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Analysing the topic
Identifying keywords
The keywords for your topic are those significant words in the topic that tell you what information you are looking for. There are usually only a few keywords in your topic that will help you find the answer to your question.
For example, the keywords for the following topic are marked in bold.
In Australian culture, the 'typical Australian' is portrayed as a bushman, who wears thongs and a singlet and holds a can of beer. Compare this portrayal of the typical Australian with current Australian popular culture and comment on its influence on how Australians are portrayed by international media.
The topic is about the portrayal of Australians in international media and the influence of the 'typical Australian' image.
A good way to work out if a word is a keyword is to look at the word in the context of the topic. In the example topic above, portrayal is not included as a keyword as it does not mean anything about Australian culture.
Words such as 'advantages', 'influence' or 'relationship' are words that may have many meanings in different contexts. They are not keywords for the topic, but can tell you the nature of the information you need to find.
If you are unsure of the meaning of a term, use a dictionary to check the definition of the word.
Working out what is required
After you have worked out the keywords, it is a good idea to look at the topic to find words that will determine the type of information you want to find.
Read the question carefully and note words that may indicate what you are required to do. For example, here are definitions for some common words used in assignment topics to describe what you need to do:
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Compare - 'to note the similarities and differences of' (Macquarie Dictionary, 2001)
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Contrast - 'compare by observing differences' (Macquarie Dictionary, 2001)
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Analyse - 'determine the elements or essential features of' (Macquarie Dictionary, 2001)
Also note the length of the assignment.
If you need to write a 500-word essay, you may only require basic information, which you may find in reference books such as encyclopedias or textbooks. If you need to write 10,000 words, you will need to look for different types of information such as books, journal articles and internet sites.
Identifying limits to a search
Often a topic will be limited to particular criteria. It is important to work out what words may limit your search, as this will help you form an effective strategy to find information.
Sometimes it is necessary to limit a search to the most recent results or to a particular time period, such as the last two years. You may also be required to find information for a certain location, such as Australia or even Queensland.
Another thing to consider is whether you need a particular type of information such as statistics or product reviews.
It may also be necessary to find information that has been peer reviewed.
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