Our thought processes take place in a network of nerve endings inside the brain. These clusters of nerve endings actually appear as a web-shaped formation, and even though those nerve endings have a chaotic and untidy structure, they can process information and reach logical conclusions. Webbing works on a similar principle; scattered pieces of information are used in unison to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
As an example, you might be struggling on an article or paper about computers. To begin webbing, sit down in a quiet environment with a blank piece of paper. Write the word "computer" in the center of the piece of paper, and draw a ring around it. This creates the hub, or center, of the web.
Keeping the word in the hub in mind, add a series of related words outside the circle. For the word computer, you might think of related words like "mouse," "monitor" and "keyboard." Draw one ring around these related words, so the image on the paper begins to look like a spider's web.
Staying on the piece of paper, now think of related words for the three you just wrote down ("mouse," "monitor" and "keyboard".) Suddenly, you have a glut of extra words. Choose nine or 10 words to create a third circle. You can continue expanding the web indefinitely until you have thought of enough words and related topics to know what you'll write about in your article. Make the system more thought-provoking by drawing small lines to indicate word associations between the different circles. This effect creates a proper web that should stir you into productivity.
Webbing can be taken to the next level by using different colored pens to code individual words for the particular layer in which they sit. Some writers choose to use an alternative and more complex style of webbing once they become comfortable with the basic technique. This opens up the potential vocabulary to a new level and should help the writer never be short of words again.