Skip to Main Content

Advanced Search

History

Search Tips

Getting Started:

When searching in any search engine, (databases, library catalog, google scholar, etc.) it is best to use keywords rather than typing the full question or topic.

For example, if your question is:

"What role did smuggling play in the outbreak of the American Revolution? "

Remover the filler words from the question and focus on the main concepts. Next, brainstorm synonyms of the key words. You may type words such as these in the search bar:

smuggling, stealing, American Revolution, black market

Advanced Search Tips:

Using Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT)

Boolean operators are used to either refine or expand your search. They are placed in between your keywords to yield more specific search results.

Too Few Results
Use: AND
For example: smuggling AND American Revolution 
Either/Or Results
Use: OR
For example: smuggling OR American Revolution
Too Many Results
Use: NOT
For example: smuggling NOT American Revolution

Visual Brainstorming:

If you prefer to draw when brainstorming, you may want to draw a concept map. You can do this on paper, a white board, or a smart board. For online resources focused on concept mapping, we recommend Canva.