RESEARCH SKILLS1. Define the task

‐ Understand what the ques4on is asking

2. Locate informa4on‐ Find great resources

3. Select resources‐ Choose reliable informa4on

4. Organise notes‐ To make wri4ng your assignmenteasier

5. Present the ideas‐ Write up your work using goodsentences

6. Evaluate your work‐Check your work before you hand it in!

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills

Define the task:

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills

Before you begin researching, you need tounderstand exactly what you’re being asked todo, what you already know about the topic,and how you could go about searching for

informa4on.

1. Clarify the ques1on‐ Read the assignment instruc4ons‐ Check the assessment criteria‐ Write the ques4on in your own

words‐ Highlight key words in the ques4on.

2. Brainstorm what you already knowabout the topic

3. Think of key words you could use forresearching on the internet or in librarycatalogues

Locate information:There are many places you can findinforma1on for research. Theseinclude:

• Textbooks

• Internet

• Documentaries/TV

• Encyclopaedias

• Libraries

• Magazines

• Teachers

• People in your community

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills

Locate information: Search with keywords

Tips when you’re using search engines(like google), or online catalogues:

• Using specific keywords can help younarrow your search.

• Don’t include small words like ‘at’, ‘a’,‘in’, ‘of’ and ‘the’.

• Use quota4on marks “   ” to search foran exact phrase, such as a 4tle or aperson’s name

• Use nouns instead of verbs

• Try using the ‘advanced search’func4on to narrow your results

• If you want more results, use fewersearch words; if you’re ge\ng too manyresults, use more words or phrases.

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills

Select resources: Read efficiently when you are lookingat resources – SKIM and SCAN,looking for words in the text fromyour list of keywords.

Be careful with websites – Try not touse Wikipedia, and be careful usingblogs.

Ques4on the text◦ Does the author have an obvious opinion?

◦ Have they used evidence to support theirideas?

◦ Do they state clear facts, or just opinions?

◦ Who created the resource?

◦ Why did they create the resource?

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills

Turn your informa1on into a good setof notes that will make the wri1ngprocess quicker and easier.

• Read the text first, and then start takingnotes on the second read through.

• Use headings in your notes, to help youskim through later.

• Collect quotes to use later

• If you highlight words on a photocopiedpage, or cut and paste from the internet,always summarise that informa4on intoyour own words.

Organise notes:

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills

“In 1922....”

Present the ideas:Plan what you want to write and decidehow to want to present your ideas.

Think about what type of presenta4onwill best fulfil the assessment criteria:◦ Poster◦ Essay◦ Powerpoint presenta4on

DON’T cut and paste or copyinforma4on word for word into yourassignment because this is calledplagiarism. It is stealing someone else’sideas, and using them as your own.

Make a bibliography – any informa4onyou get, you need to say where youfound it. You write these down in a listat the end of your assignment.

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills

Evaluate your work:Check back over your work and makesure it’s the best you could do.

• Does your informa4on make sense?

• Is it presented in full sentences withcorrect spelling?

• Have you answered the ques4on orfulfilled the assessment criteria?

• Is your work interes4ng?

• Have you completed a bibliography?

Stage 4/5 Resource adapted from: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ergo/researchskills