Step 1. Look up your topic in an encyclopedia. This will give you some keywords and subtopics.
Encyclopedia databases include Access Science and Gale eBooks. (Wikipedia is fine for collecting keywords but not as a source you can cite for this assignment). - * From off campus, use the same login/password as for Canvas.
For example:
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of oil and gas production that involves blasting huge amounts of water, mixed with sand and toxic chemicals, under high pressure deep into the earth. Fracking breaks up rock formations to allow oil and gas extraction. But it can also pollute local air and water and endanger wildlife and human health.
Step 2. From that encyclopedia article, extract the keywords that best describe each idea in your research question (the main concepts in your question).
Step 3. Then look up some synonyms or similar words for each idea. (A thesaurus is a book (e-book, website) that helps you find synonyms).
Keywords and phrases: frack, fracking, hydraulic fracturing, gas extraction
Keywords: pollute, harm, risks, benefits, advantages
Tip 1. Using OR between words broadens your search. You will get MORE results.
Tip 2. Using AND between words narrows your search and gives you more specific, but FEWER results.
Tip 3. Adding an asterisk (SHIFT + 8 = *) to the root of a word will search for variations of that word. For example:
FRACK* will search for FRACK, FRACKS, FRACKED and FRACKING
ADVANTAG* will search for ADVANTAGE, ADVATAGES, ADVANTAGEOUS
Tip 4. Lastly, using quotations around two words will retrieve those search words together as a phrase: For example:
"energy consumers"
"Bay area"
"Silicon Valley