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English: skills for learning
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2.3 From mind map to revised outline

Drawing a mind map helped Fred to identify the key themes his essay would cover. It also helped to clarify his thinking and include an explanation of why, in each care setting, recognition of and respect for private spaces helps to provide good quality care.

In the next activity you will look at how the mind map helped Fred to choose the key themes of his essay but first look again at his mind map. It should help you to identify the themes and structure Fred decided to use for his final essay plan.

Fred’s mind map around care settings
Figure 7 Fred’s mind map
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At the centre of this mind map is a cloud labelled ‘Care settings’. Five branches stem from it: private spaces, public spaces, hospitals, patient’s home and residential homes. From the branch labelled ‘Private spaces’ stem three branches labelled as home, privacy, full control. The branches that stem from the branch labelled public spaces are limited privacy, limited control, unfamiliar people.

Four branches stem from hospitals: public area, few private areas, contrasting priorities and example of poor practice: Esther. Two branches stem from ‘contrasting priorities’. From the first, which is labelled carers’ priorities, stem other branches labelled efficiency, safety and organisation of rooms. From the second, which is labelled ‘patients’ needs’, stem further branches labelled dignity, privacy, autonomy and these are easily lost.

A further branch originating from the central cloud is labelled patient’s home. Three branches stem from this. The first is private places threatened. The second is labelled example of poor practice. The third is labelled example of good practice. From the branch labelled example of poor practice stem two further branches: carer’s own priorities and patient’s needs disregarded. From the latter stem other branches labelled limited control and limited privacy. From the branch labelled example of good practice stem two further branches labelled respect and sensitivity.

The last main branch is labelled residential homes. Four branches stem from this. The first is labelled private and public areas. From the second, which is labelled contrasting priorities, stem two further branches: carers’ priorities and patients’ needs. Carers’ priorities are safety and security while patients’ needs are privacy. From the third branch, which is labelled example of poor practice, stem the two branches labelled: residents’ needs disregarded and residents=objects. The fourth branch is labelled example of good practice. Four branches stem from it: own rooms, own possessions, sense of dignity and sense of identity.

Figure 7 Fred’s mind map

Each theme is linked to a coloured line. As you can see from Figure 7, each line relates one of the themes Fred included in his revised essay plan, as shown below.

Private and public places

differences (control/dignity – but presence of unfamiliar people/loss of control/dignity)

Residential homes

example of good practice (private space respected → acceptable level of control and privacy – residents accept compromise)

contrasting priorities – example of poor practice (private place not respected → residents = objects)

Care at home

example of poor practice (private place not respected → loss of control/privacy/dignity)

example of good practice (private space respected → control/privacy)

Hospitals as public spaces

contrasting priorities – limited private spaces → loss of dignity + control

contrasting priorities – mainly treated as public spaces → limited private spaces → loss of dignity + control

Activity 4

Timing: Allow approximately 10 minutes

Match each theme Fred intends to use in his essay with the correct branch of his mind map.

Using the following two lists, match each numbered item with the correct letter.

  1. Private and public places

  2. Hospitals

  3. Residential homes

  4. Care at home

  • a.Blue branch

  • b.Red branch

  • c.Orange and yellow branch

  • d.Green branch

The correct answers are:
  • 1 = c
  • 2 = a
  • 3 = d
  • 4 = b

Fred used the structure themes you have just seen in his final essay outline. In the next activity you will see how he used this outline to write his essay.