GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT 

The aim of this portal is to provide UJ Sciences students with assistance in their first steps

of writing Assignments, Research Projects and Reports.

For Subject Specific inormation visit the Sciences Librarian Portal

 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

HELP & USER EDUCATION

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

Library Help & Info Skilling @ APK for First Year students & Undergraduates

• 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.....

Library Training Guides & Tutorials

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

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GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR ASSIGNMENT 

STEPS IN ONLINE SEARCHING

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

• 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) 

•  

 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. 

Useful Online Reference Works: Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Yearbooks, etc.

Useful Print Reference Works:  Search the UJLink: Library Catalogue for available print resources.

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: Science Librarian Portal
• Most databases are available remotely (from home, work).
• Only Surname, Student number & PIN will be requested for access. (Don't have PIN?)

• Visit the Sciences Librarian Portal for subject related information (databases, journals, books, etc.)

• Find out if there are Assignment/Course Portals, such as: Geo-Informatics; Soil Science, etc.

• Use Subject related Databases (for books or journals) to retrieve information to get you started. Select Academic/scholarly/peer-reviewed journals.

Academic Journal Article vs Popular magazines

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).

Boolean Opeators on Learn How to use Boolean Operators in a fun way.

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 plagiarising, using other people works as your own. 

• Visit the Plagiarism Portal to learn what it is and how to avoid it.

• Use the UJ Reference Techniques (Harvard & APA) to help you reference your resources

• Acknowledging Sources (guidelies)

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.

Visit Vuma Portal to find information on: Handling exams, Study skills, Writing skills, Research skills, Life skills, Grammar and Spelling, Work, Thinking and Learning, Technology, Business writing, more.

For those that continie with their studies in Postgraduate level, visit the Research Support Portal and Engaged in Research: The Research process

HOW TO FIND PRINT AND ONLINE BOOKS @ THE UJ LIBRARY

WRITING YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT: POSTER (Interactive tool) 

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