Searching for the right words ENGL 100U: The Research Process Spring 2008 W. Sellors

Learn the lingo READ widely about your topic – preferably in the following order: CQ Researcher Subject-specific encyclopedias, books Magazine, newspaper, and journal articles Professional, government, and academic web sites While you read, make a list of the words used to talk about your topic

READ widely about your topic – preferably in the following order:

CQ Researcher

Subject-specific encyclopedias, books

Magazine, newspaper, and journal articles

Professional, government, and academic web sites

While you read, make a list of the words used to talk about your topic

Putting your word list to work…

Key word searching Key word searches find sources in which your search word(s) appears somewhere

Key word searches find sources in which your search word(s) appears somewhere

Streams Brooks Creeks Rivers Etcetera…

Streams

Brooks

Creeks

Rivers

Etcetera…

Subject headings Subject headings bring resources ABOUT the same subject together under a master heading Unlike key words, subject headings ensure that the source is ABOUT the topic In most library catalogs and databases, these headings are selected by people

Subject headings bring resources ABOUT the same subject together under a master heading

Unlike key words, subject headings ensure that the source is ABOUT the topic

In most library catalogs and databases, these headings are selected by people

Remember, You Need a BOOK

Advanced Search

AND vs. OR Use OR to join similar terms so that your search returns results with ANY of those words Use AND to combine terms that describe different aspects of your topic so that your search returns results with ALL of those words OR increases the number of search results AND decreases the number of search results

Use OR to join similar terms so that your search returns results with ANY of those words

Use AND to combine terms that describe different aspects of your topic so that your search returns results with ALL of those words

OR increases the number of search results

AND decreases the number of search results

Search Tips Get out your word list Skip the search box on the library home page Instead, click on “UR Library Catalog” Start with a “Subject Heading Keyword” search, putting phrases in “”

Get out your word list

Skip the search box on the library home page

Instead, click on “UR Library Catalog”

Start with a “Subject Heading Keyword” search, putting phrases in “”

Search Tips Too many results? If you searched for one word (pollution) or two words without “” (water pollution), try using “” (“water pollution”) or + (+rivers +pollution) Click on the Advanced Search tab so that you can combine subject heading keyword and key word anywhere searching

Too many results?

If you searched for one word (pollution) or two words without “” (water pollution), try using “” (“water pollution”) or + (+rivers +pollution)

Click on the Advanced Search tab so that you can combine subject heading keyword and key word anywhere searching

Search Tips Too few results? Shorten your search phrase – one or two words usually work best in a relatively small database like the UR catalog Switch to a Keyword ALL search Look at the detailed records of a few relevant results and click on the subject headings Try other words from your list

Too few results?

Shorten your search phrase – one or two words usually work best in a relatively small database like the UR catalog

Switch to a Keyword ALL search

Look at the detailed records of a few relevant results and click on the subject headings

Try other words from your list

In those notes you’re taking… Highlight the subject headings Draw a diagram of the words to show which ones are narrower terms for others Re-search , comparing the results you get using various words and phrases until you find the most effective combinations

Highlight the subject headings

Draw a diagram of the words to show which ones are narrower terms for others

Re-search , comparing the results you get using various words and phrases until you find the most effective combinations

Image Sources Armstrong, Paul. “Headache” and “Right Back At Cha.” 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiseacre/>. Durron, Questa. “Padme and the Crystal Ball.” 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/questa>. Group of fireflies. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://www.painetworks.com/photos/ii/ii2026.JPG>. Glowing firefly. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://www.worldbook.com>. Ploughman, Lars. “A Dark Age for Yellow Pages.” 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/94440474/>. Sandisk Cruzer flash drive. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://www.bestbuy.com>. Stream. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://mooe.smugmug.com/keyword/all/stream/1/96509635>. Williams, Malik. “Frustration” and “Hard Work. 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/brothaloveimages/>.

Armstrong, Paul. “Headache” and “Right Back At Cha.” 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiseacre/>.

Durron, Questa. “Padme and the Crystal Ball.” 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/questa>.

Group of fireflies. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://www.painetworks.com/photos/ii/ii2026.JPG>.

Glowing firefly. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://www.worldbook.com>.

Ploughman, Lars. “A Dark Age for Yellow Pages.” 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/94440474/>.

Sandisk Cruzer flash drive. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://www.bestbuy.com>.

Stream. 11 Oct. 2006. <http://mooe.smugmug.com/keyword/all/stream/1/96509635>.

Williams, Malik. “Frustration” and “Hard Work. 7 Feb. 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/brothaloveimages/>.