This exercise introduces to you to Boolean searching. In other words searching databases using connectors/operators such as AND and OR. The first step in creating a Boolean search statement is to identify the key elements (words or concepts) within your search topic. These key concepts are usually nouns.

For example if I'm interested in finding books about family life among slaves. My key concepts would be family life and slaves.

Do a Keywords search in the UW Libraries Catalog for the two concepts. Type in: family life and slaves
How many items did you find?
Do another Keywords search. Type in: children and slaves
How many items did you find?
Do another Keywords search. Type in: (children or families or family life) and slaves
How many items did you find?
Why are parentheses around "children or families or family life" important? What happens when you omit the parentheses?

Do another Keywords search. Type in: (child* or famil*) and slave*
How many items did you find?
What does the * symbol (which is called a truncation symbol) do to your search words?

Now you are searching for books on the "role of women in medicine during the civil war."

What are your key concepts?
Concept 1:
Concept 2:
Concept 3:

Now do a Keywords search in the UW Libraries Catalog. List 3 search statements that will find material on the "role of women in medicine during the civil war" (try related terms, using the OR connector and the * truncation symbol) and the number of items found.

Search 1: Items found:
Search 2: Items found:
Search 3: Items found:

Take a look at the UW Libraries Catalog's online help.

What other Boolean operator is available?
What are the 2 Proximity operators?

Any questions?