Future Performance Training
Read and make notes
When you search for information, you will require keywords. These key words will be helpful in researching information on the Internet and in other written sources. To get the correct keywords, you'll have to do some reading about your topic. In other words you read to get the right keywords. Most often, the best place to start reading is in the reference section of the Library. The reference section contains many different types of dictionaries, encyclopaedias, thesauruses, etc., all of which will supply you with more than enough information to start identifying keywords and begin your search.
If your topic is about something that is currently happening in the news, e.g. the new national budget, the best place to start reading will be the latest newspapers and periodicals (magazines).
Make notes while you are reading in the following manner:
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Step 1 |
Plan: Get a pen and paper / cards
You will complete one card for every information source you consult during your research. You will make notes of what you have read on these cards so that you can use the information in your own report.
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Step 2 |
Browse: Locate appropriate information Locate the information relevant to your assignment by browsing, and by consulting the table of contents and index of relevant books. |
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Step 3 |
Compile a bibliography: Write the bibliographic details for each item that you consult in the correct format on a card (one card per item). Steps on how to do your bibliography will be discussed in detail further on in this section. Follow the examples strictly. |
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Step 4 |
Read to understand: Read the relevant sections carefully, and try to assimilate the facts or the author's argument or standpoint. |
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Step 5 |
Make notes: Write down each quotation that you think is relevant, useful or interesting on a separate index card. Be sure to note the bibliographical details. |
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Step 6 |
Acknowledge the authors: It is very important that you acknowledge the authors whose works you have consulted in an acceptable manner. |
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Step 7 |
Be systematic and organised: Arrange all your cards with the full bibliographic detail in alphabetical order. Type your bibliography from this set of cards. It is very important that you record the bibliographic details correctly at this point of the process. Very often it is not possible to get hold of the item again to check the information for your bibliography. |