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University of Wollongong
Information Literacies
Faculty of Engineering
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reading listscataloguecatalogueplagiarismevaluate and use info
 

module 1


Starting your research

Information sources

Finding information

Using information

 

Starting your research

When starting your research you usually have a topic or assignment you need to find information for.

Let's look at an example of an assignment question.

Today’s mobile phones are equipped with wireless data capability that allows email, games, instant messaging, ring tones and videos.
Discuss the issues for consumers and society that may result from the increased use of wireless technology.

A well researched University assignment incorporates information from a range of information sources. The information you locate:

  • helps you to develop your subject knowledge
  • informs opinions and viewpoints you present in an assignment

Information Sources

A range of information sources is available to help you to develop an answer to the question.

Information Source Purpose
Subject dictionaries and subject encyclopedias

Definitions and some background information.

In the above example you may wish to look up terms such as wireless technology.

Books

Broad information.

In the above example you may wish to find broad information about consumer behaviour.

Journal articles

New research and current information.

In the above example you may wish to find academic articles on the social and legal issues of specific technologies.

Newspaper articles

Public opinion and daily news.

In the above example you may wish to find opinion articles on mobile phone costs and spending.

Internet In the above example you may wish to visit the website of a phone manufacturer for information on mobile phone technology.

In this tutorial you will focus on books, journal articles and items from a reading list.

Top of page


Finding Information

We will start by looking at finding information for a topic.

1. Start with your reading list

For each of your subjects you will receive a subject outline. The subject outline may contain a reading list of useful information sources.

Module 2 covers:
  • understanding reading lists  
  • finding items on a reading list in electronic or print format

2. Find more information

For most subjects you are required to use more information sources than listed in your reading list before writing an assignment or presenting a seminar. To demonstrate this we will look at a range of essay questions and search examples.

Module 3 covers:
  • identifying keywords
  • finding books
  • finding journal articles

Top of page


Using Information

After finding information you will need to evaluate what you have found and then use it appropriately in your assignment.

Module 4 covers plagiarism.

Module 5 covers evaluating and using information.

Work your way through all modules to complete the tutorial.

You have now finished module 1. You are now ready to move to Module 2 Reading Lists

 

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