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ENGL-C1001 Epstein-Corbin: Search Strategies Review

Critical Thinking and Writing

Use Basic Search Strategies

The videos and information on this page will refresh your memory about database search techniques you learned in ENGL 01A. Remember, using sentences doesn't work as well as using a few words that represent your information need.

Identify Keywords

The databases simply match the words you enter in the search box. Not all authors use the same language to describe similar topics, so you will need to try a variety of searches.

  • Create a list of possible words that could appear in a book or article related to your topic.
  • Come up with synonyms or related terms.
  • Stick to using 2-4 nouns when searching.

Examples

  • ethics = morals, "ethical behavior," obligation, etc.
  • children = infants, babies, kids, adolescents, tweens, teenagers, etc.

Connect Keywords with AND, OR, NOT

Using AND, OR, and NOT with keywords can help broaden or narrow your search.

AND OR NOT

joins dissimilar terms; helps narrow your search

Example

"physician-assisted suicide" AND minors

joins similar terms; helps broaden your search

Example

teenagers OR adolescents

excludes terms; helps narrow your search

Example

immigrants NOT "Central America"

Find Phrases with Quotation Marks

  • “terminal illness"
  • “civil rights”
  • "undocumented immigrants"

Use Truncation to Find Word Variations

The asterisk * is the most common truncation symbol.

  • immigra* = immigrant, immigrants, immigration, etc.
  • sex* = sex, sexes, sexual, sexuality, etc.

How Library Stuff Works: How to Choose Keywords

How Library Stuff Works: Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT)