if taken effectively, make you
remember entire concepts. The problem is that many
teachers tell us to underline keywords, but they don't
even know what they are. In my free guide, I explain this
step too. For now, simply if you're writing more than
one word per concept on the map, stop, it's completely
useless, you might as well take notes.

Not following the clockwise order

A very common mistake is not following the clockwise
order. The order of the maps is clockwise; you start at
the top left of the sheet, go down to the bottom in a
clockwise order, and then move to the right side starting
from the bottom and going up – exactly like a clock. At
first, writing this way might seem strange, but in no
time you'll get used to it and it will be natural.
Not making drawings
Drawings on mind maps are essential for memorization
and help you read the map. Make small representative
drawings next to the keywords that you find more
difficult to memorize.
 FAQ
How can I create mind maps for more long/complex
topics?
Exactly as you do for less long and complex. There will
be more branches going to the edges of the mind map,
more detailes maybe , but you can always create a mind
map. If the topic is too long you can split the mind map
in two sheets, keeping the same nucleous.. But generally
you’re always able to devide the big topic into smaller
mind maps.

A keyword is not enough, I prefer to write more, some

paragraph
If you truly learn how to identify the right keywords,
they are enough. I understand how strange it can be to
let go of paragraphs, but only by trying and trusting the
process will you learn. Using paragraphs in mind maps
defeats the purpose; they just turn into notes again. So
trust keywords, give them a chance, and if you want a
more detailed guide, click here.
Can mind maps be used for all subjects??
Mind maps are versatile and can be used for most
subjects, especially those requiring understanding and
retention of concepts. However, for subjects focused on
calculations or detailed procedures, I use an additiona
techniques, Scientific Note-Taking, that i explain into
my course.

Can I use mind maps for note-taking in lectures?

Yes, mind maps can be used for note-taking during
lectures. They help in capturing key points and
structuring information in a way that is easy to review
and understand later. I truly don’t use notes anymore, I
just do straight the map

How do I incorporate details like dates, formulas, and

names into a mind map?
Use a legend with consistent symbols to differentiate
details such as dates, formulas, and names. For example,
use squares for dates, triangles for formulas, and circles
for names. This helps in organizing and quickly
identifying these details within your mind map. In mind
maps deatils are on the outsider branches
 IT’S YOUR TURN
It's time for you to create your first mind map!!
We just went through a lot of information.
Here's what I would recommend doing next.
1) Choose a topic you’re already studying
Choose a topic to create your first mind map on. Choose
something you already understand, from a book or from
past notes that you want to turn into a mind map.
Here are some suggestions to get started:
Choose a lecture that is more discursive. This is because
choosing keywords and understanding how to structure
the mind map will be easier for you, just to get started.
(But soon you’ll be ready to map everything.)
Keep the mind map examples from this guide next to you
as you go through the creation of the map. Initially, the
structure can seem strange and difficult to understand,
but it is fundamental that you start it right. You’ll get
used to it and understand why it is so effective.
Do not aim to create the perfect map. Trust me, the first
mind map is always a disaster.
Keep the fundamental rules next to you.

With time, practice, and experience, mind mapping will

become second nature to you.
2. Start creating mind maps for new topics
Now you can start to create a new mind map for a new topic.
Remember to give yourself time to follow the structure
correctly and avoid falling back into paragraphs, straight
lines, or lowercase letters. It is fundamental.

3) Take your study method to new heights

If you want to learn to fall in love with studying and achieve
excellence, as well as unleash the full potential of your
mind and overcome mental limitations such as
procrastination, there is a critical course inside if you ever
want to revolutionize your study method!
You can get the "Fall in Love with Studying Ebook-course".
I know you’re already getting serious about studying.
So see you on the other side.
Isa