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ENGL 164 Film as Literature: Build a Search with Keywords

Constructing a Search: Keywords

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

Add to your search terms as you research and learn.

Name or Work Author/ Director Issues/ Ideologies Literary elements Article type

Ex: Heart of Darkness
Ex: Apocalypse Now

Joseph Conrad
Frances Coppola

racism
colonialism

symbolism
point of view

film adaptation
criticism
Connect your key ideas to find relevant articles, books, and more. Example:

one search apocalypse now- film adaptation

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

Subject Terms

Try Subject Terms to capture the most relevant texts on a subject.

Note: Subject Terms may exclude some useful results, so be sure to try a range of search terms.

Sample Subject Terms:
  • Film
  • Film Criticism
  • Film adaptations
  • Film & Video -- History & criticism
  • Feminist criticism
  • Marxist criticism

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

Subject Terms

Method 1:

Browse Subject Terms in ASP

Method 2:

Subjects-article-level

Method 3:

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

snip-menu-subject terms