Listing Key Words

1. What are Key Words?  It is making a list of the words that will help you find the information you need about your research topic.
2. When will you use Key Words?  You will use them when searching through books and through electronic sources.
3. Why do you need to have "good Key Words"?  If you have good key words, you'll find the kind of information you want faster.
4. What are "good Key Words"?  Good key words are important words or short phrases that specifically describe your topic and closely related topics.
5. When do you list Key Words?  Start as soon as you have a general topic.
6. How do you list Key Words?  First, write one or two sentences about your topic.  Next, underline all of the specific words that describe your topic.  Make a separate list of these specific words.  Add to your list any other words that mean the same thing or are related terms.  Think of more words or phrases that describe the larger topic, of which your topic is a part.  Think of more words or phrases that are subtopics of your topic which might help you find you useful information.