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UWP1: Introduction to Academic Literacies

Search Strategies

Develop a strategy! This will help you focus your search, locate relevant information and save time.

1. Consider Sources and Search Tools

Good research and writing draws on information from a variety of sources. Think about the types of secondary research that could inform your thinking about your research question:


2. Identify Keywords

a. Identify the key concepts in your research question.

Example: What are the genres of writing in biology?

b. Build on your key concepts to create a Keyword Search (watch through 1:53)

Example: (genres or conventions or discourse) and (writing or composing or authorship) and biology


3. Trace Citations

Looking up the References at the end of encyclopedia entries and other sources can lead you to additional relevant information.