Library Database Search Tips
- 1. How to get the most out of the search box!
- 2. Choose Specific Keywords Use keywords, the main ideas in your topic question. Time period Geographic area Person Style Title Central themes What drives the role of tradition in Shirley Jackson‘s short story The Lottery?
- 3. Think about synonyms and related terms! Use similar words to include relevant results that don’t use the same exact vocabulary Keyword: film Related terms: cinema, movie, motion picture, animation, video
- 4. Use limiters to combine search terms and customize results AND to narrow results OR to increase results Use NOT to keep out certain results (race OR ethnicity) NOT religion Race OR ethnicity Race AND ethnicity Race EthnicityRace AND Ethnicity Race AND Ethnicity
- 5. Grouping Use quotation marks to search for a contextual phrase or name The database will look for the terms in sequential order “Mark Twain” “The Monkey’s Paw” “figurative language”
- 6. Truncation Use * with the shortened beginning of a word to include all forms of that term Market* Market Marketing Marketer Markets