CADR 403 - Resolving Environmental Conflicts

References sources can be consulted for many reasons. If you struggle to get started with good keywords early in your research, then looking through an encyclopedia, dictionary, or thesaurus can help you find more relevant terms to use or give you better context to plan your search strategy.

And if you encounter any new terminology that confuses you, of course you should look it up in an encyclopedia or dictionary! 

Keywords are the first (and, often, most skipped) step in your research. We can talk about the same issues using completely different words; if you only identify one of those words to search, you might miss some key research! Searches for a computer vs. a Dell vs. a desktop will get you very different results, after all. Included here are a few ways to get started, depending on what feels best to you.

Perhaps you generate your keywords (and alternate keywords) in the concept map. Or perhaps, you prefer to generate a cleaner looking list, like the one below.  It really is what works best for your brain and research topic. Just make sure you're writing it down!

Concept mapping is just one approach to keyword development & brainstorming that is a bit more visual than strategies on the keyword worksheet. 

Example from CUNY Guttman Community College

Use the worksheets to the left to create a constructive concept map for your own research topic.