Reading Response to Hugh Dubberly

Hugh Dubberly's article "Creating Concept Maps" helped to reiterate how to start map making.  Prior to reading the article I was still unsure on how exactly to create a concept map.  I knew that it was similar to a mind map except a lot more research went into it.  I really liked the symbolism that Dubberly use with a concept map, "a viewer can see both the forest and individual trees," whereas the phrase is normally "see the forest through the trees."  The article gave a nice strategic approach to developing the map word list by brainstorming, editing, re-brainstorming and reworking the map.  This is basically what we are doing in class right now.  We put together our temporary, mock up of our concept map for homework based on the research that we had already done, and then went and expanded on.  Then, after we got some feedback from the professor on what we had that was good and how to improve; we were sent back to the drawing board to reorganize, re-brainstorm, and research.  Our next step, which is what the article also mentions, is deciding on the best terms to use then agree on the best phrases or sentences to connect the different categories and terms together.  Then you're supposed to rank the categories in order and place them on the map, which is one of the main things that we're been trying to figure out.  We have been trying to figure out the best way to list the information on the map, without it being confusing and least cluttered.