Skip to Main Content

ENGL 100 (Larson) FA24

Introduction

Welcome ENGL 100!

I'm here to support you with your research.

Questions? Email me at svonwinckelmann@miracosta.edu

Keyword Tips

Brainstorm a list of keywords based on your research topic or question. Then, conduct background research in Gale Ebooks or OneSearch to learn more about your topic and refine your keywords. The videos below will walk you through how to do this.

Step 1: Before Background Research 

Preliminary Topic: Challenges that college students who are parents face

  • Identify specific areas of challenges (e.g., academic performance, financial strain, support services).
  • Brainstorm synonyms and related terms for each category to create a varied keyword list.
Research Focus Main Concepts Synonyms / Related Terms
Academic Challenges Responsibilities Balancing coursework, time management, study habits
Academic Support
Tutoring, advising, online resources
Financial Challenges Costs Financial strain, tuition, cost of college, expenses
Employment Working students, part-time jobs, financial aid, scholarships
Support Challenges Family Support Childcare, family assistance
Campus Resources Counseling services, student parent programs, resource centers

Step 2: After Background Research 

After conducting background research, decide on a focus and update your keywords.

  • Refined Topic - Support Services for College Students Who Are Parents
  • Research Question - How effective are campus support services in helping college students who are parents balance their family responsibilities and academic demands?
Research Focus Main Concepts Synonyms / Related Terms
Campus Support Services Campus resources Student parent programs, resource centers, on-campus support
Family support services Childcare services, family assistance, counseling for parents
College Students who are Parents Student parents Parenting students, caregiving students, students with dependents

Database Searching

1. Spelling counts! Not seeing many results? Double-check your spelling.

2. Try "Phrase Searching" - Place quotation marks around keywords you want to keep together.

 Example: "college students" "family assistance"

3. You May Not Find Everything in One Place - It’s unlikely that a single source will cover all aspects of your topic. Instead, think of each source as providing pieces of a puzzle.

4. Use Author's Words - Think about how experts in the field phrase the concepts you're researching and try those words in your search.

Keyword searching is not an exact science and you may need to experiment with different combinations to get the best results.

Gale Ebooks Video

EBSCOhost Video

OneSearch Video

Databases