> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.modeldiplomat.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Search

> Tips and techniques for getting the best results from Atlas

## Starting a search

Go to **Search** in the left sidebar, or press `/` anywhere in the app to open the search bar.

Type your question naturally — Atlas understands plain language. You don't need to use keywords or Boolean operators. Write like you're asking a knowledgeable friend.

Press **Enter** or click the search button to start.

***

## Writing good queries

The single most important thing: **be specific**.

| Less specific     | More specific                                                                  |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| "Russia conflict" | "What is Russia's current military strategy in Ukraine in 2024?"               |
| "Climate policy"  | "Compare the US and EU approaches to carbon pricing"                           |
| "India election"  | "What were the key issues in India's 2024 Lok Sabha election?"                 |
| "Position paper"  | "Write a position paper outline for Egypt on water security in the Nile Basin" |

### Specifying a country or actor

Many questions in international relations are about *who holds what position*. Be explicit:

* "What is **Japan's** stance on North Korean denuclearization?"
* "How does **the African Union** approach conflict mediation?"
* "What has **Germany** said about sending weapons to Ukraine?"

### Asking for comparisons

Atlas is excellent at structured comparisons. Use words like "compare," "contrast," "differences between," or "how do X and Y differ on":

* "Compare the UK, France, and Germany's positions on Iran sanctions"
* "How do parliamentary and presidential systems differ in practice?"

### Asking for document drafts

Prefix your request clearly:

* "**Write** a position paper for Canada on Arctic sovereignty"
* "**Draft** an opening speech for India in the Security Council on Kashmir"
* "**Outline** a resolution on global AI governance for the First Committee"

***

## Search effort levels

When you search, you can optionally set the **effort level** using the control below the search bar:

| Level     | What it does                                                                 |
| --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Auto**  | Atlas decides based on your question. Most searches use this.                |
| **Quick** | Faster, lighter answer. Good for simple factual questions.                   |
| **Deep**  | More thorough analysis, more sources, more cards. Good for complex research. |

For most MUN prep and essay research, leave it on **Auto**.

***

## Follow-up questions

After Atlas answers your question, it suggests **follow-up questions** at the bottom. Click any of them to continue the conversation.

You can also type your own follow-up. Atlas maintains the full context of your conversation thread, so you can say things like:

* "Now give me the same analysis for France"
* "What happened before that?"
* "Summarize that in simpler terms"
* "Turn that into a resolution clause"

***

## Keyboard shortcuts

| Shortcut        | Action                        |
| --------------- | ----------------------------- |
| `/`             | Open search from anywhere     |
| `Enter`         | Submit search                 |
| `Shift + Enter` | New line in search box        |
| `↑` / `↓`       | Navigate suggested follow-ups |

***

## Searching with files

You can upload PDF documents and ask Atlas to analyze them. This is useful for:

* Uploading your conference background guide and asking specific questions about it
* Analyzing a treaty or resolution text
* Extracting key arguments from a policy paper

See [File Uploads](/atlas/file-uploads) for details.

***

## Tips from power users

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Start broad, then narrow" icon="filter">
    Start with a broad question to understand the landscape, then use follow-ups to drill into the specific angle you need. For MUN: start with "What are the main issues in \[committee]?" then follow up with "What is \[your country]'s position on \[specific issue]?"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Ask for the other side" icon="scale-balanced">
    For debate prep, explicitly ask for counterarguments. "What are the strongest arguments against \[position]?" or "What would critics say about \[policy]?"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Request specific formats" icon="file-text">
    Tell Atlas exactly what format you want. "Give me a bullet-point summary," "Write this as a table," "Format this as a formal speech introduction," "List the key facts I need for my position paper."
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Use it for fact-checking" icon="check-circle">
    If you read something in a position paper or delegate document, you can paste it into Atlas and ask "Is this accurate?" or "What's the source for this claim?"
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Query types explained" icon="list-check" href="/atlas/query-types">
    The domains Atlas specializes in
  </Card>

  <Card title="Understanding results" icon="cards-blank" href="/atlas/search-results">
    What the cards and panels mean
  </Card>
</CardGroup>