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First Year Writing: Searching Hints

There's a handout for this

The information below is summarized in a handout that you can print and take with you.  It's located in the Handouts tab.

Keyword Searching

Here are some suggestions for searching the online catalog through the Books/DVDs link.  They may also be applied to searching the databases for articles.

  • Name of individual:  "Charlotte Perkins Gilman"

  • Name of individual and title of work:  "Kate Chopin" and Awakening

  • Name of individual and title of work and the word criticsm:  "Kate Chopin" and Awakening and criticism

  • Name of individual and the word criticism:  "Susan Glaspell" and criticism

  • Name of indivisual and title of work and topic:  "Charlotte Perkins Gilman" and "Yellow Wall Paper" and feminism

Hints for Searching Databases

Try some of these suggestions to identify better search results. 

  • Start with keywords
  • Remember the singular and plural of a word may yield different search results, therefore use the * (asterisk symbol) after the root of the word and it will find all words with that root.  For example, crim* will find crime, crimes, criminal, criminals, criminology, etc., but note that it will also find Crimea if in the database.
  • Use these connectors when appropriate:  and, or
  • Use quotes around phrases
  • Check for database options to limit results, such as language, peer-reviewed, article, etc.
  • Use Ctrl F to search a word or phrase in an article OR use the PDF option    which is part of the printing, save bar.  Click it and then the binoculars on the left    and enter term(s).
  • Recognize and incorporate database subject headings
  • Read abstract of article for a summary
  • Click on author's name(s) for their other articles
  • Use the references or works cited or bibliography to identify additional articles