Key Ideas and Key Words

Once you have identified your topic, it is useful to identify the key components and concepts contained within the topic.

For example:

Then make a list of words that describe your topic. Generally there is more than one way to describe a concept. Remember, you are searching for concepts. Language and terminology may vary.

Here are some keywords you might use to search for this topic. Can you think of others?

television viewing
watching television
TV

school achievement
academic achievement
school success

elementary school
children

Where to find keywords and synonyms:

Use dictionary.com -- both the dictionary and the thesaurus portion.
Use a graphical dictionary such as: http://www.visuwords.com/.
In a database, you can use the thesaurus (more later).
As you explore your topic, jot down the keywords used in your readings.

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