Webs of Knowledge
Content Development System

Developing A Thematic Hierarchy

Note: This is the main content of our Webs of Knowledge system. The system was originally devised to brainstorm a "content skeleton." What you will be doing in this section is systematically listing content themes and topics that you can fill-in at a later date.

1. General Topic

Define the one topic that will unite all of your content. Let's say that you're making a website on "mobile computing". This topic will be the general theme that glues your website together and gives it an identity. In the following steps, you will be constructing a structural skeleton in which you will eventually place content.

2. Second-Level Themes

After defining the primary topic for your website, the brainstorming fun begins. Write down every sub-theme that you can think of in regard to your general topic. Going back to our example (mobile computing), we might start listing things like {PDA, Labtop/Notebook, TouchPad, Handheld Gaming, etc.}. This list will be dynamical (you should plan to add to it and expand it as you seek to develop more content over time) and you shouldn't feel as if you need to make it thorough on the first try. Just have fun.

3. Third-Level Organization

At this point, you are basically taking the themes that you brainstormed in the second-level and breaking those them down into more specific organizational categories. If we go back to our "mobile computing" example, we might take the second-level theme {PDA} and break it down into {Types, Brands, Prices, Reviews, Wireless, etc.}. You would do this for each second-level theme. It is important to note that in some cases, the Third-Level Organization may not apply, and you may need to just skip to Fourth-Level Keywords.

4. Fourth-Level Keywords

This is the level of specific content and will be the level at which you do most of your work. In scientific terms, it is the endpoint of reduction (the smallest unit - irreducible). In some cases you may need to create additional levels in the thematic hiearchy, to ensure that you are developing content at a suitable level of specification. Going back to our "mobile computing" example and using the Third-Level {Reviews}, you might next define {Dell Axim X50, Palm Zire 72, HP iPaq 4700 etc.}. Notice that you are now at a level which we might call irreducible - unless of course you wanted to define the parts of each PDA.

5. Periodically repeat

This system of brainstorming is designed to be systematical (so that you aren't left with the daunting task of brainstorming in thin air), but it allows for ommission and addition. Don't feel like you've got to have a completely thorough brainstorming output on the first iteration. Take a break, develop some content to fill in the skeleton, and then come back at a later point in time when you need more ideas. For now, you've got plenty of content to write.

Suggested Format for Brainstorming: