Skip to Main Content

MUS 300 – Beethoven and Revolution

Beethoven resources available at Buley Library

Search Strategy Builder

 Search Strategy Builder


The Search Strategy Builder is a tool designed to teach you how to create a search string using Boolean logic. While it is not a database and is not designed to input a search, you should be able to cut and paste the results into most databases’ search boxes.

  Concept 1 AND Concept 2 AND Concept 3
Name your concepts here (Keywords)    
Search terms Search terms Search terms
List alternate terms for each concept.

These can be synonyms, or they can be specific examples of the concept.

Use single words or short phrases. Surrounding the phrases with quotation marks will give better results in some databases and search engines, like Google Scholar. Example: "global warming"

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

or

Now copy and paste the above Search String into a search box; try SouthernSearch or choose another Database.

The Search Strategy Builder was developed by the University of Arizona Libraries and is used under a Creative Commons License, via Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh at Georgia State.

MLA Format

It's important to keep track of where your information comes from so you can accurately cite it. You can take a look at our Citation Help guide for pointers and various online citation management tools, or go straight to our MLA Style Guide for examples.

Remember, SouthernSearch and other library databases can get you started so all you have to do is check for completeness and accuracy!

Writing about Music