IRIS 42: Information and Research Instruction Suite for two-year colleges

From Idea to Search Statement

The Five-Step process

Step 1: Write down your idea in a sentence or two:An example of an search topic: States should pass laws against talking on cell phones while driving.

Step2: Cross out the fuzzy words and little words:Cross out the fuzzy words and little words in the idea: should, against, talking, on, while

Step3: Underline the words that remain, These are your starting concepts.

Underline the major words that remain: states, laws, cell phones, driving

Step 4: Put an "and" between the concepts:

Put the word AND between the search terms: states and laws and cell phones.

Step 5: Add a touch of class to your search. Put the quotation marks around the phrases so those words stay together.

Use quotation marks around phrases: "cell phones"
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