Write down the central topic of the lecture or seminar you wish to take notes about. Use one word or a few key words. Write your main topic in the center of your page, leaving room to write on all sides.
Write down important concepts, also using key words or symbols rather than sentences and paragraphs, as they are discussed during the lecture or as they come up in your reading. Arrange these key concepts in a circle around your central topic.
Erase and move important concepts as needed if no further information comes up. If time allows, edit your mind map at this stage before filling in too much information.
Fill in details about the important concepts as they are presented. Write other keywords or short sentences radially from your important concepts. Add information to previous important concepts when necessary.
Add color to your mind map to keep separate ideas together, especially if your mind map is becoming crowded.
Rewrite your mind map. Consider your first mind map to be a rough draft, and make a neater, organized, streamlined mind map for study or problem-solving purposes, if desired.