Search Strategies: Choosing Keywords
Brainstorm:
1. a sudden bright idea; 2. a harebrained idea
Before you begin your research, write out a few detailed sentences about
your topic. Underline the main words in these sentences. From the description
that you wrote, create a list of related keywords and phrases.
For example, look at the list of keywords and phrases we thought of for this
paper topic:
Social Networking sites and online
chatting decrease an individual's ability to interact in face-to-face
situations.
Keywords:
chat, chatting, internet, social, MySpace, Facebook, interaction,
communicate
Phrases:
Instant messaging, Face-to-face, Interpersonal communication, social
networking, social networks
Now it's your turn. On the next page, we'll give you a sample topic so you can practice brainstorming for good keywords and phrases. For each of the next three steps, type all the terms you can think of in a text box and
click on "Process It!" When you show the computer your list, it will show you ours. Let's see your "Thought Process" in action.
