Keywords (or search terms) are the words you use to search. They're what you enter into the search box of a search tool, such as Google or a Library database like ProQuest.
Databases such as the ones you will be using for your classes provide better results if you use three strategies for entering your keywords.
Separate words and phrases with the word AND, like this:
housing AND segregation AND cities
The AND is called a Boolean operator.
Another Boolean operator is OR, which you can use to link synonyms:
(apartments OR houses OR condominiums) AND segregation AND cities
Notice that when you use OR, you also use parenthesis around the words your connecting (that's important!)
Use quotation marks around common phrases. Quotation marks will keep your words "stuck" together.
"socioeconomic status"
"middle class"
"background check"
"gated community"
Use the asterisk to truncate words. Truncating means that you put an * at the end of the root word.
environment -- looks only for the word environment
environ* -- looks for environment, environmentally, environmental
More examples:
townho* = townhouse, townhouses, townhome, townhomes
loan* = loans, loaned, loaning
bank* = banks, banking, banker
housing AND segregation AND cities
(apartments OR houses OR housing) AND segregation AND cities
(apartments OR houses OR housing) AND segregation AND cities AND loan*
(apartments OR houses OR housing) AND segregation AND (cities OR urban) AND loan* AND "background check"