Language is a Manipulator

Mapping Information into Categories

Mapping (see http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ict/ictpd/downloads/al.pdf) is the part of the process where students organise their brainstormed material into categories, giving each category a title or label. The object of this exercise is to help students make sense of their material and to see similarities and differences in their material. 

Possible categories might be features/ examples/ effects/reasons for use. 

Features:

·	Allusion 
·	Hyperbole 
·	Abstract nouns with negative connotations 

Examples:

·	infidel, criminal, cowardly occupier 
·	occupation, humiliation, betrayal 
·	the criminal Bush 
·	peace and security 

Effects

·	demonises the enemy 

Reasons for use

·	Hussein wants to create an image of Bush as the oppressor 

Once students have organised their material into categories they will be able to see whether they have gaps in their information. This will enable them to revisit their sources to add to their mapped information. 

From their mapped categories they can now devise key questions (see questions.rtf). 

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)