# Narrative Sensemaking: Strategies for Narrative Maps Construction

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2108.06035 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.06035/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 13 Aug 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [Mixed Multi-Model Semantic Interaction for Graph-based Narrative Visualizations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.06452/) (2023)
- [Explainable AI Components for Narrative Map Extraction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.16554/) (2025)
- [A Directed Graph Model and Experimental Framework for Design and Study of Time-Dependent Text Visualisation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.02422/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Narrative sensemaking is a fundamental process to understand sequential information. Narrative maps are a visual representation framework that can aid analysts in this process. They allow analysts to understand the big picture of a narrative, uncover new relationships between events, and model connections between storylines. As a sensemaking tool, narrative maps have applications in intelligence analysis, misinformation modeling, and computational journalism. In this work, we seek to understand how analysts construct narrative maps in order to improve narrative map representation and extraction methods. We perform an experiment with a data set of news articles. Our main contribution is an analysis of how analysts construct narrative maps. The insights extracted from our study can be used to design narrative map visualizations, extraction algorithms, and visual analytics tools to support the sensemaking process.