Start your assignment - Assignment and Study Help - LibGuides at TAFE Queensland Library Network Skip to Main Content It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results. TAFE Queensland Library Network LibGuides Assignment & Library Skills and Career Help Assignment and Study Help Start your assignment Search this Guide Search Assignment and Study Help Assignment and library skills Home Start your assignment Search for information Notetaking Write your assignment Essay and report writing Revising and editing Referencing Copyright and plagiarism Using Social Media Groupwork/Teamwork Exams Resources Outside The Library University of Canberra and FedUni Study Help What you need to do Introduction Understanding your assignment question Checklist So you've just been handed your assignment and you don't know where to start? Before you begin looking for information you should: Read the question, including the marking criteria sheet carefully Understand what is expected Know when it is due Use the assignment calculator to help plan your assignment Following these steps will help you get ready to start your search for information. Remember: If you are unsure of anything you should contact your teacher as they will be the one marking your work! To start your search you need to determine the main parts of your assignment question. Assignment questions contain instructional words, keywords and limiting words. These form the structure of your assignment. Instruction words tell you how to approach the topic or subject, and clarify what focus your research should take. Words like examine, explore and argue all require you to tackle your assignment in a different way. Limiting words determine where to start and stop and set limits to your topic.They may identify specific time periods or geographic areas, eg. Australia or 20th century. Keywords are single words or phrases which define the subject or main ideas of the question. To identify the keywords of your question: Read and analyse the question carefully Underline or highlight all the keywords. These are the words that will tell you what information you need to find. Circle all the instructional words. These words will tell you what to do with the information you find. Create a mind map to help you structure, organise and analyse your ideas. Mind map software link is located in the Resources section at the bottom of this page. Begin a list of everything you need to combine into your assignment. This will help ensure you include everything that your assignment question has asked for. Next write a list of the topics you need to research. Use other sections in this Guide to ensure your search is broad, including books, eJournals and reputable websites just to name a few. Don’t forget your suggested reading list & textbooks. The following may also be relevant when choosing keywords: Alternative words or synonyms (e.g. mobile phones / cell phones) Abbreviations (e.g dept for department) Singular or plural terms (woman and women) Spelling variations (colour and color) Variations of word endings (e.g. nurse, nurses, nursing or nursery) TIP: If you can't think of any synonyms or related terms yourself, try searching a thesaurus, dictionary or encyclopaedia For more help watch the video tutorials below. Note: you will use the keywords and limiting words when conducting your search Before moving onto the next tutorials, ensure you understand the following: What exactly are you required to do? Read the assignment task & the assignment marking criteria sheet carefully. Remember to talk to your teacher if you are confused or have any questions. What type of assignment is it? Is it an essay, report or oral presentation? When is it due? Plan and allocate time for researching information, writing the draft assignment, checking and editing the finished assignment. Use the assignment calculator to help you plan your assignment. How long should the assignment be? How many words or approximate number of pages? Resources How to create a study schedule and Study Planners Helpful tips on creating a personalised study planners and free downloadable study planners. Instruction & Direction Words A handy list of some common instruction/direction words that you may find in your assignment topic Mind map software Smartdraw is a free mind mapping tool you can use to brainstorm and visually connect ideas and concepts. How to generate search words This tool helps to record keywords and create a search strategy for searching within databases. Video Tutorials << Previous: Home Next: Search for information >> Last Updated: Jun 1, 2022 10:51 AM URL: https://library.tafeqld.edu.au/assignment_study_help Print Page Librarian Login Report a problem Subjects: APA - American Psychological Association, Assignment, Assignment Writing, Harvard, Plagiarism, Reference list, Referencing © Copyright - TAFE Queensland 2021
