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ENGL 101: Muir, A. (Fall 2025) - Imagination

This library guide provides resources, search tips, and research support for Allison Muir's ENGL 101 students and the research journal, annotated bibliography, and final project assignments.

What is Brainstorming?

Brainstorming and Developing Keywords

Brainstorming, mindmaps, and concepts maps are terms that are often used interchangeably. They all refer to a quick, simple technique for generating and focusing ideas and making connections between concepts. 

Brainstorming can help you develop an idea for a topic or thesis and identify questions and keywords. 

Brainstorming Keywords Example

Use Specific Language to Write

In your ENGL 101 course, your instructor Allison Muir has shared tips about Painting Pictures with Words.

By choosing the right words, a writer... "SHOWS" instead of "TELLS."

Your instructor's tips include using specific language, and here's an example she shares to illustrate choosing exact nouns and going from general to specific word choicest:

Choose Exact Nouns (General to Specific)
General Person Place Thing Idea

↓

 Woman School Book Theory

↓

 Actress College Novel Scientific theory
Specific Jennifer Lawrence Tacoma Community College The Things They Carried Relativity

Use Specific Language to Research

Let's now use the same concept from your instructor to using specific language -- specifically, keywords -- to research! Here's how to brainstorm general concepts to more specific, narrower keywords in your searches.

Research question/topic: How do cigarette companies target children with advertising?

Choose Keywords (from General to Specific)
Brainstorm Keywords Concept #1 Concept #2 Concept #3
General smoking industry youth advertising
↓ smoking adolescents marketing
↓ cigarettes children commercials / ads
Specific nicotine students television ads

Sample Searches with Keywords:

You can mix general and more specific keywords together.

  • smoking AND children AND advertising
  • cigarettes AND students AND (advertising OR ads

The image below shows what a sample search looks in a library database search box:

(click on image to enlarge)

Brainstorming and combining keywords in ProQuest Advanced Search

Source: "Painting Pictures with Words" by Allison Muir, CC BY SA 4.0

Sample Keywords Relating to Imagination

Sample Keywords Relating to Imagination

Try using these keywords when searching online, in the Library Catalog for books and e-book, in the Library databases, etc. All of the keywords below relate to the class theme of Imagination:

  • Imagination
  • Creativity
  • Innovation
  • "Social aspects" / "Sociological effects" / Society
  • "Imagination (philosophy)"
  • "Imagination in children"
  • "Imagination in literature"
  • "Imagination--religious aspects"
  • "Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)"
  • "Creative ability"
  • "Imagination--Juvenile fiction"
  • "Fantasy (imagination)"

Video: The Power of Brainstorming

Video source: "The Power of Brainstorming" video by Clark College Libraries, 2016

CC BY SA license

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This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. When reusing or adapting this content, include this statement in the new document: This content was originally created by Tacoma Community College Library and shared with a CC BY SA 4.0 license.

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