Keywords are search terms that describe the topic of your research. We use keywords to find information on a topic. By plugging keywords into library database searches, you will be able to gather articles and books containing that specific information.
When using keywords, it is sometimes helpful to use synonyms of words, broaden your keywords, narrow them, or find additional terms related to your topic.
When you first begin your research, it is helpful to search for background information surrounding your topic. Doing background research can help you identify keywords that might help you in your search.
Once you have done some background research on your topic, you can begin to narrow down your search. You might need to conduct several different searches as you work to make sure your topic is not so general that you are overwhelmed with different search avenues, but also not so narrow that you have a difficult time finding articles.
Example of a prompt from an assignment:
"Choose a specific time period in American history that fascinates you—this could be a decade, a century, or even a single year. It might be a moment of great change, conflict, innovation, or cultural transformation. Make a clear argument explaining how it changed the course of history, influenced generations, or reshaped society in a lasting way."