> [!example]
> [[My Maps of Content (MOCs)]]
Created by [[Linking Your Thinking]], Maps of content (MOC) are notes that don't contain much information. They instead provide structure and act as a foundation for all the other notes related to a certain topic.
See [[Personal Knowledge Management]] for an example of one.
## Why
A crucial part of [[Idea Emergence]]
- MOCs are created when there's lots of links to a certain idea (creating a [[Mental Squeeze Point]])
- Home for intrinsic learning through the process of [[Note-making]]
- MOCs are for gathering ideas, developing ideas, _and then_ navigating ideas
- Helps you view things from a higher-order perspective - we treat our [[Conceptual notes]] as lego bricks that to build in fast and freeing ways:
- ![[Ultimate Primer 4 Make a Map#^ieqhio]]
- Provides a space for critical thinking:
- Show holes in understanding
- Conceptual understanding of brain is made tangible and visible
- See connectivity
- ![[The Extended Mind#^od2nx5]]
### Can be helpful for easier processing working memory in ADHD
> Returning to the GPS metaphor, Barkley suggests creating a work (or mind) map. This works well for those who achieve better results with visual cues β particularly when working on longer written projects or reports. Creating an image of something can be easier and faster to retrieve because it can be instantly imagined. [^1]
## What
- MOCs are the high-order views of a topic you can enter, but then you should rely on your context-specific links to guide you around from note to note
- It can be tempting to prematurely create MOCs when you feel that you will be compounding knowledge on a topic. In reality,
- When [[Note-making]] in a MOC, considering having some vague intention to direct your learning towards, like a question you want to answer, or in [[Idea Emergence#Level 4]], trying to connect it to ideas from another discipline
- ![[Ultimate Primer 6 Apply What You Know#^xqcgc6]]
- Don't link everything to MOCs, if you are then it will be too cluttered
- As a MOC grows full, consider:
- Re-linking some notes to more specific sub-MOCs or notes
- ex) PKM MOC can be broken down into other MOCs [[Note-taking]] and [[Obsidian]]
- Using tension as cue for resolution
- Can make bridge notes between ideas
## How
![[USV Workflow Callout]]
Sometimes you might not always be available to immediately learn and apply insights from [[Inputs]]. So instead, you can just set the `Links` to the MOC it is most related, and revisit it when you have time or it is needed.
### Structure
#### Notes
##### To Develop
To show seedling [[Evergreen Notes]] that still need to be grown.
##### Notes
All other notes not part of the other [[Dataview Query]]
##### Inputs
A [[Dataview Query]] to show [[Inputs]] that link to this MOC
##### Thoughts
A [[Dataview Query]] to show [[Thoughts]]
### Steps
In [[Writing Original Works LYT Workshop]], Nick recommends three steps:
- **Collect** to Calm
- **Cluster** to Clarify
- **Collide** to Create
- Conflict promotes synthesis in [[Hegelian Dialectic]]
Reminds me of [[Dump Lump Jump Writing Method]] but beyond jump you also collide.
# References
[^1]: https://www.additudemag.com/working-memory-powers-executive-function/