Finding information for an assignment
WOLLONGONG COLLEGE AUSTRALIA
STEP 1:
Write down your question
_____________________________________________________________________________________
STEP 2:
Keyword
Identify the major concepts / keywords. Use the search strategy table below.
Alternative words
KEYWORD 1: e.g. health hazard
Lung cancer, asthma
OR
AND
KEYWORD 2: e.g. smoking
Tobacco, nicotine or smok*
OR
AND
KEYWORD 3: e.g. teenager
Adolescent*
OR
STEP 3:
Consider any alternative keywords or phrases. Add these to the table above. These
could be:
• Synonyms or related terms
• Spelling variations / including plurals
• Think of broader terms and narrower terms
Plan your search. Consider the best way to use keywords and alternative keywords to locate
resources.
• Join your keywords with AND, e.g.: smoking AND teenagers
• Join your synonyms with OR, e.g.: teenagers or adolescent
• Use truncation, e.g.: smok* will find smoke, smokes, smoker, smoking etc.
STEP 4 :
U
U
Find a definition of your keywords
•
Use Oxford Reference Online to find a relevant definition. Email a definition of your keyword to
yourself.
• You can also locate specialist print dictionaries in the Library. Use Search Guru to search for
print copies of these dictionaries using broader keywords (e.g. health dictionaries). If you find a
useful print dictionary write down the call number here:
_____ __________________________
• You can also use a thesaurus to help you find synonyms (alternative words). These are
available in print and online. You can access the online thesaurus by following this path:
UOW Library homepage > Resources for Assignments > Wollongong College Australia >
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias > Macquarie Online
STEP 5:
Find some books to give you a broad overview of your essay topic.
• Use keywords from your search strategy table.
Wollongong College Australia Librarian
March 2010
Page 1
•
Enter your main keyword(s), for e.g. smoking, health, into the Search Guru search box and
press ‘Go’.
• If required, refine your search in Search Guru by subject tags or format e.g.: Refine to ‘eBooks’
or ‘Publish date’.
• Write down the call numbers of any relevant books you find below or try emailing them to
yourself:
_______________
__________________
___________________
_________________
•
Tip! Look at the Subject Headings in each catalogue record. Use them to locate more information
on your topic if they also describe what you need.
STEP 6:
Use Library databases to locate journal articles:
Databases recommended as a starting point for WCA students can be accessed via the following
pathway: UOW Library homepage > Resources for Assignments > Wollongong College Australia
> Journals and databases
Sample Database Search: ProQuest Central
Tip! Remember to think about alternative keywords and truncation. Once you have tried searching in
ProQuest Central why not try searching in another database and compare your results!
Article Finder: Searches across multiple databases for you at the same time!
• Write down the details of one journal article you find in Article finder below:
Article title:
Author(s):
Source:
Journal Title:
Volume:
Issue:
Pages:
Tip! Use the Advanced subject search screen to add more of your keywords into your search.
Ulrich’s Periodical Database:
To access Ulrich’s follow this pathway: Library Homepage > Databases: journal articles and
more > U > Ulrichsweb.com
Finding Current Affair Journals:
•
•
•
•
•
Go to the Library homepage at http://www.library.uow.edu.au/index.html
Under search select ‘Catalogue: books, journal titles, e-readings, short loans and more’
Under the ‘Classic Catalogue’ tab select the ‘Advanced search’ icon
In the search boxes type in your keywords (for e.g. music), scroll down the screen and change
the ‘Material type’ to ‘Print journal’
Click on the ‘search’ button at the bottom of the screen.
Good luck with your assignment!
Wollongong College Australia Librarian
March 2010
Page 2