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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Embodiment and theology in Jane Eyre
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Key Concepts
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Embodiment
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Theology
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Jane Eyre
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Related Keywords
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(body OR flesh)
(pain OR sickness OR disease)
sexuality OR gender
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Christianity
Calvinism
salvation
piety
sacrifice
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Helen Burns
St. John Rivers
Victorian*
19th century
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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: "Helen Burns"
- Still too many results? Narrow using AND. Ex: Helen Burns AND body
- Too few results? Broaden using OR. Ex: (Calvinism OR theology*) AND (pain OR sickness OR disease)
- 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:
