To complete this module Read the Objectives. Read the module contents below and review previous modules as needed.

Then complete the exercise set for the module.

• A search strategy is an organized plan for gathering information.
• Developing a search strategy will help you locate appropriate information from a variety of sources.
• For a research paper or speech, the following is a useful search strategy:

1. Choose a topic that interests you and that is:

not too broad - with hundreds of books and articles written about it, as in the examples below:

AIDS, drug abuse, South Africa, Civil War

not too narrow - with nothing or only one or two articles written about it, as in the examples below:

the effect of drug abuse on the athletic performance of 18-year-old hockey players in Argentina

a comparison of the marketing strategies of two barber shops in Harrisonburg, VA

2. Find background information in encyclopedias and textbooks. This will help define and focus your topic. The bibliographies in these sources are usually excellent starting points, since they provide a list of books and articles that are not only pertinent, but also authoritative.

3. Identify the main concepts of your topic and generate a list of search terms and subject headings for each. Use these search terms in reference books, LEO, and Research Databases & Resources.

the effect of television viewing on aggressive behavior in teenagers

Make a list of additional keywords or phrases for each concept

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