Templates
About these templates
The other templates here start from a framework. These start from a shape. They are for the times when you know your content and simply want it arranged well, without adopting somebody else's set of questions.
The arrangement does real work. A flow chart reads as sequence, so it suits anything with steps and decision points, and the branching is the whole point. A tree view reads as hierarchy, top down, which fits classifications, breakdowns and anything with a clear parent and child relationship. A circle layout puts one topic in the middle with everything radiating outward, which is the classic mind map shape and the best choice when the centre genuinely is the subject rather than just the first item.
A grid layout treats everything as parallel and equally weighted, useful for comparisons or for content that has no natural hierarchy and should not be given a fake one. A life cycle draws a repeating loop, which matters when the end feeds back into the beginning and a straight line would misrepresent it. An outline with right alignment reads much like a document, indented and linear, and it suits notes, book chapters and anything you will eventually write up in prose.
Choosing the shape first is a reasonable way to work. If you are unsure, start with a tree and rearrange later, since nothing here locks you in. You can change the layout of an existing map, move branches between parents, and add or remove levels as the material grows.