Before you start researching, you should do some brainstorming and plan a search strategy. Think about the key features of the music video you are using for your assignment. What do you hear? What do you see? What do you already know about this piece and what do you still need to learn?

This information can help you brainstorm a list of possible keywords to use when searching for information. It can also help you select the right tools to search. Writing this down using lists or representing it visually through a mind map can help you plan, since taking the time to articulate exactly what kind of information you need before you start looking will help you retrieve more focused, relevant results. To walk through the process of brainstorming, check out the mind map example below!

Using the steps below to structure your research can help keep you on the right track. Remember as you work that research is a cyclical, iterative process - you may need to reevaluate your search terms multiple times, brainstorming new keywords as you refine your topic.

• Write down details about your music video - this is the central focus of your project and everything that you research should be related to this video, piece, artist, composer, etc.
• Identify the main concepts in your video - these will be the first terms you use to search. These main concepts or keywords can also help you select appropriate background sources to learn more about your topic; for example, if one of your main concepts is "Brazilian music", you might take a look at an encyclopedia for world music to find general background information and context.
• Brainstorm alternative or additional keywords you can use for each concept - these could be synonyms or related ideas to the main words or concepts you identified earlier, such as something more specific or more general. 
• Identify library resources to search - try to consult a variety of sources and remember there's a lot out there! You could try Grove Music Online or the Garland Encyclopedia for World Music for background information, a database like Music Index or JSTOR for scholarly journal articles, and a search in the library catalog for recordings, collected essays of criticism, or monographs on your topic!
• Go beyond library resources - there is great content freely available through Google searches, but think critically about who created the information and why. 

Quick Tip: Keep track of the search terms you've used and the databases you've tried so you don't repeat unsuccessful searches. Keeping a research journal is a great way to develop your skills and ensure you remember what keywords and strategies worked and which ones didn't.

As you work on planning out your own search strategy, consider making a concept map or mind map to help get your ideas down on paper. We've included a sample concept map (attached below) to give you a place to start as you practice refining your research topic.

Content adapted from the Teaching, Learning and Academic Support page on how to "Develop a Topic and Dissect Your Research Question".