When researching, it’s important to search using essential keywords or phrases that represent the key concepts of your topic.
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- Write down your research question or topic.
- Identify the key concepts. Most keywords are nouns and you only need a few to describe your topic. Make sure to avoid vague or “fluff” words (how, the, of, etc.)
- Brainstorm synonyms for your keywords.
- Mix & match keywords while searching. If you keep using the same words while searching, you’ll keep getting the same results.
If you’re having trouble brainstorming keywords:
- Do some background research
- Use a thesaurus to help you find synonyms
- Do a quick search and see how your topic is described
- Ask an AI for some keyword ideas