Searching a database or catalog can be different from searching Google.  A search like "What messages does the media present to women about how their bodies should look?" may get results in Google, but won't be as productive in an index of academic articles. Structuring your search will help you get better results.

Break your topic into its component elements:

• What messages does the media present to women about how their bodies should look? 
  • Media
  • Women
  • Bodies
• Are Latinx people likely to be easily considered for job promotions?
  • Latinx
  • Job
  • Promotions
• What obstacles do gay men face in the military?
  • Gay men
  • Military

Think of alternative terms for the component elements:

• What messages does the media present to women about how their bodies should look? 
  • Media OR television OR movies
  • Women OR females OR girls
  • Bodies
• Are Latinx people likely to be easily considered for job promotions?
  • Latinx OR latina* OR latino*
  • Job OR employment
  • Promotion* OR advancement
• What obstacles do gay men face in the military?
  • "Gay men" OR gays OR homosexual*
  • Military OR "armed services" OR army OR navy OR "air force"

Not all component elements will have alternative terms or synonyms, but be flexible about the words you use.

NOTE:  Quotation marks around two or more words asks the search engine to find those terms next to each other, as a phrase.  An asterisk asks the search engine to look for anything beginning with those letters:  homosexual, homosexuals, homosexuality.

Put each component element in a separate search box:

If your search retrieves too many items, try adding another element, if appropriate:

Most databases will also permit you to limit your search to:

• A specific date range.
• Academic, peer-reviewed or scholarly publications.