Before you start searching, take a few minutes to brainstorm some search terms.
Having a good list of search terms, or keywords, will make your searching so much easier! You'll have multiple options of words to try, if some don't seem as useful as others.
Library databases aren't good at searching natural language (the way we speak and ask questions naturally), so it's especially important to break down your topic or questions into keywords.
Use some basic questions to help you brainstorm keywords, or search terms, for your topic.
| WHO |
- Who is involved? Who is affected?
- Are there key figures related to your topic? Who discovered/invented/refined your process or what you're defining?
|
| WHAT |
- What are the key issues and questions surrounding your topic?
- For your process essay, what is the name of the process? What is its purpose? What does it accomplish? What tools or techniques are necessary?
- For your definition essay, what are you defining? What does it involve or do? What does it mean? What possible variations in meaning exist?
|
| WHEN |
- Are there key dates associated with your topic?
- How has your topic's process or definition developed over time? Can you focus on a particular development or time period?
|
| WHERE |
- Is there a geographic location that is important to your topic?
- Can you focus your topic on a particular location?
|
| HOW |
- How will you learn about your topic? How will you approach your topic? (Consider assignment requirements here!)
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| WHY |
- Why are you interested in your topic? Why should others be interested?
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When you have a list of keywords, take a second pass through it and try to come up with synonyms or related terms.
In this Guide, you'll find: