Finding Information on your Topic Using Key Words

The purpose of this exercise is to help you find information on your essay topic by thinking about the words you will use to search for that information.  Begin by writing down the topic that you have selected or that has been assigned to you.

On the left, list the words from the assignment that will be most likely to help you find relevant information. 

On the right, list other words or expressions that might work. 

The library term for these search words is Key Words.

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Trade papers with your partner to review your search words and suggest new ones.   

List any new terms below.  Trade papers again.

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Part I :

Using the PCC Library website, select Library Catalogs. 

Select the appropriate library to begin your search for books using the key words from your list. Use the Subject Keyword search.  Next to the subject keyword list above, write the number of book titles from your results list.

From your results list select one or two titles the look the most relevant.  Select each book to look at the complete record.   The subject headings may give you some other options for search words.  Add to your Search Word List any appropriate subject headings.  Subject Headings are the formal language of the library used to index all library materials.

If you would like to locate books on the shelf, scroll down the bottom of the screen and select the Location.  The following screen will indicate the call number and availability (is the book checked out at this time).   Write down the call number and title and locate the book on the shelf. 

Part II :

Locating Journal Articles.  Go back to the PCC Library home page and select Databases.  Login using your social security number and the last four of your social as the pin number.

Select the Academic Search Premier or Omnifile Fulltext Mega database.   Enter the search terms which you found most effective.  [If you use Academic Search Premier, change the drop down selection that appears to the right of the search box from Default Fields to Subject.

You may wish to limit your search to include only fulltext articles by checking the Fulltext box before searching.

List below the three most effective search terms and the number of “hits” using each search term.

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Part III:

Results – Based on the results of this exercise answer the following questions before leaving the Library:

1. Do you feel that you were successful finding enough relevant material  for your assignment?

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2. Are you checking out any books today?  ____________

Did you print out any journal articles today? ____________

3. Do you feel that you need to change your subject based on your work today?

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4. Did working with a partner help you with your search words? __________
    

5. Final Question – I know not what….