CREATING THE IDEA NETWORK

1. In the center of a large sheet of paper, write a word or two that describes the essence, theme, etc. of your presentation.


2. Write down concepts, topics, ideas related to this central theme.


3. Draw lines between related items.


4. When you run out of things to write, highlight the central theme and make several copies of the network.


5. Take one copy and highlight in a different color the items that seem most related to the central theme; highlight the links between those items, too.


6. On yet another copy of the network, highlight a different aspect of the theme, using criteria such as historical relationship among items or those which showcase interesting features of your theme.


7. Lay out all your copies and look for common features among the various highlighted subgroups.


8. Write these common features down on index cards, one item to each card.


9. Sort the cards into a sequence that seems logical and interesting.


10. Practice your talk using that sequence as a guide.


11. If possible, sort the cards into a more streamlined sequence and remove any card that doesn't fit that new sequence.


12. Run through the talk using this new sequence.


13. Repeat until it becomes impossible to either find a new sequence or remove any cards.


14. Go back to the original copy of the network and see if any of those items fit your finished sequence.

Here's an example; an idea network on -- the bagel.

Adapted from Jeff Radel's Preparing Talks Website.