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Assignments: get started

Use the Library to get started with your assessment

Create a search strategy

Create a SEARCH STRATEGY for your topic


1. What are the main concepts that best describe your topic?

  • Identify 2-3 words or phrases about the content of your topic.
  • Do not include task words, such as discuss, compare, analyse.
Concept 1 Concept 2 Concept 3
AND AND

2. List any similar or related terms and abbreviations for each concept.

  • Use quotation marks to find exact phrases (e.g. "first nations")
  • Truncate a word with an asterisk to find plurals and different word endings
    (e.g. Austral* to find Australia, Australasia, Australian, Australasian, or Australians)
OR OR OR
Alternative terms Alternative terms Alternative terms

AND

AND


3. Combine terms to form a search statement

  • Combine terms with AND to find all words
  • Combine terms with OR to find any words
  • Use brackets to group similar words, for example: (indigenous OR aboriginal).
     

     
  • Copy this search strategy to use in LibrarySearch or Library databases.


Adapted from the University of Arizona Libraries.
Search Strategy Builder (CCBY-NC-SA 3.0 US)