1. Collect all your information about the assignment
2. Analyse and prepare
3. Read for Information
4. Start writing
For more tips on writing better university assignments, check here
Watch this video to learn how to identify keywords when searching for information on a topic
Successful keyword searching requires applying search techniques such as using operators to join search terms, specific phrases or relevant word variations. Use the tabs at the top of the panel to explore them.
The three most commonly used operators are AND, OR and NOT. They can broaden or narrow your set of results and exclude unwanted search terms and concepts.
For example:
AND will narrow your search returning results that contain all of your search terms
children AND sugar
OR will broaden your search returning results that contain any but not all of your search terms. It is useful for finding synonyms or where different words are of equal value in your search
sugar OR sugars OR sugar consumption OR sugar intake
NOT will narrow your search by eliminating words from your search results. It should be used with care as it can easily exclude relevant results.
snack food NOT sugar-sweetened beverages
To search for two or more words in exact order, place double quotation marks " " around the words. The database will only return articles containing that specific phrase rather than articles containing each word found individually anywhere in the text.
Example:
The phrase "sugar consumption" will retrieve articles with all words as you type them in with no other words in between.
Truncation is also known as stemming, is a technique that broadens your search to include alternative word endings and spellings.
To use truncation, enter the root of a word and put the truncation symbol * at the end.
The database will return results that include any ending of that root word.
For example:
For example:
sugar** = sugar and sugars and sugary
It is important not to shorten the root too much as it may retrieve too many irrelevant results. For example, su* will bring up the surface, sum, and sushi.
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We acknowledge the Ancestors, Elders and families of the Kulin Nation (Melbourne campuses), the Eora Nation (Sydney campus) and the Yulara/Yugarapul and Turrbal Nation (Brisbane campus) who are the traditional owners of University land. As we share our own knowledge practices within the University, may we pay respect to the deep knowledge embedded within the Aboriginal community and recognise their ownership of Country. |
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