When writing an extended research paper which type of pre-writing technique is one way to narrow down the information you will use?

For an extended research paper, concept mapping or mind mapping is a pre-writing technique that effectively helps narrow down the information you'll use. These visual tools allow you to brainstorm, organize, and connect ideas, revealing the core arguments and eliminating tangential or less relevant information. Other techniques like outlining are helpful for organization *after* you've narrowed your focus, but concept/mind mapping is better suited to the initial winnowing-down process.