Clustering

Clustering highlights relationships among ideas in a graphical way.

To cluster ideas

1. Write your topic in the center of a sheet of paper.
2. Draw a circle around the topic.
3. Surround that circle with related ideas.
4. Circle the related ideas and draw lines connecting them to the topic circle.
5. Connect related ideas to the satellite ideas in the same way.
6. Label the connecting lines with verbs that describe the relationship between the two connected ideas.

Cluster diagram for an essay on obesity in children

Related topics:

Reading

Annotating texts or visuals

Talking and listening

Listing

Freewriting, keeping a journal, and blogging

Asking questions