Brainstorming and Concept Mapping -- Teaching Materials 

Badke, William B.
Why Most Research Papers Miss the Target
Analyzing Research Questions:
Preliminary reading on research questions: “Why Most Research Papers Miss the Target” (p. 150-155). Also available athttp://www.acts.twu.ca/lbr/Seminar.htm.

Badke provides list of possible research questions, asking whether each is “good” or “bad.” He also provides his own analysis of each. (p. 15-17; repeated in Appendix A, p. 157-159) Instructor can develop similar questions for students to analyze or students can be asked to analyze their own potential questions in the same way.

Citation: Badke, William B. Research Strategies: Finding Your Way Through the Information Fog. 2nd ed. New York: iUniverse, 2004.
http://www.acts.twu.ca/lbr/preface.htm

Bagnole, John W., and John W. Miller.
Keyword Worksheet for Academic Database Searches.
Diagram contains a box for “Main Term(s)”linked to boxes for “Broad Terms,” “Really Broad Terms,” “Narrow Terms,” “Really Narrow Terms,” “Related Terms,” “Opposite Terms,” and “Tangential Terms.”

Neatly illustrates the relationships among potential search terms. Could be improved by hierarchical layout with broad terms above and narrow terms below the “Main term” box.

Citation
Found in Appendix B of: Bagnole, John W., and John W. Miller. “An Interactive Information Literacy Course for International Students: A Practical Blueprint for ESL Learners.” TESL-EJ: Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language 6.4 (Mar. 2003)
[Note: URL is in flux. Article can be found most easily with a Google search for “TESL-EJ.”]
http://cwp60.berkeley.edu:16080/TESL-EJ/ej24/a1AppB.html

Pennsylvania State University Libraries
Pennsylvania State University Libraries.
Tutorial Section on Concept Mapping:
6 frames, colorful demonstration of process of developing a concept map.
Citation: “Defining Your Topic: Step Two, Map Your Ideas.” Information Literacy & You. [Tutorial] 24 July 2002. Pennsylvania State U Libraries. 29 Nov. 2004.http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/infolit/andyou/mod1/idea0.htm.

Tutorial Section on Developing Research Questions from Concept Maps:
2 frames, colorful demonstration of process of developing a concept map.
Citation: “Defining Your Topic: Step Three: Develop Research Questions.” Information Literacy & You. [Tutorial] 24 July 2002. Pennsylvania State U Libraries. 29 Nov. 2004http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/infolit/andyou/mod1/devrq1.htm.

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/infolit/andyou/mod1/idea0.htm

Purdue University Online Writing Lab
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
Lists of Questions to Generate Ideas.
Useful in conjunction with brainstorming, clustering, concept maps.

Citations: “Planning (Invention).” Handouts: General Writing Concerns. 2004. Purdue University Online Writing Lab. 29 Nov. 2004.http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_plan1.html
and
“Planning (Invention): Thought Starters (Asking the Right Questions).” Handouts: General Writing Concerns. 2004. Purdue University Online Writing Lab. 29 Nov. 2004http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_plan3.html

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_plan1.html

Thomson Gale, Info Trac -- Junior Edition K12
Info Trac -- Junior Edition K12
Concept Mapping and Choosing a Topic.
The Tool Box area (yellow button in the left hand menu) of Junior K-12 is a very good resource for both students and teachers. It focuses on topics in the research process such as developing a topic, an outline, and thesis statement, and even information evaluation among others. The plus is it uses fairly easy to understand language and decent graphics. At the end of each topic area there is a printable, student worksheet that can be very useful in a class. However, a few of the worksheets are far from self-explanatory and would require a little time to explain and set-up.
http://rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/login?url=http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/cuny_laguardia?db=K12J

Compiled by Louise Fluk, maintained by Remi Castonguay,
Last Updated 01/30/2008