Activity - Controversy Mapping

How to create a controversy map:

1. Start by having a central idea placed in a circle in the middle of a piece of paper. For this activity the central idea should be around nanotechnology. In the example above, it is vaccines.

2. Think of controversies that come from the idea of nanotechnology. For example, sunscreens that use nanoparticles and their effect on coral reefs; military using nanotechnology to enhance current weapons or to create new ones; the use of nanotechnology in manufacturing sporting equipment. Using these controversies, consider possible problems with each controversy and potential benefits of the particular controversy. While doing this look into who is mainly discussing this controversy and who will be affected by it. 

3.  From each of these ideas, draw one line that branches away from the central circle a little way, at the end of it draw another circle, and write these ideas in that circle. Make sure these lines and circles are spread out from each other (there should be at least 2 ideas, but don’t put too many different controversies on there as it’ll get too confusing).

4. Draw two lines from each of these ideas and draw another small oval at the end of these lines. Write ‘for’ in one of them, and ‘against’ in the other. You should have a ‘for' and ‘against’ for each idea.

5. Draw a line and another oval from one of the 'for' circles. Write an argument for the controversy in that oval. Limit words in each oval to one or two.

6. Draw a line and another oval from one of the 'against' circles. Write an argument against the controversy in that oval. Limit words in each oval to one or two.

7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 depending on whether you have a for argument or an against argument.

8. Congratulations you have constructed a controversy map.