01
The diagram's building blocks
- 1Root - the mishnah or law under discussion.
- 2Move - each question and its answer, in one line.
- 3Branch - "iba'it eima" or an alternative answer, as a parallel line.
- 4End - kashya, teyuvta, teiku or conclusion.
Course map
Chapter 8 · Independent reading
Diagramming a sugya - a map of the discussion
Lesson 35 of 37 17 min
A long sugya is remembered by its structure, not its words. We learn to diagram it as a tree of steps - and use the diagram to review and explain.
Lesson goals
- 01Build a sugya diagram
- 02Identify "moves" and "branches"
- 03Explain a sugya to someone else from the diagram
02
From the diagram
A good diagram fits half a page. With it you can review a sugya in a minute and explain it to a friend. If you cannot explain from the diagram, a step is missing.
Insight
A diagram is the sugya's blueprint. The words are the bricks; the structure is the building.
Practice
Diagram the "Tanna heikha ka'i" sugya from Berakhot 2a, including both answers.
Lesson wrap-up
Diagram it and you remember it. Remember it and you can teach it.
Check your understanding
Test yourself before marking the lesson complete.
Question 1 of 3
What is a "branch" in a sugya diagram?