The golden rules of concept mapping are that concept labels are written in boxes as nouns, linking words or phrases describe the relationship between concepts as verbs or actions, and the combination of linked concepts and words should form a logical proposition or sentence. Arrows show the direction of propositions, concepts can only appear once, and maps should not include too many concepts to become unclear.

1. Golden Rules of Concept Mapping

2. Concept labels are written in boxes and are typically nouns.Link words or phrases are written on every linking line to describe the relationship between two concepts (typically a verb or action phrase).The combination of two concepts with linking words should create a logical and readable "proposition" or sentence (e.g., birds HAVE wings).Include arrowheads on every line to show the direction in which a proposition/sentence should be read.Each concept can only be written in one place on the map.There can be any number of links coming from or going to a concept box.Do not include so many concepts that the overall structure becomes unclear.From Dr. Kevin Oliver at NC State University

3. NODE(concept)(idea) = word (s)NODE(concept)(idea)= word (s)can be color or form codedcan be color or form codedLINK(nature of relationship)can be color codedThis is called a proposition.A concept map =a series of propositionsSlide from Nadia Spang Bovey at http://www.slideshare.net/nspang/concept-maps-types-uses-software