Introduction to: Keywords

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Introduction to Keywords Boolean Operators
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Library Homepage
Articles
Books
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Basics of Searching

• Keyword vs. subjects
• Basic Boolean

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Keywords
Everyday speaking

• Flexible terms
• Easy
• Less accurate

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Identifying Keywords

• Identify the significant terms and concepts that
  describe your topic from your thesis statement or
  research question.
• These terms will become the key for searching
  catalogs, indexes, and databases for information
  about your subject.

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Other Keywords

• Identify the synonyms and antonyms to your
  keywords
• Use a thesaurus
• Use database tools like descriptors and subjects

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Keyword Phrases

• Single concept, multiple words
• Some electronic resources require keyword phrases
  be enclosed with punctuation
• Quotation marks
• (Parenthesis)

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Keyword Phrases

• Basic phrase
• Proper names
• Hyphenated words
• Slogans, advertisements
• Famous quotes
• Movie titles, song titles, etc.

• (criminal justice)
• Native American
• (x-ray)
• Im lovin it
• (to be or not to be)
• Lord of the Rings

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Subjects

• Predetermined terminology
• Library of Congress
• More difficult to use in searches
• Very precise

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Keyword vs. Subject

• Natural language
• Flexible terminology
• Less accurate
• Use with Operators
• Native American

• Predetermined terminology
• Thesaurus
• More precise
• Indian of North America

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Operators (Boolean)

• AND Narrow
• OR Expand

• NOT Exclude

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Boolean Operators

• If NOT is used too much, it can work against you!

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Exercise

• Shuffle and Deal

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Exercise

• Putting it together