LibGuides: Problems in World History: Islam Essay: Getting Started with Search Strategies

The Research Process

Use the resources on this page to begin the research process. In the other blue tabs at the top you will find resources to use as evidence in your paper, as well as instructions for putting together an outline. As you research, please reach out to me with questions.

Encyclopedia Britannica This link opens in a new window
To begin your research, use some articles in Encyclopedia Brittanica to locate background information. This information will help you understand the basics about your topic, and to develop some keywords and phrases that you will need to search for more in-depth information and gather evidence.
Gale in Context: World History This link opens in a new window
Provides numerous types of resources, from periodicals, academic journals, reference materials, etc. on world history.

Database Passwords

Keyword Searching Tips

Defining Keywords

Before you begin searching, you should make a list of KEYWORDS- terms that will be used in the search box of the databases or news outlet websites. Many times, you will need to perform multiple searches and use multiple keywords to result in a variety of sources. Remember, the more sources the better! Complete the activities below.

Part I. Create a Brainstorming Map to develop a list of keywords

Using a piece of paper or a website like https://bubbl.us/, create a map of key terms related to your topic.

Example Map:

Part 2: Develop synonyms/related terms list for your keywords

You might need to expand on some terms in order to search for your topic and find a variety of resources.

Example Synonyms/Related Terms and Phrases Chart

Term in Map Above	Alternate Term or Phrase
Violence against women	attacks/bloodshed/cruelty towards women
Honor Killings	Family Killings
Females in Politics	Women in Government/Parliament

Understanding Types of Sources

Searching Tips

Make sure that you understand what types of sources are out there before you begin searching!

Type of Source	Description	Tips
eBooks	Include encyclopedias, general nonfiction, etc. Very well-researched and trustworthy, as they have gone through an extensive editorial process Some eBooks, such as Gale eBooks and those in the EBSCOhost database, can be accessed by multiple people at once.	Make note of the publication date- some can be outdated!
Database	Variety of newspaper articles primary sources, maps, etc. from numerous sources GALE World History, JSTOR, are databases EBSCOhost is a hosting site for databases that focus on a variety of material types. Read the descriptions of each database in the hosting site to find out the types of materials available	Always use advanced search Try many different searches and use different keywords
Journal Articles	Article written by an expert in the field Takes a long time to publish, might not be as up-to-date with information as a newspaper article Both JSTOR and Ebscohost can be used to locate journal articles	Must assess bias of the author Can be long, so use the "search within" or CTRL F feature to search for specific keywords in the article
Newspaper Articles	Current and up-to-date information on a variety of topics	Must assess the bias of the author Can be hard to differentiate between editorials and regular news articles

Purdue Owl Types of Sources
Check out this resource to learn more about the different types of sources you might encounter when researching.