ENG 102 - English Comp 2 (Jongbloed)

1. What are the main concepts of your topic and what keywords might you use when searching?

• Example topic: Does playing violent video games lead to violent behavior in adolescents? Key concepts are in bold.
• Other possible keywords: Media violence, aggression, popular culture, teenagers or youth, psychological aspects, social aspects.
• Modify your search strategy after you begin searching. Use the power of the databases (limiters, suggested subjects, and more) to further develop your search. Use broader concepts when searching the online catalog for books.

2. Determine what information you need. Follow your instructor's syllabus carefully. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How many sources do I need? (Did your instructor give you a number?)
• What types of sources do I need? (Books? Articles? Websites?)

3. Get background information on your topic. Use our online reference databases, listed in the box below, to gather information on the broader context of your topic. This preliminary research will also help identify more keywords for searching.

Plan Your Search

Use the Search Planning Worksheet below from Middlesex Community College to plan your research strategy.

Keywords are the main ideas or concepts of your topic question. Keep a list of these words because you will use them when searching for information on your topic. You will also want to come up with related terms in order to expand your searching.

Example topic question: Does playing violent video games lead to violent behavior in adolescents? 

When searching, string your keywords together with “and” rather than entering the entire research question. Mix and match terms depending on results.

Example: media violence and social aspects and adolescents

Once you have decided on a topic, you need to think about the best sources to get your information. Answering the questions below will help you decide what kind of strategy you need.

Do you need books?

• Do you know very little about your topic?
• Do you need background material, an overview, or the history of your topic?
• Is your topic a broad subject?
• Did your professor require that you use reference sources or books?

If you answered yes to many of these questions, you need books.

Do you need magazine or journal articles?

• Is your topic of current interest?
• Is your topic relatively specific?
• Do you need the latest research on your topic?
• Can you describe your topic in a few key words?
• Would you benefit from reading how an expert on your topic writes about it?
• Did your professor include words like scholarly, academic, refereed, or peer-reviewed articles or sources in your assignment description?

If you answered yes to many of these questions, you need magazine and journal articles.

Do you need newspaper articles?

• Is this in the news now or very recently?
• Do you need facts presented very succinctly?