LibGuides: Public Administration: Start Your Research and Writing

Create a Search Strategy

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Creating a Search Strategy (Blank Word Document)

You will save time and find more relevant information when you use a search strategy to find information. Try the following steps before going to the library catalog, database, or search engine to find information:

1. Define your topic in a phrase or sentence:

Emergency management planning can minimize disruptions to organizations that are caused by natural disasters.

2. Circle or underline the keywords, or the main words, in your sentence:

Emergency management planning can minimize disruptions to organizations that are caused by natural disasters.

3. Generate synonyms for the keywords in your topic. Find these in books, articles, class notes, or other sources of information. Also, use word association to generate keywords.

Emergency management planning: continuing of operations planning (COOP); emergency operations plans; risk-informed planning and decision making

Disruptions: accidents; unexpected events; insurrections

Organizations: local governments; businesses; schools; hospitals

Natural disasters: hurricanes; weather events; flooding

4. Find additional keywords or synonyms such as persons, places, or related things. This will help your search if your first search using the synonyms did not give you relevant results.

5. List the assignment requirements (due date, length, types of sources, etc.).

Due November 1; 5-page essay using APA citation format; Use 3 peer-reviewed or professional sources; Using 1 government or professional association website is ok.

6. Try some searches! Go to the FAU Libraries home page to find books, newspapers, journals, and other sources.

Guides to Plagiarism, Peer Review, Citations, and the Literature Review

Were you advised about plagiarism?
...Assigned to do a literature review?
...Confused by APA citation style?
...Advised to use scholarly, peer reviewed sources, but aren't quite sure what they are?

See the following guides for quick tips that will get you on your way to successfully do your assignment!

Plagiarism Basics
Plagiarism is copying someone's work and claiming it's your own, but there's more to it! Identify types of plagiarism and ways to minimize it.
APA Boot Camp
Do you need to cite your sources using APA style? This guide will show how to set up your paper and cite various types of sources.
The Peer Review Process (Recording, 2022)
This recording describes the steps of peer review and how their role with professional or scholarly works.
Scholarly vs. Popular Publications (Recording, 2022)
See the difference between peer reviewed publications and others like newspapers or blog posts.
The Literature Review (Research Guide)
This guide provides some suggested steps to get started, where to find information, and how to consider when to complete one.

University Center for Excellence in Writing (UCEW)

Need Help with Writing?

The University Center for Excellence in Writing (UCEW) is devoted to supporting and promoting academic and professional writing for all members of the FAU community, including undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and visiting scholars.

Boca Raton Campus Location:
General Classroom South (GS)
Room 215
Phone: (561) 297-3498

See their additional locations in the dorms and FAU partner campuses.

University Center for Excellence in Writing
UCEW supports and promotes academic and professional writing for all members of the FAU community. Students may make an in-person or online appointment to meet with a writing consultant.
University Center for Excellence in Writing Locations

Last updated on Oct 12, 2024 12:20 PM