While attempting to identify the nature of the project required, remember these distinct categories of projects:

1. Cause & Effect = attempts to explore how a situation has developed, trace the root causes, and then explain the overall effect or consequence of those actions

2. Critiques = focuses on an evaluation or critical overview of a literary work, societal problem, technological innovation, etc. In a literary analysis, the biography, life influences, writing techniques & themes of an author are explored. For other critiques, a "cause and effect" approach is taken.

3. Narrative Descriptions = consists of a detail-oriented description of a specific process or problem. The focus here is on providing a complete overview of the topic with expanded analysis of its component parts, working mechanics, and overall effects.

4. Persuasive Analyses = investigates a specific topic, formulates an opinion, and then proves a thesis based on and documented with research findings

In determining the types and number of sources needed, the course instructor / syllabus usually specifies both the type and number of sources. If the type of source still remains unclear, often the nature of the project will help determine the type of source to be used as shown below:

It is at this point that the researcher should begin to plan and outline possible search strategies.

• Consult the checklist of specialized vocabulary found in DEFINE TOPIC

• Compile a listing of synonyms, phrases, or word groupings

• Remember that the indexes used in searching allow "Boolean" wording ( and, or , not ) to link words together

• Identify how to actually search for the topic:

• Remember that most searchable databases do not allow "natural language" searching so avoid using phrases such as:
  "What are the effects of television on children?"

• Instead develop a habit of looking for the component parts of a given subject, such as:
  • television
  • children
  • effects

• Use Boolean search terms to link those parts together. Some examples include:

  
  
  

  
  

  1. "What are the effects of television on children?" can be searched as:
     

     EFFECTS   OF   TELEVISION   ON   CHILDREN

     using   " and "   operator
     television and children and effects
     television and children and advertising
     television and children and cartoons
     television and children and violence
     television and children and sociology

     
     

  2. "I need a critical analysis of Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall." is searchable as:

     CRITICISM   OF   ROBERT   FROST'S   POEM   "MENDING   WALL"

     using   " AND " / " OR "   operators
     robert frost and mending wall and criticism
     frost and mending and criticism
     frost and ( poems or poetry ) and criticism
     frost and ( poems or poetry ) and analysis

     
     

  3. "I am looking for an overview of Leonardo da Vinci's work." can be researched as:

     
     

     OVERVIEW   OF   LEONARDO   DA   VINCI'S   WORK

     using   " AND " / " OR "  operators
     da vinci
     da vinci and art
     da vinci and (art or painting)
     da vinci and mona lisa
     da vinci and (science or invention)

     
     

  4. "What are the effects of global warming on the environment?" is searched as:

     EFFECTS   OF   GLOBAL   WARMING   ON   THE   ENVIRONMENT

     using   " AND " operator   &   synonyms
     environment and global warming and effects
     environment and global warming
     environment and climatic changes
     environment and global temperature changes
     environment and greenhouse effect

     
     

  5. "I am interested in exploring a career in the music industry." can be entered as:

     CAREER   OPPORTUNITIES   IN   THE   MUSIC   INDUSTRY

     using " AND " / " OR " operators   &   synonyms
     music industry and career opportunities
     music industry and careers
     music industry and ( careers or employment or jobs )
     music industry and job hunting
     music industry and professions
     music industry and vocational guidance