FYS 120L: Animals & Society

Once you have clearly stated your research topic, you can begin to identify keywords to use during the research process. Keep in mind that you may need to revise your list of keywords as you learn more about your topic during the research process.

1. Select significant terms or phrases from your topic statement.

For example, consider the following research topic: "What legal rights, if any, should non-human animals have?" The significant terms/phrases would include 'legal rights' and 'non-human animals''.

2. Consider synonyms.

Synonyms for the phrase "legal rights" might include "statutory rights" or "civil rights". Synonyms for the phrase "non-human animals" could be "animals" or "creatures" (although these might also be viewed as a broader terms which includes both human and non-human animals/creatures).

3. Identify other related terms.

In addition to synonyms, it can be helpful to identify other terms related to your topic statement. For each of the significant terms you've identified, consider terms which are broader or narrower. For example, you might be interested in the legal rights of a particular population of non-human animals, such as "domesticated animals" or "livestock".

4. Update your list of keywords as you learn more.

As you conduct your research, you may come across new terms which you haven't seen in class or which are closely connected to your research topic. You may also find that some of the keywords you initially selected do not yield fruitful search results. By taking notes as you search and updating your list of keywords, you can become a more efficient and effective researcher.