Black History Month Concept Map Handout

Step 1: CONCEPT-MAPPING Concept Maps are a creative way to generate ideas, make connections, make inferences, and clarify the relationships between ideas. The key to doing this productively is the freedom to follow your train of thought based on the unit of study. The goal is to explore unit to develop a conceptual understanding of complex ideas and topics.

Strategy for Concept-mapping

1. Begin by drawing a circle in the middle of a piece of paper. Write a key word or phrase that is central to the focus of the unit. (You will make an inference. How are these passages connected?)

2. Write the first connection, including a passage title, that comes to your mind about this key word or phrase and connect it to the circle by a line (a branch).

3. From this first branch, write more thoughts connecting them by more branches and sub-branches. Continue to do this until your ideas “run dry.” This can be a combination of words, symbols, and pictures.

4. Go back to your key word and phrase in the circle and start a new branch of thought.

5. Repeat step 3 with your new branch from step 4.

6. Continue this process until you think you have covered the main issues of the focus of your paper.

*Your map must have 4 branches

Step 2: OutlineUse your map to begin outlining your response to explain What is Black History Month?

Why is it Important?

Consider your key word or key phrase for the unit. Use details/examples from at least two of the

texts to support your controlling idea. Be sure to cite sources clearly. Focus on explaining how the

evidence supports your key word or phrase.

Step 3: Time to draft – use the rubric as a guide to earn a TOP score (4) PFO- Organize paper with an intro; 2 body paragraphs; a conclusion

Must have transitional words and phrases EE- include smooth integrated and well-cited evidence

Use precise languageElaborate effectively – explain to the reader in your words why you chose

the evidence; Use varied sentence structure

**The process is important! All three steps will be graded.