Before you Begin: Know the Assignment

• What type of speech is this?
  • Demonstration? Informative? Persuasive?
• What question are you trying to answer?
• Is there more than one part to the assignment?
• How many resources are required?
• What types of resources are required?
• What citation style is required?
• When is the assignment due?

Before Searching

• What are the keywords in your thesis statement or in the question you are trying to answer? These will become your search terms.

  Example Thesis: "Teenagers from poor homes are more likely to go to jail than other teenagers."

  Example Keywords: Teenagers, Poor, Jail

• Brainstorm additional search terms by finding words with similar meanings.

  Example 1, Keyword "Teenagers": Juvenile, Teen, Minor, Underage, Adolescent

  Example 2, Keyword "Poor": Poverty, Impoverished, Underprivileged, Unfortunate, Deprived

  Example 3, Keyword "Jail": Prison, Detention, Lockup