Concept map in text
Professional structure: role, context, objective, details, steps, format, criteria and self-check. Designed for better results, not guaranteed ones: always review the answer.
Never use real personal data. If you need to, run it through the data cleaner.
## Role Act as an expert in visual learning. ## Context I want to see a topic at a glance and understand how its ideas connect. ## Objective Create a hierarchical concept map with labelled links. ## Details (fill in what is in square brackets) - [topic or text] - [level of detail: basic or full] - [format: indented list or Mermaid] ## Step-by-step instructions 1. Identify the central concept. 2. List second- and third-level concepts. 3. Connect the concepts with linking words. 4. Check there are no isolated concepts. ## Output format Map as an indented list and, if requested, as Mermaid code. ## Quality criteria - Every link has a linking word. - The basic version has no more than three levels. - Concepts are short nouns. ## Self-check Before answering, check every quality criterion. If information is missing, ask me instead of making it up, and at the end state what you have assumed.
Try it here
Open model · not frontier
This tester runs on Gemma 4 26B (Google), an open-weights model served by Cloudflare. It is not a frontier model like the paid versions of ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude: it is faster and more modest, and it will sometimes get things wrong. It shows how a good prompt behaves, not what the most advanced AI can do. Paste the prompt into your usual assistant for its best version.
Fill in the details and try the prompt with an open model without leaving the page.
Objective
Create a hierarchical concept map with labelled links.
When to use it
This prompt is brilliant when you need to deconstruct a complex subject quickly or prepare for a presentation where clarity is paramount. It works best for structural topics like business processes, academic theories, or project lifecycles. However, avoid using this for abstract, non-linear concepts like poetry or creative fiction where structure might stifle nuance. It is also less effective if your input text is contradictory or poorly researched, as the AI will struggle to find a logical hierarchy.
Worked example: input (fictional data)
Worked example: full response
Variants
Quick Hierarchy Map
Create a simplified concept map focusing only on the primary pillars and their direct outcomes. Omit all minor details or supporting sub-points. Use an indented list format for speed and clarity. Ensure the structure is flat, focusing on high-level relationships rather than deep drill-downs, perfect for a quick briefing note or an initial planning session.
Primary School Level
Adapt the concept map for a primary school student audience. Use simple, everyday language and clear, relatable examples to explain the connections. Avoid technical jargon or complex industry terminology. Break down the relationships into easy-to-understand cause-and-effect pairs, ensuring the entire map remains engaging and accessible for younger learners.
Troubleshooting Flowchart
Reframe the concept map as a logical troubleshooting flowchart. Focus on identifying a problem, the potential diagnostic steps, and the corresponding solutions. Use directional verbs like 'check', 'verify', or 'resolve' for the linking words. This is ideal for technical documentation or internal process improvement where the end goal is identifying and fixing specific issues.
Common mistakes
- Putting long sentences in the nodes.
- Copying the map without checking the links.
- Using vague verbs like 'is' or 'has' for the connecting lines. How to avoid it: Always use precise, active verbs that describe the relationship, such as 'triggers', 'requires', or 'leads to'.
- Creating a map that is too circular rather than hierarchical. How to avoid it: Ensure there is a clear top-down flow so the reader can follow the logic from start to finish.
- Including too many concepts at the same level of importance. How to avoid it: Group minor details under broader categories to keep the map clean and maintain a clear visual hierarchy.
- Ignoring the specific format requested in the prompt fields. How to avoid it: Double-check that your output matches the requested format, whether it is a simple list or code.
Related guide
- How to study with AI: study mode, outlines and quizzes
- AI for students: study better and Gemini’s student offer
General and assistant-specific tips
Tips by assistant
- Claude: ask for the result as an artifact to view and edit it separately from the chat.
Getting the most out of it
- Paste the prompt as is and only replace what is in [brackets].
- If the answer does not fit, do not start over: ask for “shorter”, “more formal” or “as a table”.
- Always review the result before using it: AI can get facts, dates or names wrong.
Before you paste it: quick checklist
- State your starting level: “I know nothing” or “I know the basics”.
- Ask for everyday examples and a review question at the end.
- If something isn’t clear, ask it to “explain it another way”.
- Check dates, figures and definitions against a reliable source.
How to adapt it to your assistant
The template works the same in ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude because it only uses plain language. If your assistant supports fixed instructions (custom instructions, Gems or projects), you can store your preferred tone and format there and paste only the variable part. On a free plan, split long requests into two or three shorter messages.