Untacit.

Compress first, then connect

Complex content is not difficult because it contains many words. It is difficult because its relationships are hidden. Start by compressing sentences into movable keywords.

Keep four kinds of words:

  • people — who participates
  • objects — what is used or changed
  • actions — what happens
  • outcomes and unknowns — what changes and what remains uncertain

Then choose one of four relationships:

A hand-drawn atlas of parallel, causal, contained, feedback, timeline, and process relationships
Relationship atlas · 01The same boxes mean completely different things when the connection changes. A relationship is not decoration; it must read as a sentence.

Find a paragraph of 80–120 words:

  1. remove adjectives and background detail
  2. circle no more than six keywords
  3. name the relationship between each pair
  4. draw only the three relationships that could change the conclusion