Select a topic that neither too broad nor too narrow. This website has some tips about selecting a strong research topic.

Once you have selected an approved topic for your research, brainstorm keywords that you can use in your searching.

Keyword Searching

• Try synonyms for your research topics.

• Searching for a phrase in quotation marks will locate that exact phrase.

* Campaign finance reform = all websites with campaign, finance, or
reform

• "campaign finance reform" = all websites with the exact phrase

• Searching for two words with a plus sign will locate those two words in a website.

• Federalism Constitution = all websites with either federalism or constitution

• Federalism + Constitution = all websites with federalism and constitution