Library Research Skills
Starting your Information search
This section shows you how to get started on a search for information. These are the preliminary steps you can take to ensure finding all relevant information for your project or essay in the Library.
Define Unfamiliar Terms
Before you can find any information for your project or essay question you must understand fully what is being asked.
If you're not sure about the meaning of any word, name, place etc then look it up before you start.
The library has a whole range of subject dictionaries and encyclopaedias for you to use.
It's a good idea to begin any search for information by checking unfamiliar terms in one of these dictionaries. Next time you're in the library familiarise yourself with the contents of the many different dictionaries and encyclopaedias.
Highlight Key Words
When you are given a question to answer or a project to complete, one of the most important first steps is to work out which are the main words or phrases, known as keywords or keyphrases.
Keywords and keyphrases are the most important details within a topic around which the supporting detail revolves. In other words, they indicate what the project or essay is really about. They provide initial search terms for finding information in the library.
Example :
you might be asked –
The keyphrase in this case is global warming.
Some questions have several keywords or phrases:
It's important to spot them all if you're going to answer questions correctly.
Using the wrong keywords means you get the wrong information.
Not using all the keywords means you don't get enough information, or you get the wrong type of information.
There is a good booklet on this subject available for download at
www.lib.ed.ac.uk/resbysub/ PDF/search_skills_A4_booklet.pdf -
Exercise:
Download and Print this page and Highlight the keywords or phrases for each essay title.
In the space provided state which Information Source you would use to begin your search.
Copyright (c) 2005 by Susan Kelly, Wexford County Library Service.
Adapted and modified (5th December 2005) from http://www.lib.sfu.ca//researchhelp/tutorials/libskills.htm
