This document provides guidance on finding academic sources for a research topic. It outlines steps for students to revisit evaluating sources, identify topics related to a food exhibit, define keywords, identify relevant databases, and conduct hands-on searches using advanced search techniques. Students are guided to brainstorm broader, narrower, and synonym keywords for sample topics of "Food and Cultural Appropriation" and "Food/Nutrition." They are also instructed to identify subject areas or disciplines related to their topics. The document aims to equip students with skills to effectively search databases and find scholarly sources for their research topics.

1. Finding Academic Sources for
Your Topic
Nicole Branch, Instruction Librarian
ENGL 2A
Image courtesy of Flickr user throgers.

2. Today we will…
• Revisit evaluating sources
• Identify topic areas for your food exhibit
• Define searchable keywords for your research topics
• Identify & search relevant databases for academic
sources on your topic
• Apply advanced search techniques
Background image courtesy of Flickr user Paree.

3. Image courtesy of Flickr user Amanda Wood.

4. Image courtesy of Flickr user Amanda Wood.
What Trust Indicator was the hardest to
identify?

5. Image courtesy of Flickr user Amanda Wood.
What Trust Indicator was the easiest to
identify?

6. Developing a topic

7. Reading Around a Topic

8. Identifying Topics
• Food and Cultural Appropriation

9. Exercise 1
Share you topic.

10. Refining Keywords
https://vimeo.com/85564795

11. Defining Keywords
• Broader terms
• Narrower Terms
• Synonym Terms

12. Example Brainstorm:
Food & Cultural Appropriation
Food
Broader: Nutrition
Narrower: Soul Food
Synonym: Cuisine
Cultural Appropriation
Broader: Culture
Narrower:
Gentrification
Synonym: Cultural
Commodification

13. Exercise 2
Brainstorm Keywords

14. Finding the conversation
Image courtesy of Flickr user spyros papasyropoulos.

15. Databases & Disciplinary Sources

16. Image courtesy of Flickr user Christian Ostrosky
Identify a Database

17. Select a Database

18. Identify Subject Areas
• Define
⮚ Food & Cultural Appropriation
• Identify subject areas or disciplines
⮚ Sociology
⮚ Ethnic Studies
⮚ Business

19. Exercise 3
Identify Subject Areas

20. • AND/OR/NOT
• Document types
• Advanced search options
• Citations & permalinks
• Finding full text
Search Tips

21. • Using the guide, select a database to begin
searching
• Use your brainstormed keywords to get
started
• Practice advanced search options
Exercise 4: Hands-On Search

22. Nicole Branch
Instruction Librarian
nbranch@scu.edu
x5436
Questions?