Identifying keywords
To select keywords for a search, start by writing your topic out as a sentence or question. For example:
"What role did coffee houses play in the intellectual life of the Ottoman Empire"
There are several key concepts in this question. First, extract those concepts from the topic question (bold). Then list synonymous or related terms for each - you have a list of keywords to use!
| Role | Coffee Houses | Intellectual Life |
| Aspect | Cafe | Scholars |
| Part | Coffee trade | Intellegencia |
| Function | Coffee production | Academic |
- Generating KeywordsDeveloped for the University of Connecticut's "Research Now!" online curriculum and available at: http://sandbox.acrl.org/library-collection/generating-keyword-worksheet
Choosing Keywords
Getting started on your research? This video will show you how to come up with keywords based on your research topic.
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