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English 16 Library Guide: 1c. Identify Keywords

This guide was created to help students in English 16 classes develop their library research skills.

Tip!

Make a list or use the chart below to keep track of keywords related to your topic. Keep it by your side when you start your research.

The keywords you use can have a profound impact on the results of your research. Using the “right” words will speed up the research process, while the “wrong” words can bring to it to a screeching halt.

If the keywords you choose initially do not give you the results you need, try the others on your list! Another idea is to use the How to Generate Keywords exercise created by librarians at the University of Texas at Austin. Highly librarian recommended! 

Exercises

Need some help identifying keywords? Try the attached exercises.

Identifying Keywords

Before you can begin searching for information in a print or online resource, you need to identify keywords related to your topic. Key terminology can be easily be found by scanning:

  • Your initial research questions
  • Encyclopedia and other articles used when conducting background research
  • Bibliographies found at the end of books and articles

If you are still struggling, then try these suggestions:

  • Use a print thesaurus, Microsoft Office's thesaurus tool, or thesaurus.com to identify synonyms (similar words)
  • Find pictures related to your topic, then describe the picture
  • Brainstorm keywords with a librarian, your instructor, or a friend

Choosing and Using Keywords

Created by the John M. Pfau Library at California State University, San Bernardino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCUjnPS2_1g