Assignments - What do I do Assignments - What do I do first?first?

Look at the title of your assignment and make sure that you understand it.

If you are unsure of any of the words, use a dictionary.

Dictionaries can be found on the open shelves.

Dictionaries are also available online via;

http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1251489~S3

Find inspirationFind inspiration

Analyse your topicAnalyse your topic

Expand your ideasExpand your ideas

Write down your topic and also Write down your topic and also everything relating to it everything relating to it

Include what you already know as Include what you already know as well as what you need to find outwell as what you need to find out

Organise your ideas with a Organise your ideas with a Mind MapMind Map

Organise your ideas by forming connections between them using a Mind map. 

Decide on the main idea and expand it using colour and graphics.

Use a large blank sheet of paper and some coloured pens.

Write down your topic in the centre of the sheet of paper.

Draw lines branching out from the centre so that a key idea is shown on each line.

Example of a Mind Map

Overview of the topic? - to identify key issues Journals

Latest research? Journals

Review of recent debates?Magazines/Newspapers

Data to back up your arguments?Statistics

Definitions? - to clarify the main concepts Dictionaries / Encyclopaedias

In Depth Analysis – Books Personal Background - Biography

What type of information do you need?

Start searching

When you understand your project titleWhen you understand your project title When you have identified the key wordsWhen you have identified the key words When you have worked out what you When you have worked out what you

already know and what you need to knowalready know and what you need to know When you know what type of information When you know what type of information

you needyou need

You are ready to start searchingYou are ready to start searching

Online ResourcesOnline ResourcesThese include:These include: Web access e.g. library catalogueWeb access e.g. library catalogue E-books e.g. How to write essays E-books e.g. How to write essays

and assignmentsand assignmentshttp://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1554511~S1 Online journals e.g. Student Affairs Online journals e.g. Student Affairs

Today; Today; http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/rechttp://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1585462~S2ord=b1585462~S2

Databases e.g. Nexis for newspaper Databases e.g. Nexis for newspaper articlesarticles

http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/http://catalogue.londonmet.ac.uk/record=b1526093~S3record=b1526093~S3

Online Resources: Online Resources: DatabasesDatabases

Business Source PremierBusiness Source Premier Cambridge Journals OnlineCambridge Journals Online EmeraldEmerald IngentaIngenta Nexis UK : for newspapersNexis UK : for newspapers Sage Journals OnlineSage Journals Online Science DirectScience Direct SwetswiseSwetswise

Databases - Search TechniquesDatabases - Search Techniques

Use TRUNCATION to find Use TRUNCATION to find words with different endings:words with different endings: e.g. theor*, entrepreneur*, organi?e.g. theor*, entrepreneur*, organi?

ation, ation, Be aware of different spellings: Be aware of different spellings:

behavior/behaviour, Labor/Labourbehavior/behaviour, Labor/Labour Think of related terms e.g. Think of related terms e.g.

entrepreneurship enterprise/innovation entrepreneurship enterprise/innovation Choose Full-Text option where availableChoose Full-Text option where available

Databases : Business Databases : Business Source PremierSource Premier

Databases : Business Databases : Business Source PremierSource Premier

Databases: EmeraldDatabases: Emerald

Databases: Narrowing Databases: Narrowing ResultsResults

Database Search - NewspapersDatabase Search - Newspapers

Database Search - NewspapersDatabase Search - Newspapers

Further Help:Further Help:

Library WebpagesLibrary Webpages

http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/libraryhttp://www.londonmet.ac.uk/library

Click on 'Help For My Subject'Click on 'Help For My Subject'

Select your Subject from the list to see Select your Subject from the list to see professional bodies & web resources & more or professional bodies & web resources & more or to contact your Academic Liaison Librarianto contact your Academic Liaison Librarian

See Learning Development Unit for details of See Learning Development Unit for details of what support they provide. what support they provide.

http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/lduhttp://www.londonmet.ac.uk/ldu

Other LibrariesOther Libraries

Public LibrariesPublic Libraries

Inter Library Loans for items not in stockInter Library Loans for items not in stock

Sconul Access for other university Sconul Access for other university librarieslibraries

British Library as a last resortBritish Library as a last resort