ENGL 101: Monk, M. (Winter 2025): Key words are key to researching

Example grid for keyword search brainstorming - this example is for "cosplay"

When you brainstorm keywords with a chart, make sure you leave some spaces for later, as you are researching and you find more sub-topics and more specialized vocabulary!

*When you choose key search words, think about if there are other forms of those words, or if your search word is an abbreviation of something. Sometimes it's helpful to search using the abbreviation, sometimes it's also useful to search using the entire word or phrase. (Because cosplay has been a widely adopted cultural term, it's unlikely that searching for "costume play" would be beneficial, but it's still good to keep in mind!)

Here is how I would use my brainstormed list of keywords SO FAR to start researching. Here I am using another TCC Library database, ProQuest Periodical Databases. I am narrowing my search for cosplay to articles that include information about anime. Note the use of the tool "AND" - this tells the search engine to narrow the topic of cosplay to articles about anime's role in cosplay.

This assignment is about your joy in your hobby or avocation, and you are expected to find many articles from others in your discourse community. And as this is a college assignment, we encourage you to branch out to other types of sources that would teach your readers something, but it is possible that you could learn something new too from a type of source you may not be used to working with. This extends your skills and versatility as a student.

The article below is from a search for cosplay, narrowed by the term Japanese culture. This is an academic or scholarly article from a journal called Society, about several intersecting features of cosplay in Japan, pachinko, and manga. While the article does intersect cosplay with those other features of Japanese culture, it also spends some time describing the history and origins of cosplay in Japan, that could make an interesting addition to other less formal sources.

Tip: Give yourself enough time to explore (inquire). If you are in a hurry, you are likely to miss interesting paths you might enjoy exploring in your paper. Also, be careful that you don't spend all of your time in the inquiry phase, possibly getting overwhelmed with too many possibilities!

Feeling overwhelmed by the research process, starting with inquiry, is normal. If your feelings of being overwhelmed start to interfere with your ability to feel confident, contact a TCC Librarian. They can help you organize the process and build strategy.

Make a list of search words.

To begin a search successfully, you muse use a variety of words that related to your topic.

• Think of the different words and phrases that people use when they discuss your topic.
• Consider broader and narrower words, and synonyms (words that have the same meaning).
• Identify search words through your background research or ask a librarian for help in finding words that are used in your field of research.

Develop efficient strategies to search for books, articles and websites 

• Searching is CREATIVE - use synonyms or different search words to find the sources you need
• LEARN as you search - keep your eyes open for new words or terminology that you find in your sources (book, article or website results).  Use this new search vocabulary for your next search
• Be a DETECTIVE- if you find a good source, dig deeper and explore any links or other suggested resources.  These will lead you to more information
• Look in MORE THAN ONE PLACE - use all the search tools available to you, such as the library catalog, library databases, and the internet
• GET HELP! Question: How many times have I heard the following? "I just spent three hours trying to search for sources! I am so frustrated!" Answer: A lot. Give it a try for a half and hour. If you feel like you are getting nowhere, it is time to contact me or visit the library!