Controversial Issues 

Underline key concepts and keywords dealing with your topic. Think of broader and narrower terms as well as synonyms and alternative phrases.

Example: The article on  global warming in Wikipedia mentions several alternative terms: greenhouse effect, solar variation, climate variability/change, environmental effects, ocean acidification,  ozone depletion.

The following websites and library resources may help you identify keywords that are related to your topic.

Databases offer a truncation symbol (often an *) so you can search several words with the same root:

• debat* (debate and debates)
  
• controvers* (controversy and controversies)
  
• hot topic* (topic and topics)

Grouping SYNONYMS TOGETHER
Enclose words with similar meanings in one set of parentheses and connect the words with OR.  Here are some examples:

• (cats or felines)
• (diet* or eating habits)
• (occupation or job or profession)

See Use Search Tips of the Signpost for additional database searching techniques.

• debate
• Controversy
• Opposing
• pro con
• versus
• "in the news"
• viewpoint
• alternative viewpoint
• editorial

Who? Who is the specific person/group you are researching?

Example: Animals

What? What specific aspect of the broader topic interests you?

Example: What is the effect on Endangered animals?

Where? Region or place limitations?

Example: Animals in Africia

When? What time period are you focusing on?

Example: Within the last ten years and current.

Why? Why is this an important or interesting topic?

Example: I want to know the effect that Global Warming has on the animals in Africia and their ecosystems.

Using your answers to the five Ws, form a research topic/question.

What has been the effect of Global Warming during the last 10 years on Animals that reside in Africa?