NOTICE
Before attending the library session on 5 OR 6 March, study the document below and answer the 3 Excercise plagiarism questions at the end.
We will discuss the answers in class during the library session.
Databases contains articles with information that will guide you to the answers you seek. Instead of searching with questions on databases, you have to search for information using KEYWORDS.
When extracting KEYWORDS from your assignment or essay, you need to look at the key concepts that encapsulate your assignment.
Example:
Is it true that formal education makes the rich richer and the poor poorer?
KEYWORDS:
Note: The concepts that you are looking for are not always expressed in the
language of the assignment or question, but often through other related terms.
See the Guide for step-by-step instructions.
AND – returns results with both keywords. AND usually limits the search results
OR – returns results with one or the other keyword.It broadens your results by connecting two or more synonyms.
NOT – returns results excluding specific keywords
Use the Boolean Machine for visualizing the effects of Boolean operators .
More tips:
Quotation Marks “ ” – keep keywords together, for exact phrase searching
Brackets ( ) – keep concepts together, used for synonyms
Example:
Does ICT's add value in the classroom?
("information and communications technology" OR ICT OR "information technology") AND (classroom OR education OR schools) AND (students OR learners OR teachers)
Use the "Search strategy builder" to help you create a search string, using Boolean logic. You can cut and paste the results into most databases’ search boxes.
Building blocks Search strategy
Identify keywords, write next to each other
Think of synonyms or alternatives for these words
Write these words under the corresponding keywords in blocks
Combine rows with OR and columns with AND operators.
Example
Does ICT's add value in the classroom?
Information and communications technology classroom students
ICT education learners
information technology schools teachers
technology
Search string
("information and communications technology" OR ICT OR "information technology") AND (classroom OR education OR schools) AND (students OR learners OR teachers)
Quick-and-easy” search method
Steps:
1. What would be the title of your search?
2. Identify the main keywords
3. Which keyword is most vital (and which next)?
4. think about some proper search terms (other than those words jotted down already, synonyms, related terms, scientific names etc.)
5. Compose a simple query using a few important terms linked by ‘AND’ or ‘OR’ operators
Use quotation marks “…” for adjacent words or two or more words that make up a single concept (e.g. “attention deficit disorder”). Group synonyms and related terms together in brackets
5. The search engine or database will give lists of records. Reduce the number of records displayed and increase relevancy by restricting them according to publication date, etc.
My example:
The impact of genetically modified foods on our lives
Search terms: genetically modified food, GM food, transgenic food, food safety, food risks, allergic reactions, health
Search string: (“genetically modified food” OR “GM food” OR “transgenic food") AND ("food safety"OR "food risks" OR "allergic reactions"OR health)
"Plagiarism is the theft and use of the ideas, material and other intellectual property of others that are passed off as one’s own." SU Senate. 1 Dec 2016. Stellenbosch University policy on academic integrity: the prevention and handling of plagiarism [Internet]. Stellenbosch University. Available: Policy document. [2017, 1 February].
Turnitin is a tool to check the originality of your written work and it will provide guidelines where necessary to you regarding where and how you can improve it. Consult the Turnitin Libray Guide for more detail.
TURNITIN is available via http://learn.sun.ac.za; be sure to use Mozilla Firefox.
TURNITIN login problems & Help:
How does TURNITIN work:
See video on how Turnitin works and an explanation for the colour-coding in the feedback report.
