Michael Schwartz Library
Keeping a research diary can help you organize your research time so that you don't duplicate searches, feel lost or overwhelmed, and can help you to be a more efficient and successful searcher. Track your process to help you write the reflection for your assignment.
What you searched
How you searched
Difficulties encountered
Identify key ideas from your research question (think nouns)
Brainstorm and/or use a thesaurus to find synonyms
Talk to others to help work out your ideas
Record useful terms you found doing research
Keep track of which keywords worked and didn't work, and the sources you find