ENGL 101 - Montgomery Bus Boycott - Prof. Blaker - Fall 2022

If you have a topic you would like to explore, you will want to develop keywords to search the library databases or OneSearch. You can create keywords by determining the main ideas in your research question or topic.

Tips on Keywords:

• Use main ideas + concepts
• Eliminate words without meaning in your research question
• Focus on What, Who, Where, Why, and How
• These are usually the big ideas that you need to search
• Your research question doesn't need to include all six of them (what, who, when, where, why, and how)

Example Search in the OneSearch Database:

1. Visit the library webpage, find OneSearch, and click on the search to go to the basic search page. You can also use the same search box on the library homepage to type in your search term(s) or keyword(s) and click search.
2. Enter your keyword(s) in the search box; in my example, protest Montgomery (non violence or non-violence). From the drop-down menu, you can select books to look for books. Then, on the results page, you have the option to select books that are available online (e-books). 
3. Before you open any of the library's databases or e-books from off-campus, you will be prompted to log in, so prior to initiating your search, you can log in to OneSeach with your Canvas credentials on the GCC Portal Login page. By being logged in to OneSearch, you have full access to all resources and database features. Below is your results page. It consists of books and e-books. You can refine your search results by using the options on the "Refine my results" menu. 
4. Review the sources and determine which one is more relevant to your research topic. For e-books, you can click on the title of the book and access them online through one of the options (databases) listed on the page. And for print books that are available in the library, you need to submit a request or visit the Library in person to check them out. Below is an example of a print book.