Did you get too many results? 

If so, try some of these ideas to narrow down your results:

• Narrow by dates (only newer, older, or a specific range of dates)

• Narrow by type of source (peer-reviewed journals, magazines, etc. based on the assignment’s guidelines)

• Add another of the search terms you listed above, connecting the two with the “AND” provided in the database’s Advanced Search

• Using the database’s Advanced Search option, change “AND” to “NOT” to exclude terms you don’t want (ex. “Pride and Prejudice” NOT film)

• Put any multi-word phrases into “quotation marks” to prevent other words from coming between them

Did you get too few results? 

If so, try some of these ideas to expand your results:

• Using the database’s Advanced Search, enter 2 search terms that are synonyms, connecting them with the word “or” (ex. film OR movie)

• Enter your main topic as a Subject Search. Look at the subdivisions or subjects given to you to get new ideas for better search terms (find out what the database is calling it).  A Subject Search is available in some databases as a drop down menu item, and in others as a separate tab.  You can think of subject searching as "big picture" searching, as opposed to keyword, or "details" searching.  An example is "dogs" is a subject, whereas a specific breed would likely be a keyword.  

Below you will find optional worksheets to help you improve your library research skills.

Tips for Reading Academic Sources

Don’t just highlight- annotate:  If you want to use a highlighter, make sure you also include a note in the margin about why you are highlighting these particular words.  What does this passage mean in the context of your argument or point? 

Be skeptical:  You don’t have to agree with or believe everything the author says. 

Read it again:  If you are struggling with a certain reading, or a sentence or passage within a reading, reading it a second or third time might help.  (and guess what- your professors sometimes do this too!)  If it helps, give yourself a different purpose or guiding question each time you read it. 

Give yourself time to absorb it:  These readings are difficult.  That’s all there is to it.