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Developing a Search Strategy

A search strategy consists of the keywords in your topic sentence.

Topic Sentence: College students engage in risky behavior.

Keywords:
 
college students  risky behavior


Always identify synonyms or related words to help you obtain more results. Consult Merriam-Webster’s Thesaurus Online- http://www.m-w.com/ for additional terms.

Synonyms for risky behavior:
 
risk-taking

 risk-taking behavior


Think about different ways to define risky.
 
Merriam-Webster’s Thesaurus offers these synonyms:
dangerous grave grievous hazardous
jeopardizing  menacing parlous perilous
serious threatening unhealthy unsafe
venturesome

 
Choose examples of specific risky behaviors:
 
high-risk drinking substance abuse sexual risk-taking


Obtaining a variety of terms allows you to develop a more sophisticated search strategy.

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