There are several reasons why you may be having trouble finding sources for your paper in SCOUT or one of our library databases. First, keep in mind that SCOUT and many of the library databases use keywords for returning results. Typing in a sentence or question will not provide you with the results you want. Instead, choose main ideas or phrases about your topic and enter those. For example:
Topic: The impact of the Black Death on European social structures
Keywords:
- Black Death
- Social structures
- Feudalism
- Mortality rates
Trying to search using natural language will rarely return useful results.
However, consider these other reasons why you may not be finding the sources you need.
- You may need to broaden or narrow your search terms (When searching for Russia, think about searching on the terms USSR or Soviet Union).
- You may need to choose keywords that focus on a different perspective (Was that military action a liberation or an invasion? Depends on who is answering the question).
- What you are looking for may not exist (West Point was founded in 1802, searching for information about the West Point Class of 1789 will never return results).
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