First step: What am I looking for?

You have chosen your topic. What now?

Analysis of the topic

Before you even start a search in the database, take a closer look at the question: What is your topic, what are you looking for? That is, you:

• clarify the terms of your topic
• create a word list
• think of eneric and sub-concepts as well as synonymy and related terms
• take into account foreign language terms with their different spellings (e.g. British and American English)
• reconsider possible abbreviations

You will also find what you are looking for in the library:

• Dictionaries and encyclopedias
• Dictionaries of synonyms
• Basic literature and teaching materials