Identify Search Terms

Whether you know your exact focus or research question or you are just starting out with a general topic, start with keywords that capture your topic to find information sources. 

What do I know? What do I wish to know?

Start with what you know. Add to your search terms as you research and learn.

Connect key ideas to find relevant articles, books, and more. Example:

Download the handout below to brainstorm keywords. Construct possible sample searches from your keywords to try in library databases.

Tip: Think broadly about your topic. Look for criticism about:

• the larger work if you are writing an interpretation of a short story or poem
• the author's work as a whole
• a theme or genre

Construct effective searches

To find relevant sources in research databases, try these strategies for effective keyword searches:

• Use simple search terms.
  • Ex: "Joy Harjo" AND storytelling instead of "storytelling in the work of Joy Harjo"
• Use AND to focus your search. 
  • Ex: “yellow wallpaper” AND gender
• Use OR to search for either/both terms. This gets you more results and is useful for trying synonymous terms.
  • Ex: "yellow wallpaper" AND (gender OR women OR femininity)
• Use a range of Keywords and Subject Terms and search in different research databases to find the best articles and books for your analysis.
• Do not use the first few resources you find; try to find relevant articles and books that you can engage in your own analysis of the text.
• Search for ideas and interpretation beyond your specific text.
  • Look for analysis of other works by your author and then synthesize relevant ideas into your analysis
  • Look for analysis of key concepts and issues in literature and then synthesize relevant ideas into your analysis.

Try Subject Terms to capture relevant texts on a subject.

• Note: Subject Terms may exclude some results.

Sample Subject Terms:

• Literature
• Criticism
• LITERATURE -- History & criticism
• FEMINIST literary criticism  
• Film Criticism
• Motion Picture Criticism

Look for relevant Subject Terms as you search with keywords or browse Thesaurus or Subject Terms.

Method 1:

Method 2:

Method 3:

Use the menu on the left of a search and select Subject: Thesaurus Term. Add just one term at a time.

Sample Search in ProQuest Database:

Information is created for different purposes and audiences. 

Strategize where to look for the information you need. 

• Reference for background info, including overviews of history, issues, debates & stakeholders. Leads to key sources. Key terminology/concepts of the topic.
• Books/book chapters for history, memoirs, biography, criticism, essays, and more. You may use and cite just one relevant chapter of a book, rather than read the entire work.
• Magazine and Newspaper articles for reporting, analysis, and opinion on current news and culture. 
• Multimedia (tv, radio, podcasts, film, etc.) for news, analysis, discussion, interviews and more.
• Scholarly Peer Reviewed Journals for in-depth, highly focused analysis and research for an academic audience.
• Web sources for author websites, community organizations, government info, educational sites, and more.