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Writing 10 (Xu)

College Reading & Composition

Using Keywords

For more information on Using Keywords & Search Strategies, visit our guided tutorial.

You will be able to

  • generate keywords from your research question.
  • combine keywords and search strategies to locate the best resources for your research in library databases.
  • anticipate how different search strategies will affect your search results

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Keywords & Synonyms

Here is a chart with keywords and potential synonyms based on a revised research question from the Using & Selecting Keywords video.

RQ: Are young adults who play video games at an increased risk of being violent?
young adults teenagers adolescents youth  
video games online gaming Call of Duty Massive Multiple Player games computer games
violent school shooting aggressive cruel delinquency

Selecting and Using Keywords

University of West Florida, John C. Pace Library, 3:50

  1. What do you put in a database’s search box?
  2. What is a keyword?
  3. How do you go from a research question to a keyword?
  4. How many keywords should you use?
  5. What are some strategies for developing related keywords?