Sometimes, you find exactly what you need with your first search. But it often doesn't work out that way! Try this step-by-step brainstorm before you search the library catalog or databases.
1. Save time, prepare to research!
- Break your research question into key concepts (you'll connect these in your paper to make an original argument)
- For each of these concepts, brainstorm multiple keywords
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Sample Topic:
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Musician Lizzo, known for her body positivity, goes on a juice cleanse, and receives a wide range of criticism and responses from fans
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Key Concepts
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Lizzo
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Juice cleanse
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Body positivity
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Related Keywords
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musician OR singer
famous OR "pop star"
(Black OR African American) wom*n
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weight loss
wellness
eating disorder
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fat (shame OR stigma)
body dysmorphia
fat acceptance movement
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- Try this keyword tool to brainstorm online and send the results to yourself.
2. Combine keywords using AND and OR:
- Too many results? Try using quotation marks around an exact phrase. Ex: "body positivity"
- Still too many results? Narrow using AND. Ex: Black women AND "body positivity"
- Too few results? Broaden using OR. Ex: "body positivity" OR "fat acceptance"
- Put parentheses around synonyms.
- The asterisk finds multiple endings from a root word. Ex: wom* will bring back women, woman's, wombat, etc.
3. Brush up on the search tools available:
