One of the greatest challenges in starting a new research project is deciding which search terms best describe your topic as you begin the search for resources. Try to be really succinct/to the point and use just a couple of keywords instead of typing long sentences. The video explains all of this quickly (less than 2 minutes!), so please watch it now. Here are few more tips:
- Enter keywords that represent your topic:
- Limit searches to two or three keywords: Sierra Nevada Vegetation
- Don't search with sentences, questions, or long phrases.
- Combine terms with OR to broaden:
BLM OR Bureau of Land Management (this would find items with either the acronym or the full phrase)
- Combine terms with AND to narrow: Point Reyes AND geology (this would find items with ECE and special needs)
- Place quotation marks around words you wish to be searched as a phrase: "lake bed deposits"
