Before you Begin: Know the Assignment

• What length is your final paper supposed to be?
• How many resources are required?
• What types of resources are required?
• When is the assignment due?

Before Searching:  Develop a Strategy

• PRE-search several topics that you are interested in to see what kind of information is available. Will there be enough to support the assignment requirements?
• Is there a way to narrow or expand your topic using keywords? 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, Minor, Underage, Adolescent

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

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