Clustering

C-21

Clustering highlights relationships among ideas. It can help you start getting your thoughts organized.

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 other related ideas in the same way.
  6. Label the connecting lines with words that describe the relationship between the two connected ideas.

Cluster diagram for an essay on obesity in children