Skip to Main Content

ENGL 1A - I-Search

This guide provides guidance and resources for Prof. A. Henderson's I-Search assignment.

Introduction

pile of old fashioned keysNow, that we have a research question, let's translate it into specific keywords to look for evidence that will help us analyze our research question. 

Start by reviewing all the sections of Keywords (>), and the two videos shared below.

Image by cocoparisienne, free for commercial use.

Keywords

chocolate chip cookie

Keywords

What are Keywords?  

Pretend you are eating a chocolate chip cookie.  

As you eat the cookie, you may be thinking about how crunchy the cookie is. Or maybe that it is chewy or chocolate-y and has raisins in it. Crunchy, chewy, and chocolate-y are all words that describe the cookie.  

 Keywords are words that describe your topic.

Like the cookie, some of the words you would use to describe your topic will come from the topic itself. But you will also discover other words that can describe your topic as you begin to break it apart. 

Credit:

Image by Steven Giacomelli from Pixabay 

Text adapted from the “ Identifying Keywords ” tutorial from the Austin Community College Library Services Online Tutorials

Keep in mind

Merritt library

To access these online resources, you will be asked to identify yourself as a member of the Merritt College community.

Newspapers report on events. Use them to know what is going on right now as well as how people viewed an event at the time it happened.

Open Web

Take advantage of the dedication, knowledge, and inspiration freely shared.