Take a few minutes to think about your problem or goal. Try to break it into key elements or sub-topics. Write down a series of words or phrases describing the topic and elements using different synonyms. This vocabulary expansion exercise will be particularly useful for doing an Internet search or a literature review.

Scope out your topic. Think of issues typically associated with your particular topic. Specify things that are NOT part of your research goals. You will then gain a more comprehensive picture of the issue that has some reasonable limits.