University Writing Program (UWP)
Tips and Tricks
1. Use truncation or stemming to find words with varying endings:
theat* finds:
theater, theatre, theatrical
Characters used vary by database; the most common are *, #, !, or ?. Look for "Help" to find which character to use.
2. Use wildcards to find words that vary by a single letter:
wom?n finds:
woman, women
Look for "Help" to find which character to use.
What Do You Need?
- Newspapersfor current or contemporary first accounts
- Magazine Articlesfor popular viewpoints
- Journal Articlesfor scholarly materials
- Booksoverviews, in-depth studies, and reference
- Historical Primary Sourcessuch as letters, diaries, first-hand accounts
- Government Documentsfor official government reports and information
- Statisticsfor data, numbers, and trends
Combining Search Words
Use "AND" to narrow your search (usually by combining terms representing different concepts).
Use "OR" to broaden your search (usually by combining synonyms or terms related to the same concept).
EXAMPLE:
What are effective methods for teaching reading to students with ADHD?
(attention deficit disorders OR attention deficit hyperactivity disorder OR ADHD)
AND
(teaching methods OR classroom techniques)
AND
reading instruction
Too see this technique in action, watch the below video by emilyatchemlib: