To create a Keyword List, start by stating your topic as a "why?" or "how?" question. Think of significant words or terms that describe your topic, including synonyms and related terms.
Here are some examples:
Koran / Quran / Qur'an
Lou Gehrig's Disease / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / ALS
Capital punishment / Death penalty
Revolutionary War / American Revolution
Human trafficking / Sex slave trade
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder / PTSD
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome / AIDS / HIV / Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Use these links to find some background information on your topic before you begin your big search:
Not sure how to start your research? Follow these steps to begin:
1. Choose a General Topic - Brainstorm possible topic ideas. You may find possible topics from classroom discussions, current events, or personal interest. It helps if you are interested in the topic, as you will be spending a lot of time learning about it.
2. Create a Keyword List - Make a list of synonyms or other words that are related to your topic and may be good search terms. In some cases there may be different ways to spell your topic, and you want to include all of them in your keyword list so you don't miss anything.
3. Start to Gather Background Information - Use general information sources to help you find out basic facts about your topic. This may also provide you with new keywords or other subtopics within your topic.
4. Broadening/Narrowing a Topic - Sometimes a topic may be too broad or too narrow, and you will need to adjust it in order to get the correct depth of research you need for your paper or presentation.
5. Search for Resources - Now that you have narrowed down your topic and have good keywords, you can begin searching for resources using the SRC Online Catalog and SRC Databases.
6. Evaluate Resources - Not all resources are equally good for you to use. Make sure you are using the best sources for your paper or presentation that you can find. See the Evaluate Resources tab for more information.
7. Based on a Focused Thesis Statement, Accurate Note Taking, and an Organized Outline, Write your Paper - Using correct citations, of course!
There are a variety of places you can find books on your topic:
Articles cannot be found on the Library Online Catalog. You need to look in databases for them.
