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ENGL 2370 Intro to Fiction: Strangers, Aliens, and the Other

A Note About Keywords

While searching in the databases, it is likely that you will com across outdated and/or offensive terminology. Because most databases use a controlled vocabulary it can be very difficult for them to keep up with evolving terminology.

In this case, looking for author-supplied keywords may provide you with better search terms. Author-supplied keywords can usually be found at the beginning of an academic paper. Or by viewing the detailed record* of an article.

*Not sure how the find the detailed record? Contact me, and I'll walk you through it.

Looking for a Topic?

Try some of these keywords if you get stuck

  • Refugees or Refugee Camps
    • Possible keywords: political refugees, involuntary relocation, political migration, deterritorialization
       
  • Undocumented immigration
    • Possible keywords: noncitizens, legal status of noncitizens, undocumented immigrants in literature, immigrant detention centers
       
  • Islam
    • Possible keywords: Islam -- customs and practices, Islamic ethics, religious life -- Islam, political Islam

Expand your Keyword List

Look for additional keywords in:

  • Abstracts/Summaries even if the article is not relevant to your research, it may provide terms common to the field or other term related to your research.
  • Book Indexes are basically keywords lists that help you navigate information in a physical book.
  • "Suggested Topics" or "Related Searches" in databases and Google Scholar. Often these can help you rephrase terminology into the "official" database subject"
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