Rethink Education. Reinvent Yourself. 

 

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT 

 

 

The aim of this portal is to provide UJ Sciences Researchers and Postgraduate students with assistance in their first steps of writing their Theses & Dissertations, from the Literature Review to the Citing and Referencing.

 

Visit the Sciences Librarian Research Support  website for information on Library services & resources in support to your research needs!

 

For subject specific information make use of the available Sciences Subjects Portals.

 

The Resources for this website have been selected by Pavlinka Kovatcheva, subject librarian, Sciences at APK Campus, Level 1,Tel: 011 559-2621,

e-mail: pkovatcheva@uj.ac.za

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HELP & USER EDUCATION GETTING STARTED WITH RESEARCH USEFUL RESOURCES STEPS IN ONLINE SEARCHING: GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT

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HELP & USER EDUCATION

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As a researcher you will need help to get you started and to learn what resources and services the library provides for you. The following support websites can you guidance tips:

 

Need Help: Ask-a-Librarian @ Kingsway Campus

 General, subject and online help guidelines

 

Library Help & Info Skilling @ APK for postgraduates and researchers

Group and individual trainings can be arranged. Aim at becoming an independent information user by learning:

• How to access and use the UJ Library research resources?
• Which are your top subject resources and how to use them?
• Which Library services can benefit your research?
• How to start with your research?
• How to get started publishing your research?

and much more.....

 

Sciences Librarian @ APK Library Training Timetable 2010

Keep-up with training sessions being arranged by the Sciences Librarian @ APK 

 

Library Training Guides & Tutorials

How do I? Sciences Librarian guides; Databases manuals, etc.

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GETTING STARTED WITH RESEARCH

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USEFUL RESOURCES

 

To help you start with your Project or Assignment view these useful resources:

 

Research it Right!

This interactive FUN tutorial can help you get started with your research. It describes the steps of the research process from finding a topic to the final product. (Vaughan Memorial Library at Acadia)  

 

Research at Coursework 

 

Acknowledging Sources 

Back to the Top!

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STEPS IN ONLINE SEARCHING: GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT

 

In order to begin your project /assignment you need to be able to find useful and relevant information. 

• Developing an effective search is an important part of this process.
• You need to think of the various Steps in the Online Searching – from places to search, to resources to find, to writing & referencing

 

Step 1: Define your research topic

• State your topic as a question
• This is a good way to start your search. It helps you clarify your thoughts and define the topic

 

Step 2: Read about your topic

• When you search for information, you will use keywords and concepts. To get them correctly, you will have to do some reading about the topic.
• The best place to start reading is in the Reference resources (encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesaurus, etc.), all of which will give you more than enough information to begin your search. 

 

Step 3: Identify the main keywords or concepts               

• Once you gather enough basic information, you should have a better idea how to identify the main concepts or keywords in your topic.
• Do this by selecting the main terms- keywords used in the question
• Draw a list of synonyms or related terms
• This will provide you with extra terms to use when searching for information

• Draw a mind map

 

Step 4: Broaden and narrow your topic

• Consider broader or narrower subjects

 

Step 5: Locate and access the Library Resources

• Go to: UJ Library web page  
• Click on: Subject Collections
• Select: Science Librarian Portal  
• Most databases can be accessed remotely (from home).
• Only Surname, Student number & PIN will be requested for access. (Don't have PIN?)

 

Step 6: Searching Techniques

• Boolean Operators helps you broaden or narrow your search and its results.

          - AND narrows your search,

          - OR broadens your search, and

          - NOT excludes certain terms

• Use truncation symbols (usually ? or *) to capture all forms of words (e.g., educat? will retrieve education, educating, and educators).

 

Step 7:  Evaluate & Refine your search

• After searching various databases, probably you will find quite a lot of information on your topic.
• You need to decide whatever the information you have is suitable to answer your question.
• The following tips & techniques can apply: fact vs opinion; authority; currency; publishing body; intended audience; primary vs secondary source

 

Step 8: Referencing & Plagiarism

• To be able to use the information you have found, you will have to know the legal requirements
• You need to acknowledge all resources you use in your project.
• If not you are plagiarizing, using other people works as your own.
• Read more on Plagiarism from the Sciences Librarian Portal web site. 

 

Step 9:  Write you Project /Assignment

• Follow these simple steps:

          - Gather the information from the databases and books

          - Read and make notes

          - Acknowledge “in-text” referencing (you will forget later from where you get that section)

          - Compile Reference list (select the Harvard method, which is requested by the Department)

• Write the paper, check, make adjustments.

 

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