STEP 1: Choose one of the selected topics below for this assignment. Or, if you are currently taking another class, you could use a topic from it. If you would like to propose your own topic, discuss your idea with your professor. State which topic you’ve chosen.
Topics:
The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on higher education
The effect of supply chain issues on global commerce
The effect of pets on owners’ mental health
The effect of telework on the real estate market
Type your answer here:
STEP 2: Fill in the table below as a starting point for your search. Please refer to the materials in Week 1, including the “Identifying an Information Need” learning resource and the example on “climate change” under the “Creating a Search Strategy” topic.
Step Your answers:
- Write your topic.
- Use Google or Wikipedia to learn about your topic, narrow your focus, and come up with some key words.
- Write your research question.
- Write a preliminary topic statement based on what you know. [You will use research to validate (or revise) this early assumption.]
- List words or phrases from the topic statement or research question (key concepts) that best describe your topic.
- Consider dates, geographic locations, and/or other relevant limiting factors to narrow your search.
- Now find relevant synonyms, or keywords, of the key concepts you listed is step 5.
- Write different forms of the words or phrases you listed (if any).
STEP 3: Create a Boolean Search Statement. Now that you have identified some key concepts and keywords, create a search statement on your topic using Boolean operators.
Type it here:
STEP 4: Now, practice your ability to use advanced searching techniques and show what those search terms would look like. We recommend combining nesting, truncation, and phrase searching techniques in a single search statement. Create a search statement using advanced techniques. Be a Boolean ROCK STAR!
Try it here: