How to Find Information and Write Assignments

Compiled by Western Institute of TAFE Libraries

Information literacy in six steps

There are six steps to follow in the information literacy process when you are handed an assignment task. Information literacy is the ability to find, manage and use information for a range of purposes. Information literacy skills help people make decisions, solve problems and find information. It also helps people to take responsibility for their own lifelong learning.

1. Define

Ask yourself these questions.

  • What is required - An essay, speech or report?
  • What are the keywords?
  • What do I already know about this topic?
  • What do I need to find out?
  • Can my teacher help me?
  • When is my assessment due?

2. Locate

Where do I find the information I need?

Use the best resources from a variety of sources:

  • Books
  • Encyclopaedias
  • Magazines
  • Videos
  • Internet
  • People and organizations

3.Select

Which resources will be most useful?

  • Is the information relevant?
  • What can I leave out?
  • Look at the information carefully – is the material up to date, who has written the material and for what purpose?
  • Have I recorded my sources of information for the bibliography?

4.Organise

How can I best use this information?

  • Have I enough information?
  • Do I need to use all the information I have gathered?
  • How can I best combine information from different sources?
  • Have I used correct spelling and grammar?

5. Present

How can I best present this information?

  • Is my presentation logical and well organised?
  • Have I completed the assessment?
  • Have I used my own ideas and opinions?
  • Is the presentation suited to my audience?

6.Assess

How well did I complete the assignment?

  • What did I learn?
  • How can I improve? - do I need to ask for help?

To learn more about information literacy try this free online tutorial:

North Coast Institute – Search Path

The main steps in writing an assignment

  1. Starting the assignment in plenty of time
  2. Finding resources
  3. Reading and evaluating the information you have found
  4. Planning your assignment
  5. Writing the first draft
  6. Asking someone else to read it
  7. Checking spelling and grammar
  8. Writing the final draft
  9. Adding a bibliography


1. Don't leave the assignment to the last minute

Plan your workload so that you have plenty of time to complete your work.

2. Understanding the question

Break down the topic into key words and make sure you know what is required.

3. Finding information Sources of information can be gathered from

  • Check TAFEcat for books and AV resources - TAFEcat
  • Don’t forget about interlibrary loans from other TAFE libraries
  • See the magazine display in library for any relevant titles
  • Go to TAFE Studylinks a good Internet starting point for students
  • Use a search engine such as Google to broaden your search
  • Ask library staff about ANZRC the full text online database

4. Selecting what information to use

  • Read the introductions of magazine articles and book chapters to confirm their relevance to your topic
  • Select a few general references and read them carefully to obtain an overview of the information available.
  • Keep track of your sources of information.
  • Do not rely too heavily on a single source of information. Use books, magazines, videos, databases, the Internet and other sources where appropriate.

5. Organising your assignment

Prepare an outline of how you will present the assignment with headings and sub headings

6. Writing the first draft

  • Once you have an outline, write a first draft.
  • Don't worry too much about getting every detail correct at this stage. You can revise the draft to check the accuracy of the detail.
  • When you have a complete draft check the length.
  • If the draft is too short, you can add more background information or introduce more new information from other research.
  • If the draft is too long, you can cut out repetitive information and try to use more concise wording.

7. Preparing your bibliography

Make sure that you have kept a list of all your sources of information. Where you are quoting from a particular source or referring to a particular author's works you must reference these sources properly and include them in the bibliography.

Assignment Checklist

Once you have written the first draft, included the references, and fixed up the detail, you should run through the following checklist.

  • Does the essay answer the question?
  • Does it cover all the main aspects in sufficient depth?
  • Is the content accurate and relevant?
  • Is the material logically arranged?
  • Is each main point well supported by examples and argument?
  • Do you acknowledge all sources and references?
  • Have you kept to the required length?
  • Have you checked grammar, punctuation and spelling?

Structure of Assignments

An assignment may include the following parts:

  • Title Page
  • Table of Contents
  • Introduction - should introduce the assignment topic and outline the purpose of the assignment
  • Body - the main part of the assignment
  • Conclusion - summarises the main points raised in the body of the assignment
  • Bibliography - References must be provided for all your sources of information.

Common Forms of Plagiarism

  • Downloading, borrowing or stealing an assignment and presenting it as your own work.
  • Copying a section of a book or article and submitting it as your own work.
  • Copying, cutting and pasting text from an electronic source and submitting it as your own work.
  • Using the words or ideas of someone else and presenting them as your own.
  • Relying too much on other people's material. Use your own words as much as you can.

Plagiarism & the Internet

The internet can be a great source of information and an effective research tool. However, just because electronic information is easily available does not mean it is 'free'. Remember that the information you find online should be referenced, just like any other source. Online sources should be used with care, fully acknowledged and evaluated in the same way you would any print-based source of information.

Evaluating the Internet

The Internet can provide up-to-date information, but it can also provide misinformation. Ask yourself these questions:

  • Who is the author or publisher of this web site?
  • Does the author state the purpose of this web site?
  • Does the page show the date it was created or updated?
  • Is there another web site or print source that gives/agrees with this information?

source: www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/plag.html